Call for Presentations
Join the innovative thought leaders speaking at EDspaces 2025, the conference driving the future of learning facilities.
Join the innovative thought leaders speaking at EDspaces 2025, the conference driving the future of learning facilities. The EDspaces Planning Committee seeks high-quality educational content and presentations focused on the needs of educational facility professionals.
All submissions due by March 31
Why Apply?
-
Share your expertise with an audience of diverse facility professionals including decision-makers from Pre-K to Higher Ed, dealers, architects, and interior designers.
-
Gain visibility in the industry and contribute to the advancement of your profession as an EDspaces speaker.
EDspaces “walks the talk” with education sessions held in unique classrooms designed by your peers. These spaces give speakers the opportunity to model authentic teaching and learning and demonstrate real-world application of cutting-edge products.
There is no submission fee, but all speakers chosen to present must register to attend the full conference and will be offered a ½ price discounted rate off their registration category fee. Each speaker, including all co-speakers, must agree to allow Emerald to use their name and to reproduce and distribute all or selected portions of their presentation in printed, audio video or electronic format.
Questions about the EDspaces Education program should be directed to Adrienne Dayton at [email protected] or (301) 495-0234.
Education Focus Areas
- Campus Safety
- Community Engagement
- Design/Project Management
- Facility Operations/Performance Standards
- Funding/Equity
- Future of Learning
- Pedagogy/Student Outcomes
- Post Occupancy/Research
- Technology/Innovation
- Wellness/Sustainability
Planning, designing, and outfitting safe, secure and welcoming learning environments that comply with fire and life safety codes while supporting the mental health and social-emotional needs of students.
Partnership opportunities for designing space not only for learning, but administrative, community, and business use — including integrating the need for career and technical education or early childhood education into cooperative learning spaces and developing public/private partnerships that involve all key stakeholders.
Evidence-based design as a foundation to support improved learning environments. How to use design as a tool for learning in facilitated learning places.
How facilities make the best use of the space they have and with the greatest positive impact on learning. Topics such as: universal design for learning, master planning, working with a design team, writing educational specifications, addressing design guidelines, evaluating project delivery options, monitoring progress, and evaluating completed projects.
Identifying cost and funding options, communicating the importance of supporting education finance, evaluating life-cycle costs, producing procurement documents.
Connecting learning to the future needs of students and teachers. Creating spaces that support diverse learning styles, foster creativity, and adapt to evolving needs.
Pedagogical innovation and cutting-edge design impact and influence student outcomes, including the relationship between facilities and learning and how changes in pedagogy converge with design.
What are the ‘wicked questions’ we need to ask to understand how the design of the built environment impacts learning performance? Share research findings on how the design of environment enhances teaching and learning and directly influences student engagement, creativity, and learning outcomes.
The impacts of technology on the physical environment including design considerations for a mixed-presence space with learners are both in person and virtual. The future of integrated technology and the effect of smart tech (VR, AI, etc.) on both design and pedagogy.
Integrating sustainable design and products into design solutions that lead to healthy learning environments. Sessions should address the physical, mental, and social wellbeing, safety and welfare of students. (Note: See HSW requirements.)
Session Formats
EDsessions will be presented in three formats:
1) 60 minutes in length, including introduction, presentation, and Q&A
2) 90 minute Interactive Workshop meant to engage the audience
3) Mini sessions (20 to 30 minutes) are also available for learning on the exhibit floor
*Please note that panel presentations are limited to four (4) speakers, including a moderator. Panels should include at least one presenter from an educational facility. Speakers may submit more than one session for consideration by submitting each separately.
Review/Selection Process
The Education Advisory Group seeks presentations that are engaging, creative, fun, useful, and informative. Reviewers will evaluate proposals based on several criteria: relevance of the topic to the overall conference, educational significance and contribution to the respective topic, unique value to participants, presenter knowledge and experience, actionable learning objectives, and interactive delivery methodologies. The Advisory Group, comprised of recognized industry leaders as well as representatives from EDspaces partner organizations, will review all complete submissions to recommend which are selected.
Improving Selection Odds
- Submit your presentation proposal on time.
- Be clear and concise in your description and identify four learning objectives that satisfy AIA, LEED, and/or NCIDQ accreditation requirements.
- If submitting a Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) topic (highly sought after), be sure at least three of the four Learning Objectives address the HSW requirement.
- Design your presentation to encourage audience interaction by using methods and tools such as facilitated delivery with high participation, peer-to-peer components, small-group discussions, participant brainstorming, and participant involvement in case study analyses.
- Involve school administrators, teachers, and students where possible to add credibility, performance, and reference to the sessions.
- Confirm the commitment of all speakers listed in your proposal to actively participate in the planning and presenting.
- Develop quality presentations that address key issues facing current institutional planning and delivery.
- State how your session will present new information, research, trend data, etc.