NCME 2012 - 2012 Annual Meeting and Training Sessions

On this section of the website you can find the Call for the 2012 Annual Meeting from April 12-16 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We have divided the call up into different sections and have provided hyperlinks to these sections here for an easy read. We have also described some of the key changes in the Call from previous years in each of the sections.

I. Theme of the Conference

Contrary to previous years we have created an official theme for the 2012 Annual Meeting. While the theme is, by necessity, a broader umbrella term we ask you to explicitly articulate how your submission specifically addresses this theme, notably the emphases on supporting students of all ages in becoming successful members of our global society as well as assessment and learning.

The theme for the 2012 meeting will be Supporting Student Success in a Global Economy: Methods, Practices, and Policies for Assessment and Learning. Research leading to improvements in all aspects of the educational environment including teacher effectiveness, enhanced standards, high-quality assessments and instructional systems, is welcome. Issues stemming from state-wide, national, or international assessment and learning initiatives as well as those stemming from exploratory local efforts to change educational practices are equally welcome.

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II. Annual Meeting Format

In addition to well-known session formats from previous years we have added a Paper Panel Session where invited moderators lead discussions and ask questions to presenters and the audience, both between papers and at the end of the session. Please also note that the difference between Coordinated Paper Sessions and Symposia is as follows. For the 2012 Annual Meeting, Coordinated Paper Sessions are typically designed to focus more narrowly on particular issues with an emphasis on convergence of ideas whereas Symposia are typically designed to focus more broadly on a range of issues with an emphasis on divergence of ideas. To encourage you to try new session formats that increase audience participation for the 2012 Annual Meeting we have created a new Coordinated Paper Session format entitled Innovative Format Sessions. Finally, for Training sessions, please note that we will do what we can to accommodate any requests for webcasting.

The Annual Meeting Program will consist of a mixture of different session formats including (a) Paper Sessions, (b) Coordinated Sessions, and (c) Training Sessions. For each session, NCME will provide an LCD (data) projector, screen, and microphone. NCME will arrange for other equipment for a session (e.g., laptop, VCR, slide projector, computer, overhead projector) at the expense of the presenter(s).

1. Individual Papers

The Paper Session format applies to proposals for individual papers. Related papers that are submitted together should follow the instructions for Coordinated Sessions. There will be two types of paper sessions at this Annual Meeting: (a) Paper Presentation Sessions; and, (b) Paper Panel Sessions. Accepted Individual Papers will be assigned to either one of the two session formats within this category based on overall program scheduling considerations.

Paper Presentation Sessions. A Paper Presentation Session typically includes four paper presentations of 10?15 minutes each followed by presentations by one or two discussants.
Paper Panel Sessions. A Paper Panel Session typically includes four paper presentations of 10-15 minutes but with audience interactions after each paper as well as at the end; this session will be moderated by invited panel leaders.
2. Coordinated Sessions

Coordinated Sessions include a number of different types of sessions where a proposal for a fully organized session is submitted as a unit.

Organizers of Coordinated Sessions are encouraged to submit proposals for innovative in-depth explorations of topics with practical implications such as the implementation of validity theory principles for practitioners, novel assessment and data-analysis challenges for digital learning environments, the role of universal design and accessibility principles for the design of learning environments, or connections between classroom assessment and large-scale assessment practices and methodologies.

Coordinated Sessions are usually 1? hours in length, but special requests can be made for a limited number of 2-hour sessions. Coordinated Sessions may include (a) coordinated paper sessions, (b) symposia, and (c) innovative format sessions. Organizers of Coordinated Sessions are encouraged to format the sessions in a way that increases audience participation.

Coordinated Papers Sessions. A Coordinated Papers Session provides an integrated and extended analysis and discussion of a relatively narrowly defined topic or issue. Related papers should either build on one another or cover different aspects of a single topic or issue from complementary perspectives. At least one independent discussant should be included.
Symposia. A Symposium consists of a series of related papers that present alternative views, competing solutions, or divergent interpretations for an issue or topic of broad scope and major importance. Symposium proposals should make clear how the divergent perspectives will be presented in a unified manner within the session. At least one independent discussant should be included.
Innovative Format Sessions. An Innovative Format Session is different from the two paper-driven formats above. These sessions are designed to be highly interactive and include formats such as debates, demonstrations, moderated panels, and structured poster sessions. We explicitly encourage you to submit a format that will maximally engage your audience for your intended purpose even if it may seem novel or unusual.
The organizer of a Coordinated Session should identify the topic, obtain commitments from a moderator, speakers, and independent discussants, and plan with them the issues to be explored and the manner for exploring them. An organizer may also act as a participant or moderator. Organizers of accepted proposals will be expected to notify the moderator, speakers, and discussants promptly and should coordinate the presentations well in advance of the Annual Meeting.

3. Training Sessions

We invite proposals for training sessions under the overarching theme Supporting Student Success in a Global Economy: Methods, Practices, and Policies for Assessment and Learning that are of interest to members and nonmembers. These sessions may be scheduled to occur before or during the Annual Meeting, depending on their length.

A training session that is proposed should meet the following criteria: (a) the topic(s) covered pertains to measurement theory and practice in educational settings in accordance with the conference theme, (b) the length of the training session is between three hours (i.e., morning or afternoon session only) and one full day, and (c) the costs associated with the session are covered by participant fees or other funding.

NCME will publicize the training sessions in Educational Measurement: Issues and Practices and/or in a mailing to members. Questions regarding the training session proposals should be directed via e-mail to the training session chair.