Planning has begun for the next United States Conference on Teaching Statistics (USCOTS), which will be held at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center May 18–20, 2017, and hosted by the Consortium for the Advancement of Undergraduate Statistics Education (CAUSE).

The USCOTS Program Committee is seeking proposals for active, participant-focused breakout sessions and pre-conference workshops addressing the conference theme—Show Me the Data!

The conference theme is intended to encompass many aspects of teaching statistics, including the following:

• Helping students recognize data beat anecdotes and are essential for evidence-based decision making
• Emphasizing data visualization in statistics courses
• Embracing ideas of data science in teaching statistics
• Using data as educators to make informed decisions related to effective teaching and learning

USCOTS is designed to model good teaching in its sessions, social activities, and hallways. As with previous conferences, this one will consist of plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and “poster and beyond” sessions. These sessions will address how to make connections in four main areas: curriculum, pedagogy, resources, and educational research. In addition, pre-conference workshops will provide an opportunity for more in-depth experiences with particular curricular ideas, pedagogical approaches, technology tools, and educational research methods.

The committee is now requesting proposals for 80-minute breakout sessions that relate directly to the conference theme and focus on actively engaging participants. It is not appropriate for a breakout session to consist primarily of a presentation. The committee is also requesting proposals for pre-conference workshops, which can last for as little as half a day to as long as two days.

To propose a breakout session or pre-conference workshop, send a description of your proposed session to the program chair, Allan Rossman, by November 21. Your proposal of no more than 1,500 words must include the following:

• Title for proposed session
• Names, email addresses, and brief biographical sketches for all leaders of the session
• Indication of whether the proposal is for a breakout session or pre-conference workshop, along with an intended duration for a pre-conference workshop
• Description of how the session relates to the conference theme
• Explanation of how the session will actively engage participants
• Discussion of how participants will be able to implement ideas presented in the session

Proposals will be reviewed by members of the USCOTS Program Committee, and notifications will be made by January 15, 2017. Proposals for “poster and beyond” sessions will be solicited at a later date; those proposals will be due February 1, 2017.

For more information, visit the USCOTS website.