2008 POD Network/NCSPOD Conference

2008 Conference Information
The Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network & The National Council for Staff, Program and Organizational Development (NCSPOD)

October 22-25
The Nugget Resort
Reno, Nevada, U.S.

Weaving Patterns of Practice

You are enthusiastically invited to be a part of the joint POD and NCSPOD annual conference in Reno, Nevada, October 22-25, 2008. Please join us in exploring the theme of Weaving Patterns of Practice.

Northern Nevada’s diverse landscape, from the Great Basin Desert to the Sierra Nevada peaks, has inspired the area’s native artisans for centuries. This inspiration has been transformed into arts and crafts in which individual strands are woven together to create greater strength, utility and beauty. Yet the colors and textures of individual strands remain visible. The materials and designs are infinite, and the creative possibilities are endless.

This year’s conference represents the weaving together of our two organizations, POD and NCSPOD. On a practical level, our separate practices will be united into one event, where we join in achieving common goals, and yet maintain our unique identities by hosting receptions and sessions from each of our traditions. Working together gives us the opportunity to rethink and explain our practices. One example of this rethinking is the way in which we are organizing our session topics. Members of both organizations will find new language in the call for proposals.

This coming together also represents something larger: an exploration of the ways in which various kinds of institutions can collaborate to offer high quality post-secondary education. The following questions are provided to help you begin to reflect on our theme.

How do our patterns of practice reflect both those strands that persist across time and those that are emerging? In what ways do our practices intertwine the past, present, and future?

What diverse disciplines and populations do we seek to bring together through our work? In what ways, for example, do we promote cross-cultural and cross-generational learning communities?

Being pulled in so many directions, how do we as educators remain whole and strong? How do we integrate the various priorities of our lives?

These topics represent ongoing areas of research and practice among many POD members. They are not intended to limit your proposal in any way, but instead to help in assigning appropriate proposal reviewers and in planning the conference program.

This year you will start by choosing one of three broad categories and then one or two topics that best describe your proposal. The three broad categories from which you will select one:

Professional Development – Practices and activities contributing to the evolution of individuals in the field. Includes but is not limited to orientation, career planning, mentoring, goal setting, time management, and ethics.

Instructional Development – Practices and activities contributing to the advancement of teaching and learning. Includes but is not limited to learning theory, consultation, and programming.

Organizational Development – Practices and activities contributing to the vitality of the organization. Includes but is not limited to leadership, strategic planning, sustainability, accreditation and collaboration.

The topics are intended to allow greater specificity within the broad category

Proposals are due by Monday, April 7th, 2008. Proposals must be submitted online at http://podnetwork.org/pod. Proposals will be evaluated using a blind review process.
For more information go to http://www.podnetwork.org/conferences/2008/#Guidelines

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