Digital Learning Summit 2027 – Call for Proposals
Call For Proposals
Proposals Due December 1, 2026
Event Details
Dates: Tuesday, February 9 and Wednesday, February 10, 2027
Theme: Connected for Success
The 2027 Call for Proposals is now open!
This year’s theme, Connected for Success, highlights impactful approaches, promising practices, and lessons learned from across Texas, demonstrating how digital learning can expand access, support persistence, increase credential attainment, and strengthen workforce readiness. We invite proposals from faculty, librarians, instructional designers, administrators, digital learning staff, students, and others in the digital learning community. We look forward to hosting a conference that brings together institutions of every type and from every region of Texas, building bridges and fostering collaboration across the state. There is no registration cost to attend this event.
The Summit will feature engaging virtual sessions to allow participants to collaborate and network with practitioners from institutions of higher education across Texas.
Institutions will be invited to host collaborative Idea Exchanges at their campuses using provided facilitator resources, such as interactive activities and discussion prompts.
Session Topics
We invite session proposals related to the following topics:
Designing Digital Learning That Matters
Explore how intentional digital learning design creates engaging, accessible, flexible, and meaningful experiences for students. Sessions may highlight online and hybrid course design, digital pedagogy, OER, assessment, student engagement, accessibility, belonging, and the purposeful use of AI and emerging technologies.
Digital Support Beyond the Classroom
Examine how digital tools and strategies strengthen the services surrounding teaching and learning. Topics may include virtual advising, online tutoring, digital orientation, student communications, early-alert systems, digital readiness, technology-enabled interventions, and coordinated support that helps students persist and complete.
Digital Pathways to Completion and Opportunity
Highlight how digital learning expands access to academic pathways, credentials, and career opportunities. Sessions may address online and flexible programs, course sharing, transfer, microcredentials, competency-based education, workforce-aligned learning, experiential learning, and partnerships that connect education with employment.
Leading and Sustaining Digital Transformation
Focus on the people, partnerships, policies, and infrastructure necessary to build and sustain effective digital learning. Sessions may explore faculty and staff development, digital learning leadership, governance, accessibility compliance, technology ecosystems, data-informed decision-making, change management, and strategies for scaling successful practices.
Session Types
Proposals may be submitted for the following types of sessions:
- Interactive Session (50 minutes): Share original research, innovative ideas, programs, practices, or technology tools in digital learning through an engaging and participatory experience. Sessions should provide opportunities for audience involvement through activities such as dialogue, reflection, demonstrations, skill-building, collaborative problem-solving, or Q&A. Content should emphasize practical application and provide participants with useful strategies, resources, or takeaways they can apply in their own contexts.
- Panel Discussion (50 minutes): A moderated discussion featuring multiple speakers who share broad perspectives on a key topic in digital learning. Panelists highlight experiences, insights, and innovations, followed by audience Q&A to foster dialogue and deeper understanding.
- Lightning Talks (10 minutes): Short, focused presentations highlighting specific institutional activities, program successes, research findings, or case studies. These showcase sessions offer a platform for institutions to share innovative practices or insights in a concise format.
Submission Guidelines
All submitted proposal must include the following information:
Presenter information:
- Name(s)
- Title(s)
- Institution(s)
- Contact information
- Profile picture
- A brief bio for each presenter
- Include up to four co-presenters
Session Title: Catchy and descriptive, approximately 10 – 20 words.
Abstract: Maximum 1500 characters, summarizing your proposal.
Review Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following:
- Relevance to the Summit Theme
- Innovative Approach and Practical Application
- Session Engagement and Interactivity
- Clarity and Structure
- Contribution to Advancing Digital Learning
Key Dates:
Proposal Submission Deadline: December 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CT
Anticipated Notification of Acceptance: Mid-December 2026
Registration Opens: November 2026
Conference Dates: February 9 and 10, 2027
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Liz Tolman, Program Director, at digitallearning@highered.texas.gov.