TOK-CSES2026 Call for Contribution and Participation

Call for Contributions and Participation

The IEEE Thompson Okanagan Computer Science Education Symposium (IEEE TOK CSES 2026), taking place on October 23, 2026, in Kelowna, BC, Canada, is a regional symposium dedicated to advancing innovation in computer science and technology education.

The symposium serves as a forum for educators, researchers, and practitioners to share pedagogical approaches, tools, and experiences in computing education. It aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice by encouraging contributions that highlight both successful innovations and lessons learned from real-world challenges.

To promote meaningful exchange, the organizers welcome submissions and participation in areas including (but not limited to):

Computer Science Education & Pedagogy:

  • Curriculum Development
  • Teacher Training
  • Higher Education
  • Distance and online learning
  • Assessment and Evaluation
  • Lifelong Learning
  • Classroom Assessment
  • Instructional Design
  • Inclusive Education
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Teaching methods and pedagogical innovations

Software, Systems & Networks in Higher Education

  • Software Engineering
  • Cloud Computing
  • Embedded Systems
  • Programming Languages
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Systems Architecture
  • Distributed Systems
  • DevOps

Why Participate?

If you have developed new teaching methods, experimented with innovative tools, or explored new approaches in computing education, this symposium provides a platform to share your work. Whether your results demonstrate success or highlight challenges, your experiences can contribute valuable insights to the community and help improve computing education practices.

Submission Types

Regular Paper (Track 1)

  • Regular papers should present original research, innovative teaching approaches, or comprehensive studies in computing education.
  • Page Limits and Extra Charges: Each paper is limited to six (6) pages. Authors may extend their papers up to eight (8) pages, but additional page fees will apply for pages seven and eight. Fee details will be provided under the Registration section on the conference website.
  • Review and Publication: All submissions will undergo peer review to assess originality, technical quality, clarity, and relevance. Accepted and presented papers will be published in the TOK-CSES 2026 Proceedings and submitted for inclusion in IEEE Xplore.

Authors of accepted papers will present their work in full conference sessions.

Short Paper (Track 2)

  • Short papers provide an opportunity to present preliminary work, new ideas, or focused contributions. These submissions are ideal for sharing early-stage research and receiving feedback from peers.
  • Page Limits: Each paper is limited to two (2) pages. Extra pages are not allowed. Submissions with more than two pages will be rejected.
  • Review and Publication: All short paper submissions will undergo peer review to assess originality, technical quality, clarity, and relevance. Accepted and presented papers will be published in the TOK-CSES 2026 Proceedings and submitted for inclusion in IEEE Xplore.
  • On-Site Poster Presentation: All accepted short papers are expected to present an on-site poster. At least one author or qualified proxy must register and actively present their accepted paper at the conference. Non-presented short papers will not be submitted to or published on IEEE Xplore. Exceptions must be approved by the Technical Program Chair(s) of TOK-CSES 2026.

Accepted short papers will be presented in shorter sessions.

Blizzard Talk (Track 3)

Blizzard Talks are short (approximately 5-minute) presentations designed to share emerging ideas, ongoing work, or thought-provoking concepts.

This format is ideal for:

  • Work in progress
  • New teaching tools
  • Experimental approaches
  • Course development ideas
  • Potential collaborations

A short abstract (approximately 200 words) is required.

Special Sessions

Special Sessions allow participants to organize interactive and thematic sessions that go beyond traditional presentations.

Formats may include:

  • Panels
  • Workshops
  • Tutorials
  • Roundtables
  • Demonstrations

Proposals should outline the session topic, format, expected engagement, and any logistical requirements.

Submission and Participation Guidelines

All submissions will be evaluated based on technical merit, originality, clarity, relevance, and impact. Each submission will be reviewed by multiple reviewers to ensure a high-quality program.

Accepted contributions must be presented at the symposium, and at least one author must register and attend for inclusion in the proceedings.

Submission is open: https://conferences.sparcly.ai/TOK-CSES