Best-Practice Presentation Guidelines

Congratulations on your acceptance to present a best-practice session at the Chicago International Summit on Education 2027. Best-practice presentations provide an opportunity for educators, practitioners, administrators, and educational leaders to share effective programs, strategies, initiatives, interventions, and approaches that may inform or strengthen educational practice.

Best-practice presentations are practice-focused rather than research presentations. Presenters are encouraged to demonstrate how the practice has been implemented, what has been learned, and how the experience may be relevant or adaptable to other educational settings.

The Summit Organizing Committee will communicate session assignments, presentation times, available audiovisual resources, and other logistical information before the conference.

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​1. Planning Your Presentation

Best-practice presentations should focus on a clearly defined educational need, challenge, opportunity, or area for improvement and describe the practice or initiative developed to address it.

Presenters are encouraged to address:

• The educational context or challenge that led to the practice or initiative

• The purpose and intended outcomes

• The population, institution, program, or educational setting involved

• How the practice, program, strategy, or initiative was developed and implemented

• Key components necessary for successful implementation

• Outcomes, observations, lessons learned, or other evidence of effectiveness

• Challenges or limitations encountered during implementation

• Implications or recommendations for educators and institutions interested in adapting the practice

2. Presentation Format and Timing

Best-practice presentations are generally scheduled as individual 50-minute breakout sessions, allowing presenters sufficient time to share the context, implementation, outcomes, and lessons learned from their practice or initiative while engaging participants in discussion.

Presenters should plan approximately 35–40 minutes for the presentation, with the remaining time reserved for audience questions, discussion, and exchange of ideas.

When two accepted best-practice presentations demonstrate a strong thematic or topical connection, the Organizing Committee may schedule them together in a shared 50-minute session. In such cases, each presenter will generally be allotted approximately 18–20 minutes, followed by a combined period for audience questions and discussion.

Presenters assigned to a shared session will be notified in advance and provided with their specific presentation time and session format.

3. Suggested Presentation Structure

Best-practice presentations should tell a clear and practical story about the initiative or approach. A presentation might include:

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Context and Need

• What educational need, challenge, or opportunity was identified?

• Who was involved or affected?

• Why was a new or different approach needed?

Practice or Initiative

• What was implemented?

• What were the primary goals?

• How was the practice developed and carried out?

• What resources, partnerships, personnel, or institutional support were needed?

Outcomes and Lessons Learned

• What changes, outcomes, observations, or benefits were identified?

• What evidence or information was used to assess the practice?

• What worked particularly well?

• What challenges or limitations were encountered?

• What would you do differently?

Application to Other Settings

• What aspects of the practice may be transferable or adaptable?

• What should other educators or institutions consider before implementing a similar approach?

• What practical recommendations can participants take away from the presentation?

4. Evidence and Responsible Claims

Although best-practice presentations are not required to follow a formal research design, presenters should support claims about effectiveness or impact with appropriate evidence whenever possible.

Evidence may include program or institutional data, participant feedback, assessment results, implementation outcomes, observations, documented improvements, or other relevant indicators.

Presenters should clearly distinguish between documented outcomes, professional observations, and conclusions or recommendations based on experience. Claims should not extend beyond the evidence available.

Best-practice presentations should not be described as research studies unless the work was conducted using an appropriate research methodology.

5. Presentation Materials

Presenters may use slides, handouts, examples, templates, demonstrations, or other materials that help participants understand the practice and its potential application.

When preparing presentation materials:

• Keep slides clear, concise, and visually accessible.

• Use readable fonts and appropriate contrast.

• Use examples, visuals, data, or other evidence where they strengthen understanding.

• Avoid excessive text or overly detailed background information.

• Define specialized terminology or acronyms when first introduced.

• Appropriately cite external research, data, images, frameworks, or other materials.

Presenters should submit the final version of their presentation to info@chicagosummit.org by May 15, 2027.

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6. Engaging Conference Participants

Presenters are encouraged to create opportunities for discussion and knowledge exchange throughout or following the presentation.

Consider inviting participants to:

• Ask questions and share relevant experiences.

• Consider how the practice might apply within their own educational settings.

• Discuss potential adaptations for different populations or institutional contexts.

• Identify implementation opportunities or challenges.

• Exchange ideas about improving or extending the practice.

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7. Session Facilitation

Best-practice sessions are generally not formally moderated when a single presentation is scheduled. Presenters are expected to manage their allotted time and facilitate audience questions and discussion.

When two presentations are scheduled together in a shared session, the Organizing Committee may assign a moderator to introduce the presenters, assist with time management, and facilitate the combined discussion.

Presenters assigned to a moderated or shared session will be notified by the Organizing Committee in advance.

A representative of the Chicago International Summit on Education will be available during presentation sessions to assist with logistical or technical needs.

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Questions

Questions regarding best-practice presentation requirements or conference logistics may be directed to info@chicagosummit.org.