conference preparation

In this podcast, we feature insights from three academic professionals on writing a winning academic conference proposal. Our interviewees have submitted successful proposals of their own and served as proposal reviewers at various conferences as well. They give their take on what they look for in a submission and advice on approaching the writing process.

Our interviews include:

Elizabeth Unger, Vice Provost for Academic Services and Technology, Dean of Continuing Education, and Professor of Computing and Information Sciences at Kansas State University

Jeff Bullington, Data Services and Government Information Librarian at the University of Kansas

Veronica Diaz, Instructional Technology Manager for Maricopa Community College District

Ideas for Getting the Most Out of the Conference Experience

[These ideas were generated by participants in the 2008 Southeast Regional Conference pre-conference orientation session.]

Require conference attendees to write-up their conference experience. What did they gain from attending the conference? How did it help them individually and how will it help the institution?

Prepare before attending the conference. Pose questions you want answers for before you get there and then make sure you have answers before you leave.

Look for collaboration opportunities within new arenas.

Bring and exchange business cards. Write a snippet of the conversation on the card and follow-up when you return to your desk later.

Title 3 requires trip reports and demonstration of how information from the conference was shared. Ideas include scanning conference print materials, reporting at a staff meeting, poster sessions in the break/lunch room.

Go to a session on an unfamiliar topic - hear something different and broaden your learning

Whether or not you're attending the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference this year, this 14 minute discussion with EDUCAUSE President Brian Hawkins and EDUCAUSE Media Relations Director Peter DeBlois can serve as an invaluable tool for evaluating your options, maximizing your time, and even making the conference work for you from home.

Some helpful links for those attending the EDUCAUSE 2007 Annual Conference in Seattle:

Thought I would take advantage of the Educause Blog service before leaving to attend the LTL 2006 conference at The Penn State University.  I'll plan to make daily posts, giving a summary and look ahead for each day. 

And after the conference?  Time will tell.

I'm about to leave for the Open Source for Education in Europe Conference in Heerlen.

I hope to be able to blog more from there, depending on network connectivity.

G'day and greetings from Adelaide South Australia On the map it is on the bottom of Australia in the middle - sort of downunder Downunder. It is Thursday Oct 6th and in three days time I leave Adelaide for EDUCAUSE 2005 in Orlando FL. That's excting enough but this journey has become a lot more. I am travelling 27,000 miles around the world. First stop is Kona Hawaii, then Madison WI USA. Then Orlando for the conference and onto VIrginia Beach From there to Dublin Ireland and finally to London before returning to Adelaide by way of Singapore.

Welcome to my first podcast for the journey. While preparing for a presentaion I suddenly realized what is critical for online learning communities to thrive. I hope it is a "ah aha" for you too. Enjoy the podcast and tell me if I am on the right track.