Call for Proposals: Teaching Exchange Symposium 2026

Building a Joyful Teaching Practice

March 23, 2026 | In-Person | 8 am - 2:30 pm

Does teaching bring you joy?  Do you want to share that joy with others? Join us for our second annual Teaching Exchange Symposium, where we'll explore practices that energize and inspire learning. This unique gathering brings together educators from across disciplines to share strategies, spark new ideas, and build a community of practice centered on teaching excellence.

Our theme, "The Joy of Teaching" celebrates why we do our work, the transformative power of learning. We invite instructors from any discipline to exchange methods, practices, and lessons learned that reflect the connections we build in the classroom. During the symposium, we will come together to inspire one another and reaffirm our shared commitment to teaching excellence.  We want to build a thriving teaching community where we can learn from one another and spread the joy of teaching.

Who Can Submit?

We welcome proposals from University of Arizona faculty, staff, and students across all disciplines. 

Key Dates

• The Call for Proposals is open from November 3-December 19.

Suggested Proposal Topics

We are seeking sessions that may address one or more of the following topics:

• Curriculum and Course Design: Approaches to creating engaging, balanced coursework that considers students' well-being and relevance beyond the classroom
• Assessment Practices: Creative methods for designing flexible assignments that honor student autonomy and equitably promote success.
• Technology & AI Integration: Human-centered practices that incorporate digital resources across learning environments, prioritizing connection and accessibility.
• Professional Growth & Well-being: Cultivating a thriving teaching practice and personal well-being through skills-building, peer support, and self-care practices.
• Community Impact: Approaches that extend teaching and learning beyond the classroom fostering reciprocal growth for students and the community.
• Creative Pedagogies: Course and/or assignment structures and approaches that incorporate out-of-the-box practices and lead to joyful teaching and learning.

Session Types

Live Interactive Session (60 minutes)

Live interactive sessions offer faculty and instructors an opportunity to engage participants in dynamic, practice-oriented formats. These may include workshops focused on hands-on learning and actionable strategies, showcases that highlight successful teaching practices and their practical adaptation, or discussions that foster collaborative exploration of emerging ideas and challenges in teaching and learning. This format emphasizes participant engagement, reflection, and the application of ideas to diverse instructional contexts. 

Sample Session Structures

Workshops

• Hands-on learning of specific teaching strategies
• Example: 15-minute intro, 40-minute practice, 5-minute reflection
• Participants leave with ready-to-use action plans

Showcases

• Case studies of successful teaching practices
• Example: 30-minute presentation and Q&A, 20-minute application planning, 10-minute reflection
• Focus on practical adaptation of ideas

Discussions

• Expert-led conversations about evolving teaching practices
• Multiple perspectives on innovative approaches
• Emphasis on collective exploration and critical thinking

Live Poster Sessions (90 minutes)

We invite instructors and students involved in teaching at all levels to submit proposals for the poster session. This is an opportunity to showcase your unpublished work to colleagues from around campus, network with like-minded educators, spark new ideas and/or continue to refine ongoing work. We are particularly interested in early stage ideas or projects.

We welcome posters on a wide range of teaching topics including:

• New or adapted approaches to course design, teaching, and/or assessment.
• Unpublished scholarship of teaching and learning research at any stage, including ideas or work with limited assessment.
• Instructor or student created teaching materials or resources
• Programs designed to improve university-level teaching and learning 

Posters may have multiple authors, but the team must commit to at least one presenter being present during the in-person poster session on March 23rd. 

Birds of a Feather Roundtables (60 minutes)

Birds of a Feather sessions are small, informal gatherings designed to help educators find their flock. Facilitators will host and organize tables to promote engagement and participation around  one or more of the suggested proposal topics and conference theme. Attendees can expect to build their networks, exchange ideas, collaborate with peers, and expand their teaching community. 

We welcome submissions that:

• Encourage attendee interaction & engagement
• Explore new ideas related to teaching and learning
• Are designed for open discussion and idea generation

Selection Criteria

Each proposal will be reviewed by our selection committee using a standardized rubric. Successful proposals demonstrate clear outcomes, practical applications, and thoughtful session design.

Your proposal will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Relevance & Impact (All session types)

• Addresses current trends in teaching and learning
• Demonstrates potential impact across different disciplines
• Aligns with symposium theme of "The Joy of Teaching"

Innovation & Evidence-Based Practice (Interactive workshop and poster)

• Offers fresh insights or creative approaches
• Draws from the scholarship of teaching and learning, which includes interdisciplinary methods and approaches, reflections and participatory practices, and cultural ways of knowing
• Incorporates evidence of effectiveness (for posters only- or a proposed assessment plan)

Session Alignment & Engagement (Interactive workshop only)

• Session description includes clear, achievable learning outcomes
• Includes specific plans for participant involvement and interaction
• Provides concrete takeaways and application ideas for participants

Accessibility (Interactive workshop only)

• Considers diverse learning preferences and needs
• Offers multiple ways to engage with content and each other (Universal Design for Learning)
• Provides clear scaffolding for participant learning