Working a conference. A presentation from the Research on Open Educational Resources for Development (ROER4D) in the Global South project. Author: Sukaina Walji, ROER4D Communications Advisor.

1. Sukaina Walji, ROER4D Communications Advisor
18 & 25 March 2015
Research on Open Educational Resources
for Development (ROER4D) in the Global South:
Working a conference

2. Working a conference
Session outline
• Working a conference
• Discussion
• OEC Global 2015, Banff 22-25 April – any questions?
Please share your tips and tricks for working a conference?
Add to Google doc: http://goo.gl/LZHsNF
What are the challenges or concerns?

3. 5 Ps of Working a conference
Purpose
Preparation
Presence
Participation
Post conference

4. Purpose – be clear why you attending
What is my
purpose for
attending
this
conference?
Present my research
Networking and meeting people
Promote my project or institution
I was invited to attend/present
All of the above
I don’t know
If all of the
above,
PRIORITISE!

5. Preparation – being ready to attend
Who will be
there?
Scan
conference
website
Check
attendee list
Make
contacts via
email or
social media
What
sessions
will I
attend?
Review
programme
and print a
copy
Mark
sessions of
interest
Sign-up to
sessions if
possible
What’s
happening?
Find
conference
backchannel
e.g.
#OEglobal
Read
newsletters
and emails
from
conference
organisers
Travel
checklist
Travel docs,
visa,
insurance,
transfers,
hotel
attendance
Chargers,
adaptors,
USBs

6. Programme on Conference website

7. Backchannel
chatter
Conference
hashtag

8. Template copy is at
http://goo.gl/WeoVzv

9. Preparation - as a presenter
How can I
be a
prepared
presenter?
Prepare presentation
Complete and submit paper if
required
Present a ‘dry run’ for colleagues and
get feedback
Copy on USB and in the cloud e.g.
dropbox
Check any required tech is available
(audio, video)

10. Presence – establish yourself virtually
How can I
make my
presence
known to
conference
attendees
before I
arrive
Signal your attendance and topic on social
media
Find conference # on Twitter e.g. #oecglobal
and post to it
Post your paper or slides on your website,
SlideShare or tweet a link to Google Doc
Connect with other attendees via conference
website if there are social features
If presenting, give hints or preview of what
you will talk about
Help publicise the conference to your
networks

11. ROER4D tweets
about conference
schedule Sukaina tweets about
conference schdule
Sukaina retweets OEC
about ROER4D
bibliography

12. Participation - as an attendee
How can I be
effective when
attending sessions?
Target sessions that relate to your
purpose (present your research, meet
people, build visibility for your
organisation)
Sit at front and ask a question or two,
introducing yourself when you ask the
question
Exchange contacts and business cards
with presenters and session attendees
Prepare an elevator speech about your
purpose
How can I amplify
my participation?
Live tweet or live blog the session
Take notes or sketch notes and share
with others
Attend receptions, dinners, teas and
gatherings

14. Participation - as a presenter
How can I
maximise
my
participation
as a
presenter?
Keep to time and allow time for questions and
comments
Clear legible slides
Share your slides or paper by including links
in your presentation
Create easy take-aways e.g. infographics
Exchange contacts and attend reciprocal
sessions
Be aware of brand if representing a project

15. ROER4D infographic showing project
scope and scale

16. Post conference follow-up
How can I grow
my network?
Follow up personal
contacts via email,
LinkedIn, Twitter,
Facebook
Tweet/email
conference admin
thanking organisers
and presenters
Maintain links via
social media, email,
other conferences
and collaboration
How can I
share and
amplify my
work?
Share links to slides,
paper, blog via social
media channels
Share reflections via
blog, newsletter,
emails to networks
Share others’ papers
and presentations
How can I learn
from my
experience?
Reflect on purpose
Document learning
& personal growth

17. Share on
Slideshare
Amplify conference
effect

18. 5 Ps of Working a conference
Purpose ✔
Preparation ✔
Presence ✔
Participation ✔
Post conference ✔

19. Project
events
Resources
SlideShare
Blog Twitter
Facebook Page
CMS (Vula)
Website
Email
Virtual meetings
(Skype, Adobe
Connect)
Internal communications External communications
Conferences
ROER4D Communications overview
OpenUCT
repositoryNewsletter

20. ROER4D Website
http://roer4d.org

21. Next steps and discussion
Please share your tips and tricks for working a conference?
Add to Google doc: http://goo.gl/LZHsNF

22. Links
Website: www.roer4d.org
Contact Author:
sukaina.walji@uct.ac.za
Follow us: http://twitter.com/roer4D
Presentations: www.slideshare.com/roer4D

23. Thank you!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution
4.0 International License.
Written by Sukaina Walji
Contact:
sukaina.walji@uct.ac.za