Q: What will the live session experience look like?
A:
Just like an in-person conference, the sessions will begin at specific scheduled times within the event platform, so attendees will be able to click into the session at the start time or a few minutes earlier. While watching the sessions, attendees can submit questions in the chat box. You’ll have the opportunity to answer questions at the end of the session.
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Q: How should the session be structured?
A:
Live sessions will be 45 minutes total, including time for Q&A or discussion. A host will briefly introduce the session and take care of any housekeeping or announcements before switching over to the first speaker. If you have more than one presenter, practice the handoff from speaker to speaker, as there can be some awkwardness in the transitions. Plan to allow approximately 10-15 minutes for Q&A or discussion (currently handled via chat). The host will monitor questions coming in through chat and can help moderate the Q&A period. The host will wrap up briefly by thanking attendees and transitioning to the next session.
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Q: What are some general recommendations for online presenters?
A:
By implementing the following guidelines, your session will be engaging, interesting, and memorable:
- Know your audience: Who are they? Why do you think they are attending your session?
- Start with the end in mind. There should be 1-3 key “takeaways” from the session.
- Have an engagement plan. It's very easy to lose your audience's attention in a virtual setting. Ideas: Use the chat box early and often by asking questions of your audience. Draw them in with storytelling. Chunk your content into sections of 5-7 minutes each, and after each section, engage with the audience.
- Prepare: Know your stuff. Practice. Time yourself. Critique yourself. Practice some more.
- Remember to test your equipment.
- When presenting, remove distractions, look directly at the camera, maintain a strong, clear voice, and don't forget to relax and just be your authentic self.
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Q: What resources are available for creating an engaging virtual presentation?
A:
EDUCAUSE understands the challenges with presenting virtually, and we’re here to help! Be sure to check out:
- EDUCAUSE Virtual Presenter Toolkit: Whether you've never presented virtually before or you're an old pro, this toolkit will provide you with all you need to know to make your presentation a success.
- Presenter Support Modules (five-minute training videos)
- Resource Hub (articles, tips, and more focused on presenting and creating an outstanding presentation)
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Q: How do I upload my presentation and resources (if applicable)?
A:
Lead presenters will receive an email from the EDUCAUSE event team with a special link to upload the presentation content and any resources in the speaker portal. (File formats allowed: PDF and MP4) This email will be sent to you just prior to the May 24 due date.
File names: All files should follow our naming convention. Please rename your files as: Day of your session, session title and resource type.
Examples: Tues_SessionTitle_Presentation. Or Wed_SessionTitle_Handout.
If you password protect a PDF document, please make sure to enable the file to be read by a screen reader. It is our goal to make our resources easily available to those who use adaptive and assistive technology to access files over the internet.
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Q: Since presenter emails will not be displayed in the event platform, how will attendees be able to contact me directly if they want?
A:
Each session will have chat functionality allowing attendees and presenters to message each other. If you would like to continue conversations outside the platform, you can share your email address directly with others. You can also add a "contact me" slide to the end of your presentation. For your protection, EDUCAUSE does not share email addresses of attendees or presenters, but they may choose to do so themselves.
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