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How to write education conference abstract submissions
What can I say in 300 words?
Educational Objectives: Those participating in this activity will be able to:
- Draft an educational conference abstract that will positively engage reviewers.
- Describe the basic rules of etiquette when submitting conference abstracts.
- Critically review an abstract for its readability and information value.
13th Annual Teaching and Learning Symposium
All members of SIU SOM are invited to the 13th Annual Teaching and Learning Symposium (In Person), hosted by the Academy for Scholarship in Education at SIU School of Medicine. The Annual T&L Symposium is a peer-reviewed academic conference and an excellent opportunity to present and share your medical education research and perspectives with colleagues and faculty at SIU SOM and scholars in the field of medical education.
There are two ways to participate in our Annual T&L Symposium. First, you can submit your research study and ideas (complete or in-progress) as an abstract (see submission types and topics below). Second, if you are interested in providing feedback to authors, volunteer opportunities are available for the Symposium, you may serve as an abstract reviewer, a session host, and/or a session evaluator at the Symposium.
One benefit of presenting at our T&L Symposium is receiving feedback from multiple groups of scholars. First, you can consult with Department of Medical Education faculty members in the early stage of your abstract writing. Second, the Symposium Planning Committee and abstract reviewers will provide feedback on your abstract submission. Third, the participants and session evaluators at your presentation session will provide constructive and encouraging feedback. This feedback will help you develop your abstracts and advance your work to the next milestone, such as journal publication.
Keynote Speaker: (TBD)
Important Dates: Abstract Submission Due: Monday, January 30, 2023 (11:59 pm, CST)
13th Annual T&L Symposium: Thursday, April 13, 2022, All-Day, In Person
* Manuscript Submission System will be ready in January
Submission Types:
- Research Presentations
- Posters
- Small Group Discussions
- Professional Development Workshops
- Ignite (Short Communication of New Ideas)
- Creative Arts (New; Express Yourself and Medical Education)
Symposium Topics:
- Innovations in the fields of teaching and learning in medicine
- Leadership development
- Personal and professional development
- Promotion of wellness at the individual and institutional level
- Coaching and mentoring and its role in student performance
- Antiracism, antibias, diversity, and inclusion
- Assessing student learning and performance
- Integrating technology and/or simulation into the educational experience
- Designing and delivering community-based education
- Integrating collaborative techniques within the PBL learning process
- Infusing the humanities within medical and clinical education
- Recognizing and addressing difficulties in the learning process
- Action research around education in schools of medicine.
We hope you will take advantage of the 13th Annual T&L Symposium, where you can learn about medical education research and innovation, discuss current medical education topics as a group, provide constructive feedback to presenters, and connect with presenters and future collaborators. If you have questions, please reach out to us. Thank you and take care.
Yours Sincerely,
Boyung Suh, PhD, and Stacy Sattovia, MD, Co-Chairs, T&L Symposium Committee; Academy for Scholarship in Education; SIU School of Medicine
Submission guideline details
Authors present findings of a completed empirical study to session participants to disseminate new knowledge and to hold scholarly discussions. Presenting authors must be conversant with the study to discuss pertinent literature, study findings, and respond to participants’ questions. Presentations will be 10-15 minutes in length, followed by a 5–10-minute discussion.
Abstracts will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Clarity of research statement/question
- Strength of background and significance of the study
- Strength of the study design and methods
- Relevance and significance of findings
- Soundness of conclusions
- Quality and clarity of writing
Abstracts should contain the following information (500-word limit):
- Research Statement/Research Question(s)
- Background and significance of the study
- Study Design (Methodology, Methods)
- Findings
- Conclusions (Discussion, Limitations, Future Studies, Conclusion)
- References
Poster authors present data, either for works-in-progress or finished, and interact with session participants for a brief presentation and discussions during a poster session. Presenting authors must be available and conversant with the study to discuss pertinent literature, study findings, and respond to participants’ questions. Abstracts will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Originality of the idea and innovative concept
- Clarity of research statement/question
- Strength of background and significance of the study
- Strength of the study design and methods
- Relevance and significance of findings
- Soundness of conclusions
- Quality and clarity of writing and visualization
Abstracts should contain the following information (500-word limit):
- Research Statement/Research Question(s)
- Background and significance of the study
- Study Design (Methodology, Methods)
- Findings
- Conclusions (Discussion, Limitations, Future Studies, Conclusion)
- References
Small group discussions (30-45 minutes) will invite session participants to in-depth discussions of various medical education topics, which include but not limited to, UME/GME curriculum, evaluation, professional development, leadership, excellence, and wellness. To promote discussions involving multiple perspectives of medical education, facilitating authors from different departments and diverse backgrounds are encouraged. Abstracts will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Interest to the medical education community
- Author(s)’ experience and expertise with the topic
- Instructional methods within the proposal that indicate an interactive session
- Quality and clarity of the description
Abstracts should contain the following information (500-word limit):
- Title
- Speakers
- Rationale: Why is the topic important and relevant to medical education?
- Objectives or aim: What participants will be able to do as a result of the session or practice during the session?
- Session format: Provide a background of topics, questions, or time allocated for the different activities.
- Experience: In one sentence per speaker, describe the experience of the speaker.
Professional Development Workshops (30-45 minutes) will help session participants acquire new knowledge and skills around the symposium topics. Workshop facilitators must use a series of hands-on activities and provide helpful guides to make their sessions highly interactive and participative. Abstracts will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Interest potential to the medical education community
- Soundness of the rationale and learning objectives
- Author(s)’ experience and knowledge with the topic
- Clarity of session format (It should be clear about who’s doing what for how long)
Abstracts should contain the following information (500-word limit):
- Title
- Facilitators
- Rationale: Why is the topic important and relevant to medical education?
- Learning objectives: What participants will be able to do as a result of the session or practice during the session?
- Session format: Provide a background of topics, activities, or time allocated for the different activities.
- Experience: In one sentence per speaker, describe the experience of the speaker.
“Ignite” is a free-style short communication session (5-10 minutes) where a group of individual authors share new and provocative ideas for medical education innovation. The author has full discretion in how she or he presents the new ideas during the session (e.g., presentation format/tools or participant engagement plan). Anyone who has passion and ideas to advance medical education at SIU SOM is invited to be an author. No evidence is required, just your thoughts. Potential topics include, but not limited to, curricular development, program descriptions, new approaches, and quality improvements. Abstracts will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Relevance of the idea
- Significance of the idea
- Relevance of outcomes
- Awareness of limitations
- Clarity of writing
Abstracts should contain the following information (500-word limit):
- A Problem
- Innovation Idea(s)
- Potential Impact of the idea
- About the Author
We invite you to reflect on and express your inspiration and aspiration about medicine and medical education. "Creative Arts" is a new submission category of the Annual T&L Symposium prepared for you to bring your whole self to the SIU SOM community. Authors will have a space and time to display or perform their creative artworks during the Symposium day. Authors have complete discretion over how they present the creative artwork during a session (e.g., paintings, music, essays, photography, video, poetry, comics, posters, the performance of all kinds, etc.).
- Relevance to the theme of the symposium (What Makes You Whole?)
- Potential to inspire SIU SOM community
- Title of art
- A brief overview of the concept of the artwork
- Specifics of installation or display
- About the Author