Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning

2026 Information for Presenters

Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference Logo

Welcome 2026 ITL Session Presenters!

This is your one-stop destination for information about presenting at this year’s hybrid ITL conference. Teaching Talk sessions will be held via Zoom on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Interactive Sessions will be held in-person in Dewberry Hall in Johnson Center on Friday, September 25, 2026. Below you will find details about: 

  • Key Dates
  • Registration 
  • Program
  • General session information
  • Session Tips

If you still have questions, check out our ITL FAQ page or email our Conference Director, Crystal Anderson, [email protected].  

KEY DATES

  • September 7: Deadline for presenters to register 
  • September 7: Deadline to submit changes to the program 
  • September 24: Teaching Talk Sessions (virtual) 
  • September 25: Interactive Sessions (in person)

REGISTRATION

All presenters must register for the conference by September 7 for us to finalize the program. Registration is FREE! Once you register, you will be added to Canvas, which houses the program for the virtual sessions, including Zoom links, abstracts, and presenter information. The program with room numbers for Interactive Sessions will be available at the registration desk on September 25. 

Registration also allows you to sign up for a light breakfast, lunch, and reception.  

ALL PRESENTERS SHOULD REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 7, 2026.  

PROGRAM

Please see the Conference Program webpage for general information about session times. Detailed information about sessions will be available in the online program on Canvas.  You will be added to Canvas once you register for the conference. 

Please check your session title for accuracy. Request for changes can be made using the 2026 ITL Presenter Changes Form until September 7. (Please note: Edits will not be made in real-time. All requested edits will be made after September 7). 

GENERAL SESSION INFORMATION

Room assignments (Interactive Sessions only). Room assignments will only be available on the printed, one-page program available at the registration desk on September 25. 

Available technology (Interactive Sessions only). All meeting rooms in the Johnson Center are equipped with PowerPoint presentation capabilities (projectors, etc.) and laptop hookups. We strongly encourage presenters to use the equipment in the rooms, as the settings of personal laptops may not be compatible with the equipment in the rooms. 

Zoom links (Teaching Talk Sessions only). You will receive the Zoom link for your session from the ITL Planning Committee via the Stearns Center email ([email protected]) in the days leading up to September 24. 

Accommodations. You will be asked about any necessary accommodations during registration. If there is anything else you would like us to know, please reach out to the ITL Planning Committee at [email protected].  

Changes to the program.  We will not accept changes to the program, including changes to session times, after September 7. If you can no longer participate in the conference for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing the Stearns Center ([email protected]).

SESSION TIPS

Interactive Sessions. Interactive Sessions allow presenters to actively engage participants as they share a teaching strategy, innovation, curricular initiative, technique, or tool. Facilitated by 1-3 presenters, these sessions provide takeaways that participants can use in their own teaching practice or curricular development.

Examples of interaction include: 

  • Pre-planned, guided discussion on a specific topic related to the session 
  • An activity where participants may practice a strategy or technique 
  • A brief writing activity where participants reflect on a topic related to the session  
  • An activity where participants collaborate to answer a question or apply a strategy or technique    

Teaching Talk Sessions. Teaching Talks sessions allow 2-3 individuals to share an aspect of their own teaching practice in a more concise format. In 10 minutes or less, each participant presents a teaching strategy, innovation, technique, or tool used in your course or SoTL research based on a course. Individual Teaching Talks will be grouped together in a 50-minute Teaching Talk Session around a common theme. Stearns Center staff or other session hosts will introduce presenters and manage the Q&A session. Please contact your assigned moderator for any issues beyond technology during your session on Thursday, September 24, 2026.