The conference is still ongoing as it was set to take place between March 19, 2021, and June 19, 2021. The sessions are divided into four distinct models to cover all approaches pre-school teachers can use to effectively tutor dual-language students. Due to COVID restrictions across the United States, the conference is taking place virtually, and even the organizers are in the state of California. The sponsor of the event is the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE), a non-profit organization that supports bilingual education. The focus of the conference is to enlighten early childhood teachers on different models that can help achieve high-quality support for dual language learners at home and school. Since the registration is already closed, related fees and stipends are not mentioned. However, the target audience of the event includes pre-school teachers, teacher aides, paraprofessionals, and preschool dual language tutors (MCAP Innovation, 2021). My presentation on resilience fits into the conference theme because bilingual children find it difficult to fit into learning environments that focus on one language. Therefore the event will equip preschool teachers with advanced skills to help the affected children.
The title of the event is Equity at the Start: Early Learning for All Children. Additionally, the conference is scheduled to take place on April 14-24, 2021, and will include live virtual sessions and prerecorded videos shared via zoom. The choice of the online space as a location is due to the COVID restrictions and regulations. The event is meant for preschool teachers, parents, and school administrators in Oregon State. The main sponsor of the conference is the Children Literature and Resource Center of the Central Oregon Community College (COCC) and it is supported by the Central Oregon Chapter (COC) and the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children (ORAEYC). The conference will cover several issues including support for all children and families, a resilience-focused curriculum, and equity among young students. Interested parties who wish to attend the event are required to register with $90 for COCC members, $105 for National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAYEC) members, and $150 for non-members. There is no room for interested speakers as the college in charge has already appointed one by the name of Dr. Pedro Noguera (Central Oregon Community College, 2021). The theme of the conference fits well into my presentation on resilience because it touches on readjusting the curriculum to ensure it addresses the challenges of young children coming from diverse backgrounds.
Submitting proposals and getting an opportunity to speak at conferences is one of the best approaches I can use to develop professionally. First, I gain exposure in my field of expertise by using the platform to reach different people at once. These are people I have never met and if my presentation is successful and has an impact on them, I might be called upon to speak at other related events. Additionally, conferences also give me the platform to share my knowledge during the interactions and help in developing solutions for problems in communities. When giving my proposals and developing my presentation one ethical consideration that I should pay attention to is the element of respect. I must esteem my audience when speaking because it is the ultimate measurement of professionalism. Sharing my knowledge with other education experts during conferences is crucial as it helps all members in the field to develop new skills and also challenges everyone to grow professionally.
References
Central Oregon Community College. (2021). Equity at the Start: Early Learning for All Children. Early Learning. Web.
MCAP Innovation. (2021). Innovation 4 – Dual Language Preschool – Multilingual California. MCAP. Web.