Call For Presenters - 2011

The annual MAEOE conference is a venue where the best educators come to share their strategies, methods, and best practices with their colleagues.

How to Submit

MAEOE has gone paperless!  Complete the online form to submit your Application to Present. It is important that you read this page prior to filling out your application.

Deadline for submissions is September 10, 2010

Click to Submit

MAEOE invites you to submit an Application to Present for consideration for one of the ten Friday workshops/field experiences which run 3 or 6 hours in length,  one of the 50 Saturday sessions that run 50-minutes, or a Sunday Field Experience. MAEOE welcomes applications from professionals representing all levels of education, all content areas, specialists, and business and industry experts.

Tentative Schedule

Thursday, February 10, 2011

• Professional Development Institute - Sponsored by University of Maryland College of Extension (Location TBD)
• Wilderness First Aid (Day 1) @ Lathrop E. Smith Center
• Environmental Film Screening - (7pm-9pm) @ UMUC Marriott Auditorium

Friday, February 11,  2011

• Outdoor Center Symposium (9am-12pm) @ Lathrop E. Smith Center
• Wilderness First Aid (Day 2) @ Lathrop E. Smith Center
• Workshops and Field Experiences
• Welcome/Key Note
• Exhibit Hall Grand Opening

Saturday, February 12, 2011

• Concurrent Sessions
• Plenary Session
• Exhibit Hall Closes
• Closing Session
• Social

Sunday, February 13, 2011

• Field Studies

Strands

While a presentation may address more than one strand, only the primary focus area is needed.

Strand One:  Natural History and Natural Sciences
These sessions should increase participant’s understanding of the composition and function of the natural world.    Topics could include, but are not limited to, a focus on conservation, preservation, human history, life sciences – botany, entomology, ecology, etc., and geosciences – geology, meteorology, etc.  Past conference evaluations indicate that many attendees are looking for advanced topics to build their skill sets in working with people in an outdoor setting. Traditionally, this is one of the most popular strands with conference attendees.

Strand Two:  Hot Button Topics
These sessions will encourage critical thinking and issue awareness by providing opposing viewpoints on contentious “hot button” topics, challenging participants to look at current environmental issues from all angles and perspectives.  Topics could include environmental health, environmental justice, alternative energy, climate change, diversity, and appropriate educational methods designed to develop critical thinking skills in students.

Strand Three:  Embracing STEM: Using Environmental Education as a vehicle for learning science, technology, engineering, and math
These sessions should teach participants innovative ways to infuse technology into environmental education and/or field experiences – including ways to use popular software, web applications, geographic information systems, hand-held GPS units, traditional microscopy, and micro computer based labs, (PASCO, Vernier, etc.) Of high interest are activities that engage students in relevant and critical real world issues.

Strand Four:  Working Toward Sustainability
These sessions explore issues, trends, and knowledge related to environmental literacy and stewardship and will focus on ways to engage, excite, and empower students of all ages by increasing their understanding of the natural world and how individual actions impact the environment, both positively and negatively.   Topics should include sustainable agriculture, best management practices, composting, pollution prevention, urban green spaces, energy alternatives, consumerism, “green” design or living, ecological footprints and related issues. Projects, modules, and curriculum materials that are designed  to build skills and develop students’ knowledge of the environment and important issues would be of special interest to participants.

Strand Five:  Environmental Education in Urban Settings
These sessions will help teachers develop effective methods for reaching urban students by tapping into the rich experiences, cultural customs, and practical skills sets unique to urban students.  Emphasis should be on topics that urban students will consider to be "real," such as air pollution, solid waste management, water pollution, impervious surfaces, noise pollution, light pollution, displacement of species, environmental health issues, poverty, transportation, habitat fragmentation, and habitat restoration.  Sessions in this strand should also help attendees to develop the skills needed to reach culturally diverse groups of students as well as engage their communities in action projects. 

Strand Six: Environmental Advocacy: Turning the Tide
These sessions focus on research, resources, courses, programs and techniques designed to build the capacity of formal and non-formal teachers to integrate the environment into all subject areas while seamlessly meeting national and state standards. Sessions will incorporate specific outdoor teaching techniques, projects (both nature and curriculum related), evaluation procedures, and other successful methods of outdoor instruction. Past participants have expressed specific interest in sessions that address integration of EE into the Arts.  Also in this strand would be sessions on successful methods for developing skills and knowledge in others, especially when advocating for EE with school administrators, community leaders, and elected officials. This strand may lend itself to roundtable or panel type discussions.

Strand Seven: Environmental Health and Justice
Everyone, regardless of income, race, religion, or occupation, has a right to live, work, learn, play and pray in a healthy community.  Unfortunately, the distribution of environmental goods and harms are not distributing equally.  Environmental Health and Justice links health science to social rights, justice and equity. Environmental health and justice concerns fall into many categories.  For example

• A neighborhood fighting the construction of an industrial landfill
• Farm workers seeking ways to reduce exposure to pesticides
• Native Americans fighting for land rights
• Soaring asthma rates
• Lead exposure in water and housing
• Rights to clean air and water

This strand explores the current status and trends of environmental health and justice issues facing Maryland, will introduce you to the people and organizations working within the environmental health and justice field, and provide you with knowledge and resources to integrate environmental health and justice issues into your programming.

Audience
Even though a presentation may address more than one level and classification of audience, only the primary audience level and classification is needed. The targeted audience of your presentation should be designed for attendees who work in any of the following levels and classifications:

Session Handouts and Follow-up Material
Part of effective professional development is providing meaningful handouts and/or follow-up material that allow the participants to further their learning. It is expected that accepted presenters provide handouts and/or follow-up materials to participants.  The preferred method for doing so is for presenters to submit a URL of their materials for posting on the Virtual Handouts section of the MAEOE website. If your presentation is selected, you will be provided with further details.

Internet Access - There is a fee of $20/day for Internet access.

Equipment -Because of compatibility issue, MAEOE asks that all presenters supply their own computers.

LCD Projectors - MAEOE will equip each presentation room with a standard LCD projector with a PC-compatible connector. Mac users must bring their own converter.

Presenters Per Session
A session may be presented by any number of people, but only two presenters will be identified in the session listing in the final program and on the conference website.

Conference Registration
MAEOE is pleased to provide a discounted conference registration to the main two presenters. Upon acceptance, you will receive additional information. Any additional presenters MUST register and pay for the conference through the regular registration process.

Vendor Presentations
A small percentage of presentations are conducted by companies, organizations and individuals representing products, services, or fee-based programming. These sessions should offer valuable facts and content to the audience and are not to be used as an “infomercial.” Sales pitches are highly discouraged. Vendor presentations will be noted in the Program. All vendor presenters must be exhibitors at the conference.

Application Deadline:
September 10, 2010