ASIS&T Annual Meeting Blog

Tips on Moderating a Panel

November 19th, 2006 beatrice.pulliam

Before I am completely subsumed by the end of the semester and holiday rush, a few post conference summaries:

In the spirit of SIG CON, the panelists (Abby Goodrum, KT Vaughn (also a C.K.T.), Pascal Calarco, and Nadia Caidi) at the Leadership Development program gave a humorous look (complete with expert whistle blowing by Trudi Bellardo Hahn whenever panel speakers exceeded their time limit or audience members had difficulty arriving at the point of their question) at some of the challenges associated with moderating a panel. Selected tips by topic:

Crafting A Panel:

• Build session around a common theme
• Focus on current or exciting problem in area of interest

Think: Will this be compelling in a year’s time?

• Find others in SIG interested in working with you

Care and Feeding of Speakers:

• Attention to detail is important. Stay in contact with speakers and keep the lines of communication open by acting as intermediary between speakers and conference organizers.
• Keep your speakers on task with a realistic timeline and communicate expectations of topics to be covered early.
• Try to carry the momentum of planning through to day of panel.

Bad things can happen even when you have been a diligent planner. Tips for crisis and time management on the day of your panel:

Arrange for your speakers to meet you in your assigned conference room

• Problem with the equipment in your conference room? ASIST typically has student monitors in conference rooms prior to each panel session. Introduce yourself to the student monitor! Monitors are there to assist with last minute media presentation needs and are a direct line to conference organizers.
• Collect presentations from speakers as early as possible (prior to conference start) and have a memory stick or other portable storage device on hand the day of your panel.
• This may sound like an obvious tip, but practice opening speaker presentation files before your session begins. If you have requested internet access, test this now.

The Leadership Development program organizers plan to make their handouts available on the Leadership Committee website.

Entry Filed under: ASIST2006, Leadership Development