The 2025 STEAM Leadership Conference at Georgia Tech will provide an inspiring array of experiences to build and engage STEAM leaders for our 9th annual conference on March 7-8, 2025. We invite you to help lead the conversation by submitting proposals to share your innovative ideas.  

CONFERENCE THEME

Cultivating Curiosity: Nurturing the Relationship Between K-12 STEAM Education and Research Universities

In attending the 2025 conference, you can expect to: 

• Be Empowered to connect your curriculum and foster student engagement and workplace readiness;
• Emphasize Opportunities to build upon 21st century skills through lived experiences in the classroom;
• Revolutionize STEAM learning; and,
• Reignite your excitement and passion for success in the classroom.

AUDIENCE

Superintendents, curriculum coordinators, principals, academic coaches, content specialists, teacher leaders, artists, after-school coordinators, informal educators, researchers, curriculum developers, policymakers, industry professionals, and like-minded individuals who want to take STEAM teaching and learning to the next level. Faculty engaged in broader impacts or other research-based efforts that include K-12 and/or higher education teaching innovations are encouraged to participate.

DEADLINES

Deadline for proposals: November 22, 2024, at 11:59 pm
Notification of acceptance: December 20, 2024

*Please note that all presenters must register for the conference, whether presenting virtually or in-person.

Georgia Tech Faculty interested in presenting at the SLC should send an email to Heidi Turcotte at hturcotte3@gatech.edu

For questions or more information please email steamleadership@gatech.edu.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Priority will be given to proposals that meet the following criteria:

• The proposal conveys novel ideas.
• The main ideas given in the session are clear and concise.
• The session is designed to meet the needs of the target audience and provides attendees with an idea they can either implement or develop from.
• The proposal connects to the conference theme, “The Future and Beyond: Workforce Development, Critical Thinking, Innovation.”
• The proposal demonstrates authentic integration of STEAM components (science, technology, engineering, art & math) with a specific emphasis on the integration of the arts. (Check out the GADOE Arts Integration in STEAM Resource Overview)

CONFERENCE TRACKS

Inspiring Inquiry ​
This track delves into strategies for inspiring curiosity and inquiry-based learning in K-12 STEAM education. Sessions may explore:

• Project-based learning: workshops and presentations on designing and implementing hands-on projects that foster curiosity and critical thinking skills.
• Inquiry-based pedagogy: Discussions on effective instructional approaches that encourage students to ask questions, explore concepts, and develop a deeper understanding of STEAM subjects.
• Curiosity-driven curriculum design: Presentations on developing innovative curricula that ignite students' passion for learning and discovery

Collaborative Partnerships
In this track, participants will explore the benefits and opportunities of collaboration between K-12 schools and research universities. Presentation topics may include:

• University-school partnerships: Programming and best practices for establishing and sustaining partnerships that enrich K-12 STEAM education through access to university resources, expertise, and mentorship.
• Research collaborations: Discussions on collaborative research projects that engage K-12 students in real-world scientific inquiry and innovation, facilitated by university researchers and educators.
• Professional development initiatives: Workshops and presentations on professional development programs that support K-12 teachers in integrating research-based practices and resources into their classrooms.

Emerging Frontiers
This track invites focuses on cutting-edge research and innovations in STEAM education, highlighting the contributions of research universities. Presentation styles may include:

• Presentations: Latest research findings in STEAM education, conducted by university faculty, graduate students, and research teams.
• Technology showcases: Demonstrations of innovative technologies and tools developed by university researchers to enhance K-12 teaching and learning in STEAM subjects.

C​​ommunity Engagement and Impact
This track explores the role of K-12 STEAM education and research universities in driving positive change in local communities and beyond. Presentation styles may include:

• Community outreach initiatives: Presentations on collaborative projects and programs that engage K-12 students, educators, and university researchers in addressing real world challenges and promoting social impact.
• Service-learning partnerships: Discussions on service-learning opportunities that connect K-12 schools with university resources and expertise to address community needs while enhancing student learning and civic engagement.
• Impact assessments: Workshops and presentations on evaluating the effectiveness and impact of university-community partnerships in advancing K-12 STEAM education and fostering community development.

SESSION TYPES

As you complete your proposal, please select the type of session that best matches your presentation. The overall conference experience includes thought-provoking panel discussions, inspiring talks, and -- new this year -- short stories from the field. As in years past, we will be categorizing and organizing the presentations by the different tracks to make sure there are multiple opportunities to attend the different sessions. We rely upon your insight, as shared in these types of presentations that are proposed and delivered by you, to ensure a strong conference program.

Thought-Provoking Panel Discussions – 30 minutes (Virtual, Friday Only) 
Conversations that spotlight first steps and next steps, decisions and policies, hurdles and triumphs – from leaders in the field at varying levels of STEAM implementation. Panel discussions are crucial opportunities to investigate the thought processes and best practices used to initiate and advance either school or district STEAM focus. Proposals should indicate the topic and identify the panelists, while providing a context for the discussion and anticipating questions and dialogue between panelists and attendees. Panelists should be able to speak from first-hand experience in the topic discussed.  

Inspiring Talks – 30 minutes (Virtual, Friday Only) 
These powerful stage talks are designed to celebrate and share breakthrough experiences in STEAM implementation – impressive programs and exemplary lessons. Outstanding talks balance anecdotes and reproducible strategies, providing attendees with ideas to serve as catalysts in their own planning. 

Engaging Hands-on Workshops – 50 minutes (In-person, Saturday Only)  
Leaders participate in immersive learning sessions that emphasize learning-by-doing, while giving participants the chance to discuss in depth approaches to challenges they are facing in order to share solutions and learn strategies. Participants can expect to leave with tools, plans, or products they can immediately use.  **Saturday session time slots are extremely limited, but we want to provide strong proposals the opportunity to present virtually if we have a large number of in-person proposals. Please consider how your presentation might be translated into a virtual format.