We want YOU to present at NCAGT’s Conference in March of 2023! The fact that you’re viewing this blog post tells us that you are interested; so what do you have to lose? Why not apply? Whether you are a Gifted Coordinator who has designed a successful program in your district, a college professor who has interesting research findings, a teacher who has implemented Gifted instructional models, or a parent advocate who has experiences to pass along, this is your moment to shine!
As someone who has attended and presented at the NCAGT conferences in the past, I have learned some things along the way that hopefully can help you. Below are some quick tidbits that will make your proposal stand out among the rest!
Grab Them
The title of your presentation will be seen right away, so make sure it pops! Your session’s title does not have to involve alliteration or rhyme (although that is fun!), but it should speak directly to what your presentation will be all about and the vision you have for it. For example, for my session on unique math strategies, I called it “Bespoke Math”, added a colon, and briefly expanded on that. I also recommend completing the majority of the proposal and then coming back to figure out your title later.
Show your Passion
What unique outlook do you bring to the field of Gifted education? You know your topic best, and you better bet that we want to learn from you! So really talk up yourself and your presentation idea, highlighting points that you think will really resonate with and benefit your intended audience and what they should come away with (learning outcomes). For example, one component of the proposal asks “why are you qualified?”. This is where I wrote about my years of teaching, my love and knowledge of my students, and why “Bespoke Math” works in the classroom.
Give Them What They Want
Pay attention to what the proposal is asking for. Stick to these points, and try not to stray too much from the prompt; 2500 characters is not as much as you think! The three strands are also very important, and your presentation should align specifically to one of these strands. What your topic is, is what you should present at the conference, and what your audience is looking forward to. For example, have you attended conferences before and wished the presentations were more applicable and that there were more resources to be used right away? Be that person! Remember, we all have something inspiring to share about this diverse and exciting population of students!
The deadline for proposal submissions is Friday, October 14th, so get to work and see you in March!
P.S. What session topics would you love to see at NCAGT in March? Add a comment below!