Lightning Talk Proposals

***The deadline for proposal submissions was January 22, 2024; proposals are no longer being accepted.***
***Thanks to everyone who submitted a proposal!***        

The LOEX 2024 Conference Planning Committee invites you to submit lightning talk proposals for consideration to the 52nd Annual LOEX Conference. The conference will be held May 2-4, 2024.


A small, but fun & invigorating, part of the LOEX Conference are the Lightning Talks, which are a great way to share with a big group of people your ideas and best practices that don't warrant a full-blown, almost hour-long, breakout session. Topics can be practical implementations or conceptual ideas, and they should showcase effective practices or highlight new projects in various stages of development.

Proposal Tracks

Successful proposals will show evidence of being lively, fast-paced and thought provoking, while reflecting elements at least one of the conference tracks: 


  • Planting Seeds: Pedagogy and Instructional Design     

How have you been deliberate about growing your instruction, whether for online, hybrid or classroom contexts? What inclusive models or design processes have you used to ensure your instruction reaches as wide a group of learners as possible? Share a project that demonstrates best practices or innovation in instructional design and/or pedagogy, whether you have revamped an existing project or branched out to create new curricula, lesson plans, or instructional objects. Let us know how you grow your practice and keep things fresh.   

  • Putting Down Roots: Collaboration and Outreach     

A tree has a stronger foundation if it develops a layered, diffuse root system. How have you grown relationships beyond the library? Who have you developed partnerships with? Are you branching out and working with public libraries, school libraries, or community organizations? What kinds of programs, projects, or initiatives are you cultivating? How have you made connections with underserved or underrepresented groups? Tell us about how you make these efforts bloom.

  • Seeing the Forest: Assessment and Evaluation           

It is always wise to take a step back and a deep breath to assess what is going on. How do you make sure you don’t lose sight of the big picture? How can daily outcomes flower into long-term change? What steps have you taken to make sure all voices are given a chance to speak up, stand up, and be counted? Share assessment projects that measure and mark information literacy achievement or other instructional programming outcomes. Has your cohort, department, or institution made a major commitment to a program, service or resource? Tell us how individuals keep groups and administrative teams invested in new projects.

  • Controlled Burns: Revitalize and Renew       

Springtime signals regrowth. Sometimes it is fruitful to reconnect with past projects or collaborators. What do you prune and what do you keep? How do you know when to rebuild or when to start fresh? How do librarians as professionals support wellbeing and avoid burnout? What leadership have you shown to ensure you and your co-workers are on the right path? Share approaches and programs that have enabled you to re-energize and revive your body and spirit.   

  • Climate Change: Adapting to New Technologies  

As teaching librarians, we adapt to new technologies all the time. From online design software to student participation apps, librarians are often on the cutting edge of educational technologies. With the rise of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools, we are at a crossroads in the digital landscape. Do you think the future looks bright? Or are you worried we’re in for a cataclysmic shift? How do you implement the tools so they can be utilized and properly reflect the diverse population on your campus? What new tools are you finding useful to move your pedagogy forward? What old tools have you used in new ways or new settings?

  • Field Notes: Using Research to Inform Practice  

How have you conducted original research to investigate the effectiveness of your instructional approach, or drawn from the literature of the field to enhance your practice? This is your chance to demonstrate how engaging in research and utilizing existing research can enrich your teaching in a variety of contexts.


Lightning Talk Format, Timing, and Quantity

Each presenter will have seven minutes total. There will not be additional time for questions, but presenters may reserve part of the seven-minute allotment for Q&A if desired.


Lightning Talks will very likely take place after lunch on the Saturday of the conference, and be presented in a general session open to all attendees.

We expect, at maximum, five Lightning Talks proposals will be accepted for the conference. 


Lightning Talk Submission Information


***The deadline for proposal submissions was January 22, 2024; proposals are no longer being accepted.***  


Proposals can be submitted only through the online submission form and must be received by Monday, January 22, 2024.


There is only one presenter permitted for each Lightning Talk presentation due to time constraints.


If your proposal is accepted, the presenter will be automatically registered for the conference, and required to pay registration in full by Monday, April 8, 2024. A Lightning Talk presenter is not required to, but can choose to submit a full paper version (up to 1,000 words) of their talk for inclusion in the LOEX Conference Proceedings.


Note: Failure to pay the registration fee will result in the cancellation of your lightning talk and conference registration. All presenters are responsible for paying their own travel and lodging expenses.  


Contact for Lightning Talk presenters: Dee Anna Phares at lightning2024@loexconference.org

 

Lightning Talk Submission Timeline

  • January 22, 2024: Deadline to submit lightning talk proposals
  • February 6, 2024: Notification of acceptance of lightning talk proposal
  • April 26, 2024: Deadline for all Lightning Talk presenters to submit full papers (up to 1000 words) for inclusion in the LOEX Conference Proceedings
  • May 2-4, 2024: 52nd Annual LOEX Conference in Naperville, IL


Lightning Talk Proposal Selection Criteria

The committee will be using a rubric to score the proposals during a double-blind review process. The rubric grades each proposal on:

  • Content and objectives of presentation
  • Clarity of topic, particularly how presenter will achieve presentation objectives in seven minutes or less
  • Relevance to the field of library instruction
  • Originality and creativity
  • Demonstrated expertise of the presenter(s) on the topic
  • Methods used to inform and also engage the audience

For more guidelines on preparing and giving lightning talks at LOEX, please visit our Lightning Talk Guidelines page.


Presenter Benefits

The solid reputation of the LOEX Conference ensures that presenters benefit as much as their audience. Presenters can expect to:

  • Contribute to the field of library instruction and information literacy
  • Receive professional recognition at the conference
  • Highlight their institution's accomplishments
  • Receive automatic registration at the LOEX Conference in Naperville, IL.