SXSW EDU 2025 Advisory Board Shares Their PanelPicker Tips

When it comes down to who makes it to the SXSW EDU stage, the Advisory Board plays a big role. Since their vote makes up 40% of the final decision, they’ve dropped some knowledge about PanelPicker, providing tips and tricks to make your session ideas stand out.

The Advisory Board’s experience makes their input critical in shaping the program. Not only are they members of the board who review hours worth of proposals each year, many of them have also taken the stage at SXSW EDU. Their knowledge is golden and can help you craft a proposal that will resonate with the community.

Take a look at some of this year’s Advisory Board PanelPicker tips:

Speaker Tips

AJ Crabill: I love seeing a strong team of people from varied backgrounds and varied expertise collaborating on something that they’ve all found evidence of effectiveness at solving a very clearly defined challenge.

Alli Lee: Bring in Your Users: While SXSW EDU is a conference about education, very rarely do we get to hear directly from our users — which are more often than not — students! While the expectation isn't to fly your stakeholders out to Austin, consider how you might infuse student voice into your proposal.

Cynthia Burrow: Match your speakers to your topic, especially if your proposal emphasizes particular areas of expertise and/or diversity of viewpoints.

Kirsten Hund: I look for proposals that are new and interesting ideas that have practitioners sharing their expertise. If I have to buy a service or product to achieve success, I'm not that interested. I want to hear from folks who are experts in the field doing great things for students. Share your big ideas, what you've learned from your mistakes, how you are meeting the needs of today's learners. If you have a student voice included or involved, that is even better!

Stephanie Campbell: I am looking, first and foremost, for presenters who will bring helpful strategies and techniques to educators in a clear and focused way and who genuinely want to help their fellow educators. I'm also looking for a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences from our presenters so they can represent the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the educators and students who will benefit from these events.

Title & Description Tips

AJ Crabill: Clarify how you have measured and/or validated your assertions — show evidence that your ideas work and are accurate.

Caroline Vander Ark: Don't just describe your session, describe how you want people to act differently as a result of this time in the community.

Dan LaSota: Avoid jargon and generalities, Be specific about the intended content of your session.

Eric Nentrup: Need to know how to custom tailor your submission? Spend some time on YouTube and social media to get a sense for the way presenters do things differently for SXSW EDU and what audience segments they attract.

Julie Willcott: Use language that makes sense to someone who doesn't do what you do day-to-day and don't forget to proofread, test links, avoid abbreviations, and all that.

Kirsten Hund: It is always a great idea to follow the instructions! Put in all the required information and if you do not have all the details or presenters, that is ok! Just describe what you plan to accomplish to give the reviewer a good idea of what the session will be about.

Mary Murphy: Don’t forget about all the different ways your ideas can be highlighted. Choose the format that makes your message shine and dig deeper into the specific content that will be discussed by the speakers and what new ideas you’re bringing to our community.

Takeaway Tips

AJ Crabill: Focus on sharing novel ideas and non-obvious insights, not on trying to convince the audience to buy what you’re selling.

Amber Oliver: Focus on what will be learned.

Emily Kotecki: Powerful presentations emphasize process (strategies, tips, specific prompts or approaches) over product. These processes can be more valuable, relevant and "implementable."

Felice Nudelman: Think about how your presentation will help others with new ideas and new ways of thinking about challenges they face.

Kirsten Hund: Share a clear objective for your session. What are the one or two things that folks who come to your session will be able to know or do after learning with you? What new skill, idea or mindset will they walk away with?

Mary Murphy: Tell us whose lives will be transformed by learning from your panel — who will it impact and how will it change them.

Mike Kleba: Teachers, admin, designers, makers, entrepreneurs, etc. have seen tons of disconnected presentations. I'm always looking for something that will vibrate: something that shakes, slaps, and resonates with people who are spending their lives in and around schools.

Focus Area Tips

Alli Lee: Differentiate your Proposal from the Pack: Each year there are a handful of hot-topics that are often discussed (think AI, SEL, Project-Based Learning, etc); if you are including a known-hot topic in your proposal, consider how you might approach it from a unique angle. It can go a long way to differentiate your efforts from the rest of the submissions talking about similar concepts.

Cynthia Burrow: Convey your thoughts in clear, direct, succinct language avoiding jargon and "business speak" and balance inspiration with information. Will I feel, after reading your proposal, that my time in your session would be well spent?

Julie Willcott: Your proposal is my one chance to learn about your amazing ideas. Emphasize what is different about your perspective and experience.

Stephanie Campbell: Pitch your knowledge and ideas, not a product.

Diversity of Perspective Tips

AJ Crabill: Have a team of people who are all from very different organizations with different areas of expertise.

Alli Lee: Collaborate: Education is an all-hands, it-takes-a-village kind of effort. How might you bring in a diversified group of stakeholders to represent your collective efforts to solve a problem for your community?

Caroline Vander Ark: Bring in quiet voices to your sessions. Think about who may not already have a microphone and give them a chance to speak up!

Christian Martinez: I encourage you to apply and invite individuals from your team who are presenting for the first time and gaining access to this platform. Diversity in your team is important; different voices matter.

Resource Tips

Dan LaSota: In your pitch video, speak directly to those who will be attending SXSW EDU 2025. Don't use recordings of previous talks.

Kirsten Hund: If you include a video (which is not required) be sure it is related directly to your session proposal. A casual zoom recording discussing what you will share and why is much more informative than a slick company marketing video!

Steve Amos: Provide a 60 to 90 second video, specific to your proposed session. Your proposed session. Perhaps use Google or Zoom to record all the panel members so they can briefly discuss why this panel is important and the takeaway that’s gonna make a difference as a result.

See You at SXSW EDU 2025

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 6 when registration opens for the 2025 event. Take advantage early for the best rate and hotel options March 3-6, 2025 in downtown Austin.

Sign up for SXSW EDU email updates, check out the News feed, watch videos, and follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok to get the most up-to-date information.

Photo by Will Blake