UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Teaching and Learning with Technology, part of Penn State University Libraries, is inviting faculty to submit proposals for the 2027 TLT Symposium. The in-person symposium will take place Friday, April 2, and Saturday, April 3, at Brass 16823 in Bellefonte, with live virtual programming on Thursday, April 8.
The TLT Symposium brings together educators from across the University to explore how technology can enhance innovative and effective teaching and learning. Presenters share practical strategies, emerging ideas and lessons learned while building connections with colleagues and inspiring new approaches to teaching with technology.
The 2027 TLT Symposium theme is seeing “through the lens” of Penn State faculty who pursue new ideas, challenge familiar approaches and use emerging technologies to strengthen teaching, and celebrating their efforts to advance student learning through technology. Symposium organizers invite faculty to submit proposals shaped by curiosity, courage and reflection from one of five session categories:
- Agile and Future-Ready Learning: Acknowledges educators who design flexible, accessible learning experiences that help students engage and persist across formats and changing environments.
- Assessment and Learning Analytics: Honors educators who use data-driven insights and adaptive tools to design authentic, real-world measures of student learning.
- Immersive and Experiential Learning: Celebrates educators who leverage technology tools, virtual environments and simulations to create relevant, real-world learning experiences.
- Inclusive and Equitable Learning: Recognizes educators who create inclusive, accessible and supportive learning environments centered on connection, empathy and student well-being.
- Student Voice and Digital Fluency: Appreciates educators who foster student-centered environments that support agency, co-creation, critical thinking, authentic expression, digital citizenship, and adaptability and flexibility in teaching with digital technologies.
Please note, there is no separate AI category because AI has been embedded into most aspects of teaching, learning and technology. However, AI-focused proposals are welcome and encouraged to be submitted under the session category that best fits.
Additionally, there will be a designation for presentations by World Campus faculty and staff.
Within the session categories, faculty can choose to submit one of the following formats for a session:
- Concurrent session: 45-minute presentations that can include individual or group talks and panel discussions.
- Critical Conversation (NEW): 25-minute, AV-free roundtable discussions designed to encourage lively interaction and Q&A among the facilitator and audience.
- Discovery Table: An interactive, informal format for sharing new ideas, opportunities, or research through a brief, poster-style presentation.
- New and Noteworthy Show and Tell (NEW): 25-minute presentations focused on emerging technologies that may not yet be available to the entire Penn State community.
- Workshop (NEW – Friday ONLY): 75-minute subject-focused interactive sessions that allow participants to share and apply knowledge while learning together.
- Symposium Lite (virtual session): - A 30-40-minute presentation with Q&A held on April 8, 2027.
To help ensure proposals are impactful, submitters are encouraged to attend any of the proposal webinars to learn how to design a proposal for the best chance of being accepted. All webinars will be held online via Zoom. Registration is required to attend one of the sessions below:
- Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1–1:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1–1:30 p.m.
Proposals may be submitted through Nov. 9. Presenters whose proposals are selected will be notified in January.
For more information on the TLT Symposium or the Request for Proposals, please contact tltsymposium@psu.edu. To receive Symposium news and updates, join the TLT Symposium email list.