As a regular attendee and presenter at local and national conferences, I’ve learned some things along the way to make the most of every minute! Follow these tips to maximize your time and learning. Meet and connect with amazing people, find out about innovative products, and learn new ways to utilize digital tools in meaningful ways. With a little planning, attendees will be sure to leave the conference fulfilled and energized!

Before the Conference

Decide on a Goal

What do you hope to get out of the conference? Having a focus will help you determine which sessions to attend, vendors to visit, and people to connect with.

Make a Schedule Ahead of Time

Carefully review & plan your time BEFORE you arrive!

• Preview the daily schedule: Read the session descriptions & presenter bios. Having trouble deciding on a session? Look up the presenter(s) on social media or if the session is sponsored by a vendor, investigate their product in advance.
• Divide and conquer! Attending with colleagues? Make a plan for who can attend different sessions to make the most of what is being offered.
• Use the scheduling tool:  Take advantage of the conference’s online scheduling tool for the conference.  From there, you can view and save sessions you are interested in attending.  Select at least two session for each time block and make a final decision the day of the conference.  If you have a vendor you need to visit, or a colleague you want to connect with, decide on a time and place to meet.
• Look at the Map:  Conference sessions and vendors are spread out over a large space. When creating your schedule, be mindful of your location and cluster activities when possible. Remember, some sessions are very popular and might fill up quickly! You’ll want to plan to have a backup session nearby, just in case.

At the Conference

Arrive Prepared

Dress professionally but comfortably. You’ll be doing lots of walking and room temperatures can vary. Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes. Bring a tablet, Chromebook or small laptop, but don’t forget your charger!  Seats near outlets are at a premium in the afternoon.

Follow the Hashtag

Find out the conference’s official hashtag and follow it.  Share what you are learning, and follow people who are Tweeting about the conference.  Conferences provide a great opportunity to build your online professional learning network!

Take Notes

Conferences can feel like information overload.  Take notes throughout the day to keep track of all of the information, save links to presentations and jot down contacts to follow up with after the conference.

Have Conversations

Don’t be shy! Introduce yourself to people sitting around you before a session begins.  Sit down at lunch with people you haven’t met before.

Rule of Two Feet

If you find yourself in a session that isn’t what you expected, or your friend is texting you about an amazing presentation that you are dying to hear – just move!  Exiting quietly and respectfully is perfectly acceptable.

After the Conference

Enjoy the Nightlife

Evenings after conferences can be a time to connect with friends, attend vendor-sponsored activities and debrief about the day with like-minded educators.

Reflect

Take time to reflect on the conference experience.  Review your notes and follow up with people you want to connect with and ideas you want to put into practice.