Gayle Denny
ELEA National Director for Resources

You have just attended a great conference or workshop, come back to your office armed with handouts and lists of additional resources, ready to delve into the subject more thoroughly and implement all that you learned, and then—it happens. The day to day tasks of your job cause you to relegate the folder and your thoughts further and further to the bottom of the pile of more “important” things.

As a workshop presenter at the Southwest Lutheran Educators Conference in Palm Springs, CA this past November, I happened to be sitting in the hot tub at our hotel one evening, chatting with several young teachers from a Lutheran school—one of whom had been in one of my workshops that day and had left early. I didn’t remember her (there were 60+ people in that workshop), but she remembered me and apologized for walking out. She wanted to be sure I knew that she left, not because I was boring, or the subject matter wasn’t of interest, but because she was on “conference overload”. I was giving so much information, coupled with the three other workshops she had attended that day, that her brain simply could not absorb another thing. She was afraid that if she stayed for the entire session, she would forget the important things I had said during the first half hour.

I understand. I’ve been there. Sometimes conferences become a waste because of information overload. As presenters, we may know a subject so well and have so many great things to share, we are frustrated that we only have an hour or two to share it all, so we do often try to share it all—at the listener’s expense. I have learned, and am still learning, to ask the participants before I begin what the general level of understanding is on the topic, so I don’t go too fast—or too slow. I’ve learned that it’s okay if I don’t get through all of my notes.

So, if we are going to spend our precious time and money on conferences, how do we get the most out of them? Certainly, just the networking and fellowship alone can be valuable for teachers and administrators alike, but there’s got to be a way to retain some of the “meat” of the conference as well. A bit of planning and follow-up can make a big difference.

Attending conferences is a wonderful way to get new ideas, stay current in the field, and network with other professionals. Here are some ideas to help you get the full benefit from a conference.

At least a week before the conference, jot down the information and training that you hope to receive. Prepare a list of objectives. Think about how you will incorporate new information into your job.

Examine the conference program. Note who will be there, which sessions will be offered, and other activities that seem useful.

Choose one or two goals. Narrow your focus to the one or two goals you feel you will be able to accomplish.

Schedule your time. Select a first and second choice for each time slot. If you are going with a co-worker, divide up the sessions and exchange handouts afterward.

Plan ahead. Take along a folder for handouts, pens, paper, and stamped, self-addressed envelopes. If you are job-hunting, take resumes.

Review your plan for the day and make alterations based on changes in the program. If your speaker was replaced, don’t hesitate to go to your second-choice workshop. Sometimes we let this become an excuse to go back to our rooms, head the hotel pool, etc.

Take notes. You might want to use index cards to write down suggestions for activities so you’ll be able to refer to them easily later.

Approach the speaker after the session if you have questions.

Use lunchtimes and breaks to broaden your professional network. Exchange names and phone numbers with people so you can stay in touch.

If you promised to mail information to anyone you met at the conference, do this right away. When you receive information or advice from someone at the conference, send a brief thank-you note.

Write a summary of points that could be valuable to your co-workers. Give the summary to your administrator along with copies of any useful printed material you picked up. This sort of information can be useful at staff meetings. Remember to document your in-service training hours in your personal file.

In the months that follow the conference, try to keep in touch with the people you met there. Share articles and program ideas by mail.

Make a commitment to yourself to try out new strategies and techniques.

As an administrator, consider having teachers share the “best thing” they came away with from a conference at a staff meeting or other in-service training time. This helps keep it fresh in their minds and teachers can brainstorm with one another on the best ways to implement new ideas.

Attending a conference can broaden your job skills. You just have to put some extra time into it!

Gayle Denny serves as National Director for Resources for the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association, and can be reached at ELEANational@cs.com.

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