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<\/a>Your participation in the Computers and Writing Conference shows your colleagues that you\u2019re active professionally and that you care about improving your classes and research. When you apply for travel funds in the future, you\u2019ll have evidence that shows you know how to share what you learn at a conference. There\u2019s no guarantee that you\u2019ll be given financial support, but documenting your participation and sharing what you learn will help make sure that your colleagues understand why you attend this conference. Try one or more of these methods to track your professional development at the conference. <\/p>\n- \n
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Make the Most of Social Media. <\/strong>
\nPost everywhere during the conference. Send out Tweets. Post updates on Facebook. Pin resources on Pinterest. Share your photos on Instagram and Flickr. Like videos and other resources that are shared. Throughout the conference, listen for provocative soundbites, and share them with your friends and colleagues. Note how what you have heard influences your teaching or research. Wherever you post, be sure to use the hashtag #cwcon. <\/strong>Add any other relevant hashtags, like #grn or #ride2cw. Include the session number to help others posting about the session find what you have to say.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Save Your Conference Program and Attendance Verification Forms.<\/strong>
\nIf you\u2019re a presenter, use the listing in the program as proof of your participation. For sessions that you attend, use the program for details on the sessions you share with colleagues or talk about online. Be sure to pick up a copy of the addendum and corrections as well. In addition to the program, save attendance verification records in the form of certificates or other documents that prove you were here including your letter of acceptance, registration receipt, and so forth. These documents can help prove you attended and\/or presented as well. NOTE: Some departments want to see the proof of your presentation on paper— don\u2019t rely solely on the online version of the program. Be sure to hang onto your print copy. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Record Details on the Sessions That You Attend<\/strong>.
\nWrite a log of your participation. It will help you remember ideas from the sessions and provide some evidence that you participated. List the sessions that you attend and the presenters who were there. Too frequently, attendance at a conference is a blur. Set up a simple template for yourself with these headings, and you\u2019re ready to go: <\/p>\n\n
\n Heading<\/strong>\t<\/td>\n What to Record<\/strong>\t<\/td>\n Why Gather This Info<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Day\/Time, Session #\t<\/td>\n The specifics from the program\tSo you can find the details later. <\/td>\n You don\u2019t want to write everything out in these notes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Speaker & Paper Title: \t<\/td>\n Enough to remind you of the official label\t<\/td>\n There are several speakers in most sessions. You\u2019ll want enough details to tell which notes are
\nabout which presentation. Use names, not \u201cspeaker #1.\u201d<\/tr>\n\n General Topic\t<\/td>\n A few keywords (e.g., portfolios, staff training)\t<\/td>\n Choose a few keywords to organize the information when you go back
\nthrough your notes later.
\n<\/tr>\n\n Notes & Applications\t<\/td>\n Summarize what was discussed, and talk about how you plan to use the information.\t<\/td>\n The more ideas you can get down about using these ideas while you\u2019re here, the better. Note
\ncolleagues you want to share the info with as well.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n
\nIf you are interested in someone\u2019s paper, ask for a copy. All you have to do is walk up to the speaker, and say something along the lines of \u201cHi. I really enjoyed your paper. My research is on a related topic. [explain in a sentence or two how it\u2019s related]. Would it be possible to get a copy of your paper?\u201d Be prepared to exchange email addresses. If the speaker doesn\u2019t have a written paper, you might ask if the person has published similar ideas elsewhere.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Share What You Learn With Others<\/strong>
\nShare what you learn at the conference with others at your school or in your area to demonstrate what you gained by participating. If you happen upon a particularly good idea, pass it on to others—email it to your colleagues. Remember that one of the ways that school districts and departments justify supporting conference attendance is by asking that attendees share what they\u2019ve learned with others. Be on the lookout for things that you can share and then follow-up after the event. When you pass the ideas on, you\u2019ll please your colleagues, and you\u2019ll demonstrate to your administrators that supporting your attendance at conferences and other professional development meetings is a good investment. As you pass on information, be sure to add some framing comments that explain out why you\u2019re passing the information on and where the information came from.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Drop Names and References When You Go Home.<\/strong>
\nYour colleagues won\u2019t know anything about the sessions you\u2019ve attended unless you tell them. The point isn\u2019t just to indicate that you\u2019ve learned something but to indicate where you learned it. Start thinking about sentences such as “[Insert the speaker\u2019s name] talked about just this issue at the Computers and Writing Conference” — then follow up with the details. If the name you\u2019re dropping is one your listeners will recognize, that\u2019s all you need. If you\u2019re referring to someone they might not know, give a little more information: “[Insert the speaker\u2019s name] (s\/he\u2019s a professor at U of wherever) mentioned something along these lines at Computers and Writing.” Remember that the point isn\u2019t just to drop the name. That\u2019s just pompous. Be sure your reference is pertinent to the conversation and add the details that explain the relevance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Plug Your Own Paper or Research.<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s not enough to refer to others; talk about yourself. When discussion in your department turns to what you worked on for this conference, you need to be prepared to say \u201cI researched this topic for the paper I gave at the Computers and Writing Conference in May\u201d—then to say more about what you found. Don\u2019t be a bore. Don\u2019t drone on about your paper when it\u2019s not relevant, but if the conversation turns to something you\u2019ve worked on, provide the footnote. Additionally, you can refer to issues beyond those that you\u2019ve done formal research on. Think about saying things such as \u201cWe talked about this issue at Computers and Writing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Arrange an Exchange with a Nearby Colleague.<\/strong>
\nHere\u2019s a relatively simple idea. You\u2019re likely to meet someone at Computers and Writing who teaches at a nearby school, geographically speaking. The two of you can work out a little exchange. You go to the colleague\u2019s school and lead a brown bag discussion about your research. The colleague does the same. You both get PR at your school or bringing in a guest speaker, and you both have another presentation line to add to your CV.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Pick-up Freebies and Swag. <\/strong>
\nEverything doesn\u2019t have to be serious to remind folks where you\u2019ve been. Your colleagues may be just as interested in your bringing back a computer-shaped stress ball as they are in seeing the latest article by the keynoter. If you have a friendly relationship, it doesn\u2019t really hurt to share such things too.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- Watch for Handouts.<\/strong>
\nBe on the lookout for handouts on the latest books, calls for proposals, and upcoming events. If you see something that a colleague might be interested in, pick it up, add a post-it note that says, \u201cSaw this at Computer and Writing Conference and thought you might be interested,\u201d and pop it in the person\u2019s mailbox. Be sure to find a copy of the call for next year\u2019s Computers and Writing Conference. Take it home, photocopy it, add another post-it encouraging colleagues to join you at next year\u2019s conference and spread it around the department mailboxes. Alternately, save the trees by scanning the call or finding a copy online and emailing the information to colleagues. When time turns to the deadline for the next year\u2019s Computers and Writing Conference proposals, sponsor a departmental get-together to come up with a panel or workshop proposal that includes everyone.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Publish Your Presentation Materials and Reviews.<\/strong>
\nNothing says \u201cI\u2019m a participant\u201d like publishing your work! If you\u2019re lucky, an editor may speak to you after your presentation and ask you to consider submitting your work for a journal, an edited collection, guest blog post, or another publication. If you\u2019re smart, you\u2019ll approach an editor, briefly explain your project (if they weren\u2019t in attendance at your presentation, or you didn\u2019t present outside of the GRN), and ask if it\u2019s something they\u2019d be interested in publishing. Editors always need more good material! Also consider responding to the Sweetland\u2019s DRC Call for 2015 C&W Reviewers<\/a>. Check out the reviews from previous years<\/a> to learn moer about the expectations.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\n
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