2011 Technology Conference Call for Proposals
August 23, 2010

PCPA is soliciting workshop proposals for its inaugural technology conference to be held March 16-17, 2011 at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East. This event strives to educate participants about how the power of information technology assists behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability services organizations to operate more efficiently. Information about proposal content, deadlines, and requirements of presenters are outlined below.

The Call for Proposals form outlines expectations for submissions and includes the need for a workshop overview, abstract, and development of measurable learning objectives. Proposals are due to Jen Bankard, director of training and resource development by 5:00 p.m. October 11. Proposals must be submitted electronically using the required form.  No proposals will be accepted via mail or facsimile. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered for inclusion in the program. Electronic confirmation will be sent upon proposal receipt.

The proposal selection process at PCPA is competitive. Those proposals that are selected stand out by inclusion of solid learning objectives, information that a participant can use to enhance professional skills or methods, and are geared to a diverse and advanced audience. Guidelines for developing educational objectives are below. Objectives are required as part of the submission process. Individuals must be prepared, if their proposal is accepted, to present on either day of the conference.

Workshops will be offered March 16 and 17 and are 90 minutes in length. Suggested topics of interest are listed in the Call for Proposals. All workshops must include a question and answer period. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm their ability to submit workshop handouts electronically six weeks prior to the conference. Handouts are made into an electronic reference for all conference attendees prior to the event and posted to the association web site. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.

Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals. If a proposal is selected for inclusion in the technology conference, the presenter will be notified by November 12. Questions about the submission of proposals may be directed electronically to Jen Bankard, director of training and resource development. Ms. Bankard can also be reached by telephone at 717-364-3280.

Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives
At least three measurable learning objectives must be submitted for each presentation. Required by accrediting agencies, they also help PCPA maintain a high quality educational program. Objectives are statements that communicate instructional content in a behavioral format. They are used to emphasize the most important outcomes of the instructional material. Learning objectives also help the learner choose appropriate educational offerings to meet his/her individual needs. Objectives should describe the intended behavior to be attained by the conclusion of the program. In general, they should state:

• what the learner should be able to do at the completion of the presentation,
• under what conditions (if any) the learner should be able to do it, and
• how well it must be done (if applicable).

When formulating objectives, do not use verbs that are open to multiple interpretations such as learn, know, tell, understand, appreciate, believe, and perceive. Instead, use words that are observable, active, and measurable. The following list of verbs may be useful in construction of objectives.

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