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How to make the most of online (scientific) conferences? -- A thread for #vICIS2020 #CogSci2020
*Phase 1: Before the conference starts*
1. Establish goals: What do you want to get out of it? Do you want to catch up on the lit, promote your work, meet like-minded researchers?
*Phase 1: Before the conference starts*
1. Establish goals: What do you want to get out of it? Do you want to catch up on the lit, promote your work, meet like-minded researchers?
2. Determine your plan of action given your goals: Do you need to read the book of abstracts to find relevant work, look through the list of attendees to ask for a meeting, create or learn the hashtags used to group conversation on specific talks or topics?
For networking specifically, virtual conferences can be SO much better than in person ones, because they can flatten hierarchy: Are there any mentoring or structured networking opportunities?
For #vICIS2020, there are chat lounges for students, early career researchers, BIPOC/BAME, post-covid19 labs, online baby testing (if interested check out #manybabies_at_home), and a couple more general ones.
For #CogSci2020, there will be chat lounges by many affinity groups, but you're still on time to sign up to be paired up with a mentor/mentee and/or with someone who has already attended CogSci conferences ( https://cognitivesciencesociety.org/registration/ ).
But you can do more: vConferenceOnline (who are running both #vICIS2020 and #CogSci2020) do not have PMs, which to me is a license to email people you'd like to meet up with. If you do so, be precise: Why would a meeting be beneficial to both, and when should it happen?
If you are organizing a conference yourself, I strongly recommend following in the footsteps of #EAGx2020. They used Grip ( https://www.welcome.ai/tech/technology/grip-event-networking-software), which has a connection suggestion system, to facilitate networking, and an intuitive interface to organize your schedule.
They had 1h/talk: 20' streaming the talk + 20' live Q&A (when an interviewer used questions ranked by the audience) + 20' https://icebreaker.video/ (free for up to 200 people!) which really helped me cement what I learned & make new connections!
*Phase 2: During the conference*
3. Make a plan to tackle the first main challenge in an online conference: being THERE. How will you make sure you log in? Cancel any meetings in your calendar that overlap with the events you have chosen to participate in.
3. Make a plan to tackle the first main challenge in an online conference: being THERE. How will you make sure you log in? Cancel any meetings in your calendar that overlap with the events you have chosen to participate in.
If necessary, install forest ( https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/forest-stay-focused-be-pr/kjacjjdnoddnpbbcjilcajfhhbdhkpgk?hl=en) or some other app on to block your email and your other forms of distraction. Equally important is to plan some off time: Schedule breaks to get coffee & food, take a walk or a nap, make a phone call, etc.
Tip: Plan more breaks than you would have in an in-person conference given the extra concentration required for online conferences.
4. Make a plan to tackle the second main challenge in an online conference: BEING there. How will you make sure you stay tuned and learn from the experience? You need to be active to learn from what you see.
The least public option is to take notes and write down questions & follow-ups in a physical notepad, but it's easy to cheat and stop doing it. Believe me, I've been there.
Instead, stir up discussion in the chat room for the talk, of the conference if they have one (for #vICIS2020 http://event.vconferenceonline.com/vconference/Chat-Lounge.aspx?id=6065), or on twitter.
You can also use polls on twitter as comprehension quizzes: You'll help others stay tuned while pushing your own understanding of the talks!
Peer pressure options for those who are shy: find buddies who are also attending and create a private channel in the conference site, slack, &c, to quiz each other and discuss the talks. An alternative: Prepare screenshots+talk reports for people who aren't attending.
*Phase 3: After the conference*
5. Revisit your goals and plan of action: What worked and what didn't? This will help you have a better learning and networking experience in the next online conference you attend. Then share your tips.
5. Revisit your goals and plan of action: What worked and what didn't? This will help you have a better learning and networking experience in the next online conference you attend. Then share your tips.
