Call for Presenters

Join us at the upcoming Technology and Digital Learning Symposium (TDLS) 2027, taking place on Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6, 2027 at the Torrance Adult School and online. We invite you to submit a presentation proposal for this exciting event.

Share your expertise, best practices, and engaging strategies, or facilitate discussions within the Category Strands listed below. TDLS is all about collaboration and capacity building within the adult educator community.

The deadline for TDLS Call for Presenters will be Monday, December 7. As you are planning your session proposal, please keep a few things in mind if accepted:

Hybrid format: Most sessions will be hybrid, with both in-person and virtual attendees. Presenters should plan accordingly.
Session recording: The majority of sessions will be recorded and made available to attendees after the conference. By submitting a proposal, you consent to the recording and distribution of your session.
Microphone use required: All in-person presenters must use a microphone during their session, regardless of room size, to ensure accessibility and audio quality for both in-person and remote participants.

Please note that ALL presenters will need to register and pay in order to participate in TDLS.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us create an inclusive and high-quality experience for all attendees.

Stay up-to-date on our website, and feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback at tdls@otan.us or check out our contact page.

Proposal

Please review this rubric first before creating your proposal

OTAN TDLS Conference Presentation Proposal Rubric

This comprehensive rubric is designed to evaluate proposals submitted for the OTAN Technology and Digital Learning Symposium (TDLS).

Proposal Baseline Requirements

Character Constraints: The submission must strictly adhere to standard platform limits: Title (maximum 75 characters), Abstract (maximum 500 characters), Session Description (maximum 1000 characters), and Outcome (maximum 250 characters).

Scoring Rubric (Total Points: 12)

Proposals passing the initial checklist are scored across four domains. High-quality proposals should be clear and explicitly outline outcomes, active engagement strategies, participant takeaways, and immediate tech value.

Scoring & Selection Guide

Reviewers will use total scores to prioritize session placement in the conference lineup:

10 - 12 Points (Highly Recommended): Exceptional proposal that sets a standard for others. Directly addresses adult education priorities, respects submission rules, and offers immediate utility.
7- 9 Points (Recommended): Strong, viable presentation. May require minor refinements or clarification during scheduling regarding participant interaction or pacing.
4 - 6 Points + Has Potential: Topic holds promise, but the description lacks clarity, doesn’t have actionable tech value, or isn’t immediately relevant. May be accepted conditionally based on scheduling.
3 Points or Below (Do Not Recommend / Below Standard): Topic lacks clear relevance to adult education digital frameworks, or shows minimal educational depth.

Evaluation Criteria	Strongly Recommend (Exceeds Standard) 3 pts	Recommend (Meets Standard) 2 pts	Do Not Recommend (Below Standard) 1 pt
1. Content	Content is current, important, and a highly appropriate choice for TDLS. Addresses a clear evidence-based digital learning or technology integration need in the adult education field.	Content has a connection to educational technology or distance learning. It is a suitable choice for TDLS, but may have some elements that are lacking in the adult education technology field.	Content is disconnected from the technical scope of TDLS, outdated, doesn’t address digital tools/literacy, and/or lacks relevance for an educational technology symposium.
2. Proposal Clarity & Completeness Title Abstract Description Outcome	The proposal (title, abstract, description, and outcome) is highly engaging and descriptive. The abstract and description clearly state what participants will learn and explicitly outlines planned instructional activities.	The proposal is satisfactory. The abstract and description provides an overview of the topic, but could benefit from more explicit planned instructional activities, and sharper details.	The proposal is missing critical structural details, the description is vague, the outcomes and planned activities are lacking, and/or is incomplete.
3. Practical Tech Value & Application	Showcases a strongly actionable digital tool, approach, or resource. Participants will easily leave the session equipped to implement strategies directly into their classrooms or adult education programs.	Delivers a sufficiently actionable digital tool, approach, or resource. Could be more explicit in real-world application.	Shares a concept but doesn’t provide actionable technology integration, or useful strategies, and/or relies heavily on abstract theory, or makes broad generalizations with little concrete takeaway.
4. Engagement Strategies	Fully embraces a "less sit, more do" instructional design. The proposal explicitly plans for active engagement with the content, demonstrates clear opportunities for attendee participation, collaboration, guided, hands-on practice, and/or provides relevant presentation materials or toolkits.	Incorporates some active audience engagement strategies. The proposal could be lacking concrete details regarding opportunities for attendee participation, collaboration, guided, hands-on practice, and may be missing relevant presentation materials or toolkits.	The proposal mentions basic interactive strategies but relies primarily on a passive, lecture-style layout. Attendees are mostly expected to listen rather than actively do. Lacking opportunities for attendee participation, collaboration, guided, hands-on practice, and is missing relevant presentation materials or toolkits.

Title (75 character maximum)

Characters left: 75

Abstract (500 character maximum - The Abstract is a basic overview of your session. This will be included on the main program page under the session title.)

Characters left: 500

Description (1000 character maximum - The Description is a longer explanation of what participants will learn and the activities you will do during your session. This will be included on the session page along with the presenter photo and profile.)

Characters left: 1000

Outcome (250 character maximum - Describe one measurable outcome participants will be able to implement after this session.)

Characters left: 250

Presentation Type

Please consider one of the following presentation types when submitting your proposal – new this year, all sessions will be 70 minutes except for the Lightning Lesson described below:

Interactive Presentation – Present a tech tool, digital strategy, or educational model while embedding structured active learning elements. Presenters should incorporate interaction (e.g., live polling or small-group discussions) to actively engage both in-person and online attendees throughout the session.

Hands-on Workshop – Guide participants through a step-by-step, practical application of a tool, framework, or digital workflow. Attendees will actively follow along on their own devices, practicing and building materials in real-time to create an immediate takeaway for their own classrooms or programs.

Model Classroom – Simulate a live, tech-integrated adult education lesson where attendees step into the role of students. Presenters showcase effective onboarding, instructional design, digital tool integration, and/or digital learning classroom management by teaching a sample lesson from start to finish. The session would also include time for reflection on the model classroom experience.

Panel Presentation – Bring together a diverse group of practitioners, leaders, or educators to explore a critical topic, trend, or challenge in adult education digital learning. This format encourages dialogue among panelists while inviting active Q&A and discussion from both in-person and online attendees.

Lightning Lesson – Deliver a fast-paced, 30-minute focused showcase highlighting a single digital tool, emerging technology such as AI, accessibility tool, or app. This short-format session zeros in on practical adult education applications, workflows, and key takeaways without requiring a full 70-minute presentation.

Note: An adult educator is welcome to invite a vendor representative to participate as a co-presenter to showcase successful student outcomes through the use of a vendor product. Sessions led by vendor representatives, however, will not be accepted.

Presentation Format

Note: As TDLS is a hybrid conference, we encourage you to consider offering a hybrid presentation so both in-person and online attendees can participate. All presentations will be supported by a Room Monitor who can assist presenters with both the in-person and online audiences.

At least one presenter is in-person, and the audience is both in-person and online.

All presenters are online, and the audience is both in-person and online.

All presenters are in-person, and the audience is in-person only.

Audience

Teachers

Administrators

Support Staff (Transition Specialists, Counselors, Librarians, etc.)

Select All

Recommended level of technical proficiency

What level of technical proficiency is recommended for participants to fully engage with your session?

All Levels: This session is appropriate for anyone interested in the topic.

Introductory: No prior experience needed. This session will cover the foundational basics.

Intermediate: Familiarity with the tool/topic is helpful. This session will build on existing knowledge and skip basic setups.

Advanced: Prior experience is required. This session will dive straight into advanced applications and deep-dive concepts.

Category Strands (Please choose up to three)

Ensuring Equity and Access This session focuses on digital equity as a prerequisite to engage in digital learning, including topics such as: access to digital devices, connectivity to high-speed internet, and developing digital literacy skills. Strategies for meeting the needs of diverse learners, including accessibility requirements, UDL principles, and other topics may be covered as well.

Digital Learning Foundations This session centers on addressing the unique characteristics of adult learners, best practices in design and implementation of learning, connecting standards and practice, and professional development that supports staff in preparing for digital learning.

Designing Learning Experiences This session centers on selecting and using technology integration frameworks or models and digital tools (including AI, LMS, OER, and emerging tools such as VR and XR) for communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, learning management, and other functions to help students reach learning goals and outcomes.

Digital Learning Models This session centers on planning for and implementation of adult education digital learning models – distance education, blended learning, hybrid learning, and HyFlex or other flex models – that meet student learning needs.

Online Engagement and Assessment This session centers around specific techniques and strategies that focus on engaging learners in online environments, including the use of various digital assessment tools to inform instruction and enhance teaching and learning.

Student Support Services This session centers around student support services provided by agencies including student orientation, transition support services, human services (i.e., childcare, transportation), SEL, and other resources provided to learners with the aim of fostering a healthy, equitable, and inclusive learning community.

Corrections, Re-Entry, and Rehabilitation This session centers around technology integration and implementation in an environment with incarcerated adults or those placed on parole, in residential re-entry centers, and within rehabilitation facilities, particularly around the challenges of offering critical digital skills training to individuals.

Program Administration and Coordination This session centers on strategies for program development, improvement, or change management in a variety of areas, including personnel, instruction, partnerships, and vision, that transform digital learning at the agency.

Program Strands

Adult Basic Education

Adult Secondary Education

Adults with Disabilities

English as a Second Language

Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship

Short-term Career Technical Education

Workforce Preparation

Select All

Days and times you are available to present

Friday: AM

Friday: PM

Saturday: AM

Saturday: PM

Select All

Would you consider writing an OTAN article based on this presentation?

Yes

Would you consider presenting a version of your conference presentation as an OTAN webinar?

Yes

Lead Presenter

For a presentation with Co-Presenters, please select as Lead Presenter the person who will be responsible for managing and communicating all important information to other presenters in a timely manner.

First Name

Last Name

Email (Please provide an email address you check regularly for presenter and OTAN communications.)

Phone Number for Day of Contact

Agency

Please provide a short profile briefly outlining your adult education work and/or teaching background as well as conference presentation experience.

Meet The Presenter (500 character maximum)

Characters left: 500

Include names and email addresses of all presenters in the list of TDLS presenters

Yes

Only share the Lead Presenter's

Let us know if you have any comments/questions about this proposal (500 character maximum)

Characters left: 500

Accessibility

OTAN strives to host inclusive, accessible events that allow for full participation by all. Should you have any specific accommodation needs or inquiries about accessibility, please check the box and someone from the OTAN team will contact you, or email tdls@otan.us no later than February 19, 2027 for questions or requests.

I have an accessibility inquiry.

Media Release

The Technology and Digital Learning Symposium 2027 is a public, in-person, and online event. As such, each participant, presenter, and co-presenter is required to register for the event and agree to this media release giving OTAN permission to post photos, multimedia, audio or video of the conference for marketing of this and future events.

Agree