Shri Footring

A colleague recently asked whether anyone was able to share an events checklist.

I am leading on the organisation of five events this term so I’m finding it useful to think about this. The following is my own, personal informal ‘events checklist’.

All our events planning is done via our online database which is linked to our website. I have taken screen prints of the online forms and attached them to this post. Bookings, delegate lists, sign in sheets, delegate special requirements, evaluation links, certificates for attendance and so on are all handled by our automated system. [Screen prints of database ‘add event’ forms]. Delegate badges are produced by our excellent admin team.

It strikes me, however, that there are a number of other things I think about when planning events, not all of which are on these forms. So here is a slightly higher level checklist.

High Level - Why are we offering this event?

• Is it meeting a need amongst our supported learning providers?
• Are we working in partnership with appropriate other organisations?
• Does it align with our overall organisational strategic plan?
• Could the event be offered online? (There is a whole different checklist for online events, not considered in this post (yet).

Event Design Level

• What type of event is it?
  • Dissemination of research and / or funded projects?
  • Introduction to new technologies / techniques?
  • Introduction to new policies or guidelines which affect supported learning providers’ use of technology?
  • Good practice sharing?
  • A combination of one or more of the above?
• What is the best format for this event? (This will be determined by answers to the above)
  • Conference style presentations with discussion?
  • Hands on workshop / parallel workshops?
  • Contributions from the floor?
• Has delegate feedback from previous events been taken into account?
• Speakers and other contributors:
  • Is it appropriate to invite external speakers / facilitators? National? Regional? Local?
  • Have we spent time talking with them about our event aims and target audience?
• Does the programme for the day work?
  • Will delegates be able to get there / get home comfortably?
  • Have we built in enough breaks / shuffle time?
• How and where will we publicise this event? When?

Venue Considerations

• Is the venue in a reasonable geographical location for the target audience?
• Are there adequate public transport links and / or car parking facilities available?
• Is it accessible for those with mobility needs?
• Is there a good reliable Internet connection? (For the speakers? For delegates?)
• Are there good projection and audio amplification facilities?
• Are any websites blocked from this venue? (Is this an issue?)
• Does the venue provide Wi-Fi? Is is good / reliable? If we’re expecting delegates to use their own laptops, are there sufficient power outlets?
• What is the ideal room layout? Can it be achieved comfortably?
• Do we trust the catering? Has anyone visited the venue recently to make sure all is well?

In addition to the above, there is a great deal of detail to be attended to. Much of this can be seen in the attached database screen prints, but I might have left something out. Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions.

I’m in London today, supporting the LSIS eCPD programme, working with professional development advisors.

The question of Generator training has come up. Here are some of the dates, venues and links for forthcoming training sessions.

Taunton: 14th January 2010

10.00am – 2.30pm
Learning South West, Taunton Full Address Venue: Bishops Hull House, Bishops Hull, Taunton, Somerset

http://www.rsc-south-west.ac.uk/index.php?p=14_2&e=309

Portsmouth: 29th January 2010

1:15pm to 4:30pm
Venue: Pompey Study Centre, Portsmouth
http://www.rsc-southeast.ac.uk/events/2010/29-01-2010-half-day-generator-workshop.html 

Leicester: 4th February 2010

9.30 Registration, 10.00 - 16.00
City Learning Centre, Leicester, Leicestershire

http://info.rsc-em.ac.uk/events/event_details.asp?eid=116

Cambridge: 9th February 2010
10.30 am- 3.00pm
SmartLIFE Centre, Cambridge Regional College, Cambridge

http://info.rsc-eastern.ac.uk/events/event_details.asp?eid=725

London:25th February 2010

9.30 - 4.30pm
Accelerator
35 Kingsland Road,
E2 8AA, London
http://www.rsc-london.ac.uk/1365/

A thought provoking event which I was pleased to be able to attend.

The day was particularly useful for me because a number of our supported learning providers are in the process of re-writing their social networking policies and guidelines. It was wonderful to be able to hear from people who have done a lot of thinking on this subject. I was particularly grateful to Mike Roch for sharing his University’s  social networking policies with me.

The presentations from the day are available here:

http://www.eduserv.org.uk/events/wn4di.aspx

Tweets here: http://twapperkeeper.com/wn4di/?limit=500

and photos here: http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=%23wn4di&m=text

(I have copious notes and thoughts from the day scribbled down, but am just going to publish this much for now. Who knows, this post may grow :-))

Waiting for people to arrive, a boat trip around an oil rig. A party. All part of the JISC Online conference activities.

Originally uploaded by Shri Footring, JISC RSC

2009-11-20 Orientation 01

Originally uploaded by Shri Footring, RSCe

JISC Online conference orientation session

Our annual meet-up!

A colleague and I were invited to a staff development day to talk about blogs for learning and teaching.

We started by sharing some of our favourite blogs and then went on to show how to set up a wordpress blog.

Meeting details available from:

http://www.jisc.org.uk/whatwedo/programmes/elearningpedagogy/elearningexperts/april09.aspx

Link to twitter discussion:

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23jiscexperts09 

RSC Update - February 2009

27th February, The Moller Centre, Cambridge

Please see our website for full details of this meeting

The Adult Community Learning and Work Based Learning Forum Group

Chair: Annie Moldram, Suffolk County Council
Vice Chair: Gillian Sollenberger, Bedfordshire County Council

Recent Developments:

Access Apps:
The full version of the Access Apps is now available for download. We have a limited number of copies available on memory sticks, please take one with you today. For full details, see the RSC Scotland website:

http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/accessapps/

Support for LSIS eCPD Programme:
RSC staff supported the national launch event on the 5th February and attended a briefing event on 13th February. More details on this programme from Dave Foord.

Online Events:
We are offering a series of online event. The most recent one was earlier this week, on the subject of “Blogs, Wikis and more”, delivered by Marieke Guy of UKOLN. All event resources are available from our website:
http://info.rsc-eastern.ac.uk/events/event_details.asp?eid=616

Forthcoming Events of particular interest to this group:

A new blog, aimed primarily at staff was launched today:

http://rscuk.jiscinvolve.org/