Instructions on How to Submit a Speaking Proposal
Thank you for your interest in submitting a proposal to present at The eLearning Guild’s 2020 Realities360 Conference & Expo. Please read the information below before you complete the submission form.
Click the button below to submit your speaking proposal now.
Submit A Speaking Proposal
FAQs About Speaking at Realities360
- What are the event dates?
- When are speaking proposals due?
- Where is the event located?
- What is Realities360 about?
- What is the target audience for this event?
- What types of sessions are offered at this event?
- What is the program focus of the event?
- What is Hands-On Learning BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)?
- Who is eligible to present at this event?
- Are speakers compensated?
- From a technical standpoint, what is required of me as a speaker?
- If selected as a speaker, what information and materials will I be required to submit?
- How do I submit a proposal?
- What resources are available to help me write a strong proposal?
- I have additional questions—who can I reach out to?
What are the event dates?
The conference will be held Tuesday, March 31, through Thursday, April 2, 2020.
When are speaking proposals due?
Proposals are due by Friday, August 2, 2019.
Where is the event located?
The Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida, USA.
What is Realities360 all about?
Realities360 is about exploring using virtual and augmented reality technologies to create immersive learning experiences. Sessions at this event will explore the use of virtual, augmented, and/or mixed realities in the context of learning and performance. We are interested in all proposals exploring the design, development, and/or implementation of learning programs that take advantage of these technologies. We welcome speakers who are using AR and/or VR in other fields who have practical insights to share on how these technologies can best be used.
What is the target audience for this event?
The target audience for Realities360 includes executives, managers, and practitioners in corporate, government, and academic settings who are actively using or experimenting with augmented, virtual, and/or mixed reality technologies, as well as those who are interested in doing so in the future.
Realities360 provides learning opportunities for all professionals directly involved in the development of eLearning, regardless of:
- Job title
- The task they perform on the development team
- Whether they work in a corporate, government, or academic setting
- The content or type of learning they are designing, developing, and/or managing
- The scope of responsibilities—whether as a specialist or a generalist
- The extent of responsibilities—whether as an individual contributor, departmental manager, divisional director, or corporate executive
What types of sessions are offered at this event?
- Optional one-day Pre-Conference Certificate Workshops will be held on Monday, March 30.
- Concurrent sessions will be held Tuesday, March 31 through Thursday, April 2, 2020. Session run times are either 45 or 60 minutes.
- Both workshops and concurrent sessions may be offered as Hands-On Learning BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) sessions. For more details on the BYOD format, see the BYOD point below.
Selected speakers will be assigned a slot by the Guild staff. If you have any scheduling conflicts, please note them on your submission form.
What is the program focus of the event?
We are interested in proposals exploring the design, development, and/or implementation of learning programs that take advantage of virtual and augmented reality technologies. We also encourage proposals from people who are using AR and/or VR in other fields and have practical insights to share on how these technologies can best be used, both in general and for learning and development.
Your session is more likely to be selected if your content is focused, in-depth, and practical. We are also very interested in sessions that show how these cutting-edge ideas and technologies can be used in creative ways to enhance learning experiences.
What is Hands-On Learning BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)?
BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Device. These sessions are hands-on and give participants an opportunity to actually work along with the presenter. These sessions may be either full-day workshops or 60-minute concurrent sessions.
Participants in BYOD sessions are expected to bring their laptops (or alternative devices, such as smartphones or tablets, as specified by the presenter) with the software being discussed already installed.
Who is eligible to present at this event?
As a community-based organization, we welcome any and all proposals.
Vendors of eLearning products and services will be considered; however, NO marketing or self-promotion is allowed. Sessions must be educational and informational in content. While not required, proposals that feature a case study with a client are strongly preferred.
Alternately, if you are interested in exhibiting at this event and want to find out about promotional opportunities, contact sales@eLearningGuild.com.
Are speakers compensated?
One free full-conference registration is provided per session. This free registration is given to the main presenter listed on the submission form. This registration cannot be shared or split. Presenters who are selected to conduct more than one session are given one free registration in total.
The first co-presenter (if applicable) will be able to register for the conference at a substantially discounted rate (no other discounts apply). This discount cannot be shared or split. For any additional co-presenters, normal conference registration fees and discounts will apply.
Full-day workshop presenters, in addition, may have their travel and hotel costs covered. They may also receive a fee based on workshop attendance.
NOTE: All presenters must be listed when you submit your proposal. Additional presenters cannot be added to your session without the approval of Guild staff.
From a technical standpoint, what is required of me as a speaker?
- Speakers must provide their own Wi-Fi–enabled computer (if Wi-Fi is needed for their presentation) and any software required to run their presentation.
- Standard AV provided includes computer projector, screen, speakers for the computer, and wireless access. Other AV equipment requested will be approved case-by-case.
If selected as a speaker, what information and materials will I be required to submit?
- A session description for publication on the web and in the mobile app and print materials. (The Guild staff will edit the information you provide according to the Guild’s style and length requirements. You will be required to review for accuracy.)
- A photo for use on the event website and other event materials. Photos must be formatted to be a minimum of 300 DPI, 5”x7”, and in TIFF, JPG, or PNG formats.
- An AV form that lists any technical requirements for your session(s).
- Session materials that will be posted for event participants before, during, and after the event. (Concurrent sessions only; workshop materials will not be posted on the resource site.)
How do I submit a proposal?
It’s simple. Use the online CFP form and complete all areas of the form. Completing a submission takes approximately 10 minutes. You may submit more than one proposal, but you must submit a separate form for each session proposed.
We recommend creating a draft of your proposal offline before entering it into the online CFP form. If you would like to do so, you can find a copy of the proposal form in Word format here.
If you need to exit the form without submitting, be sure to use the “save and continue later” function found at the top of the proposal form.
NOTE: If your browser or computer crashes while you’re in the process of filling out this form, you can contact the programming team at programs@eLearningGuild.com to get access to your partially completed survey.
What resources are available to help me write a strong proposal?
Among the best resources for learning how to write a strong proposal are the session descriptions from past Realities360 conferences. These descriptions essentially are edited versions of the content from the session proposal form, and they can be a great place to look for inspiration on what content to include in your proposal and how to approach your angle on a topic.
In addition, we’ve created a document outlining examples of a fictional strong proposals, as well as a few examples of proposals that would need a bit more work to be selected. You can download that PDF here.
It can also be helpful to work on a draft of your proposal offline. This allows you to take time with your answers as well as leverage spell check. You can download a Word document with the proposal questions here.
Finally, if you have questions about your proposal ideas, feel free to reach out to the programming team at programs@eLearningGuild.com.
I have additional questions—who can I reach out to?
If you have any questions about the form, these instructions, or the event, or if you are unsure about whether or not your topic is appropriate for this event, please contact our programming team at programs@eLearningGuild.com.