I am currently part of the program team for the 2010 STC Summit in Dallas, Texas. We are working together to make sure we create a quality conference program for all attendees. The real question is…what makes a great conference?
I have attended many conferences over the years, and I have helped to organize the programs for several in the past. I hear many comments about whether a conference was good or bad, but often those comments include few details. Many aspects of a conference, such as networking times, social events, and vendor opportunities, affect the overall experience. However, I’m interested in the part the program sessions play in the overall experience and conference rating.
What does it take to create a quality conference that delivers the variety of sessions STC demands for the wide range of focus areas and experience levels of STC members?
STC has so much to consider when creating a successful conference program. We have members with various experience levels who work in many different industries. Our job duties involve many different activities, including writing, editing, design, management, and many others. We also produce many types of deliverables:
- Books and PDF files
- Online help and embedded user assistance
- Graphics and artwork
- Quick reference cards and tools
- Web content
- Training materials and CBT modules
- Information architecture plans
- Project and team management plans
So, how do we create a conference program to address these many interests and needs? As a team, we look at many important content areas and try to provide a variety of sessions in each area:
- Management
- Writing and Editing
- Architecture and Design
- Usability and Accessibility
- Communication/Soft Skills
- Education/Training
- Professional Development
- Web/Emerging Technology
Are we missing something that you want from a conference program? Will you share your thoughts and ideas? I’m very interested in hearing what you have to say!
Please keep the mix of invited speakers and speakers who have submitted session proposals.
I’d like to see topics about user task analysis (but not only for software users and documentation); developing templates (but not using any one specific tool)-what elements you might include in a template and some of the design elements involved; ethics; and Society topics-getting published in our publications and some of the volunteer projects in progress.
Just a couple of ideas for the Program Committee…
It seems odd that you still lump ‘web’ with ’emerging technology.’ Yes, some web techniques qualify as ET, but web-in-general has been mainstream for a while now.
I’d like to see web-in-general topics classed along w/print and help in the Architecture and Design, Writing and Editing. Education and Training, Usability and Accessibility categories. Keep Emerging Tech separate, and use for mobile web, social media, and truly new technologies that will impact our future work.
Thanks,
K@
I think each of us has a different definition of what makes an excellent conference. Some of us work at companies who have leading-edge technologies, some don’t. Some of us love lots of networking and seeing old friends and some don’t. See what I mean? I usually learn more from individuals than I do from any one session, yet I want to attend sessions so I can run into the right individuals. I’m comforted by the fact that you’ve asked. I know that people like you will do all you can to offer us the best conference possible.