Deadline Friday! CFP: Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) Facilitators/Trainers 2026 Conference: Reflection and Innovation

[Cynthia Korpan]

Hello all,

Reminder that the deadline for proposals is this Friday, February 27.

Call for Proposals 

Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) Facilitators/Trainers 2026 Conference: Reflection and Innovation
When: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Pacific time zone
Where:  Virtual

Cost: This is a free virtual event. Registration is required and will be available in March.

Proposal Submission Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026, 5 pm Pacific time zone

ITeach: Certification in Higher Ed Inc. and Royal Roads University are happy to extend this invitation to the inaugural conference of ISW/FDW/TDW Facilitators and Trainers to share innovative research and practices in instructor development through peer feedback, experiential learning, and reflective pedagogy.

 

We invite proposals that advance understanding of how ISW Facilitators and Trainers can engage adult learners, build communities of practice, incorporate feedback loops, and sustain ISW programs, especially as modalities evolve (e.g., hybrid, online, global networks).

Who Should Submit?

If you are currently an ISW Facilitator and/or FDW/TDW Trainer, you are eligible to submit a proposal. This is an opportunity to showcase your institutional/organizational ISW program, gain valuable feedback, explore new ideas, and contribute to the collective knowledge of the ISW community.

Proposal topics

We welcome high‐quality presentations, workshops, panel discussions, and posters exploring any of the following (but not limited to):

• ISWs in diverse contexts
• Peer feedback, video review, and reflective teaching practices
• Facilitator development: training those who lead ISW workshops
• Institutional models for sustaining ISW programs
• Research or Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) research on ISW program and practices
• Technology‐enhanced delivery of instructor development (whether in-person, online, or virtual ISW/FDW/TDW)
• Inclusive experiential pedagogy, accessibility, and working with diverse adult learners
• Communities of practice, faculty‐learning communities, and networking for instructional growth – what happens after the ISW
• International/cross‐cultural implementations of ISW/FDW/TDW (given ISW’s global reach)
• Case studies from colleges, universities, polytechnics, government departments, non-profits, or training organizations

Types of Sessions

Proposals can be submitted in one of the following formats:

• Oral Presentation (30 minutes inclusive of Q&A): empirical or theoretical work, case studies, research findings, practical implementations
• Interactive Workshop (60 minutes): hands‐on, small‐group work, peer-feedback activities, or Facilitator training simulations
• Panel Discussion (60 minutes): 3-4 presenters plus moderator addressing a shared topic or engaging in dialogue
• Poster: visual display plus video-recorded; ideal for those who are in time zones that will make it difficult to attend synchronously on Zoom

Submission Guidelines

Each submission should include:

• Title of proposed session
• Session format (Presentation, Workshop, Panel, Poster)
• Abstract (100-250 words) describing the session’s purpose, learning outcomes for participants, and relevance to the conference theme and ISW Network mission
• Intended audience (e.g., new ISW Facilitators or Trainers, experienced ISW Facilitators or Trainers)
• Brief presenter(s) bio(s) (max 150 words each) including affiliation and role in ISW
• Proposal submission deadline: Tuesday, February 27, 2026, 5 pm Pacific time zone
• Notification of acceptance: March 16, 2026
• Registration: March 16 – May 6, 2026
• Conference date: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Pacific time zone

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Relevance to the conference theme/ISW Network mission
• Clarity of session purpose and learning outcomes
• Originality and quality of content (theoretical grounding, empirical evidence, practical application)
• Engagement strategy for participants (especially for workshops)
• Appropriateness of format and alignment with audience needs

Submission Process

Submit your proposal here https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/80663/submitter

Contact Information

For questions or more information, please contact Dr. Cynthia Korpan at in...@iteachhe.com or visit the conference website.

We look forward to receiving your proposals and welcoming you to a vibrant community of ISW Facilitators/Trainers dedicated to shaping the future of higher education. Join us in this exciting opportunity to learn, share, and grow together!

Cynthia Korpan (ITeach) and Nadia Kulikova (Royal Roads)

Conference Organizers

Cynthia Korpan, PhD (she/her)

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies, UVic

Former Director of Teaching Excellence, UVic

Award-winning Educational Developer 2017 (EDC) 

Director, ITeach: Certification in Higher Ed Inc. iteachhe.com 

Faculty Member, 2026 Institute for New Educational Developers (INED) 

Secretary and Board Director, Society of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE)

Academics Without Borders Volunteer

Associate Editor, Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (CJSoTL)

Committee Member, Graduate Student, Professional Student, and Postdoctoral Scholar Development Special Interest Group (GPPD SIG) (POD)

Latest publications:

Expanding peer observation of teaching and learning through cross-institutional collaboration

Me-search research: The use of a self-study methodological approach to teaching documentation

I acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.

[Cynthia Korpan]

Hello all,

Due to several requests, we have extended the deadline for proposals to Monday, March 16.

Call for Proposals 

Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) Facilitators/Trainers 2026 Conference: Reflection and Innovation
When: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Pacific time zone
Where:  Virtual

Cost: This is a free virtual event. Registration is required and will be available in March.

Proposal Submission Deadline: Monday, March 16, 2026, 5 pm Pacific time zone

• Proposal submission deadline: Monday, March 16, 2026, 5 pm Pacific time zone
• Notification of acceptance: March 30, 2026
• Registration: March 30 – May 6, 2026