Critical Pedagogy Lab Conference

BBQ+ is excited to share that we will be hosting our first annual Critical Pedagogy Lab Conference! The Critical Pedagogy Lab and conference, in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, provides a space for discussion regarding the tools, approaches, and challenges facing critical pedagogy in higher education, with a focus on the experiences of minoritized scholars, educators, and students!

Inspired by the amazing work of our research fellows, the 2026 conference focuses on virtual pedagogy and digital humanities. We invite research papers, practice demonstrations, presentations, and position papers that engage with the challenges of virtual pedagogy and digital humanities as it pertains to minoritized scholars, educators, and students.

We are now accepting applications for the Critical Pedagogy Lab Conference.

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Please scroll down for program info and application instructions!

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We are now accepting applications for the Critical Pedagogy Lab Conference. 〰️ Please scroll down for program info and application instructions! 〰️

Participation Formats

  1. Research Papers: research papers present original research on issues related to virtual pedagogy, technological platforms, and digital humanities as they relate to how we teach, learn, and communicate. Papers can also discuss challenges facing virtual learning and research collaborations.

  2. Position Papers: Position papers are reports that explore and introduce best practices, resources, and tools to enhance effective teaching and learning, and to stimulate research on the different topics addressed in this year’s conference. These can also include sample syllabi, discussion of specific online tools, and other related resources. Position papers can include collections of resources you found useful or practices that you applied and found fruitful in your own teaching, education, and research. 

  3. Pre-organized Panels: pre-organized panels include 3-4 research or position papers linked thematically.

  4. Pre-organized Workshops/Roundtables: workshops and roundtables are pre-organized spaces for scholars, teachers, and students to share their views in a more interactive format and to discuss the various challenges that they are facing. Participants may propose a pre-organized workshop or roundtable with 3-4 participants.

  5. Workshop/Roundtable individual abstracts: Participants may submit abstracts for inclusion in workshops organized by the conference.

  6. Art presentations, performances, film screenings, and other presentation formats: We welcome all forms and formats of engagement!

Proposal Guidelines

  1. Individual proposals (Research/Position Papers & Workshop/Roundtable Abstracts): Your proposal should be between 200 and 300 words. It should describe the main topic, research question, or challenge you would like to address or discuss:

A. Research paper proposals should include a discussion of the research question and approach, stage of research progress, and a short bibliography of 5-10 entries (not included in the proposal word count).

B. Position paper proposals should include a short description of the resources, tools, or practices that you would like to discuss or present. The proposal should also explain whether these resources were developed or used by you or others.

C. Workshop/roundtable abstracts: Individual workshop or roundtable abstracts should include a description of the specific questions and challenges that you would like to workshop or discuss. These can include or be based on individual experiences or research, and debates in the scholarship. Proposal should include 3-5 additional readings that touch on the topic (not included in the word count).

2. Pre-organized panels, workshops, and roundtables: Proposal for pre-organized panels, workshops, or roundtables should include:

A. General abstract: 200-word description of the main questions the panel, workshop, or roundtable aims to discuss.

B. Names of participants and their affiliations.

C. A title and a 50-word brief description of each participant's planned intervention.

D. A bibliography or additional readings of 5-10 entries that inform the discussion.

3. Art demonstrations, film screenings, performances, and other activities: Please provide a 300-word description of the planned activity, explaining its main goal and approach. Sample clips or artwork are encouraged but not required.

Potential Topics

The Critical Pedagogy Lab Research Festival is open to all topics and questions related to digital and virtual pedagogy and digital humanities. Some topics to consider may include:

  1. Challenges in teaching and learning over video conferencing platforms, with an emphasis on Zoom tool integration.

  2. Challenges and possibilities related to virtual learning and conference participation

  3. Experiences of scholars and students from traditionally underrepresented groups in virtual and digital learning spaces

  4. Temporalities of learning and teaching in virtual environments

  5. Challenges and opportunities posed by the shift to virtual learning during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the period of lockdown

  6. How virtual teaching and learning pose challenges specific to certain disciplines

  7. Tools, resources, and syllabi that are useful in these contexts

  8. Liberatory teaching and learning in virtual environments

  9. AI and its uses, and the challenges it poses in learning, teaching, and research

  10. Race, gender, and class dynamics impacting virtual learning

Apply to the Critical Pedagogy Lab Conference

Thank you for your interest in the Critical Pedagogy Lab 2026 conference! Please follow the link below to access our proposal submission platform.

Conference proposals received by Friday, June 19th, 2026, at midnight ET will receive full consideration.

Our committee plans to review proposals and announce final selections this summer. If you have questions, please contact fellowships@bbqplus.org.