SWCA 2012

General Guidelines for Moderators

  1. Learn where your session is located prior to the start of your session. Maps of the Noel Studio, surrounding rooms, and nearby buildings on the EKU campus will be placed in your registration materials, which are available at the registration desk in the Noel Studio foyer.
  1. Welcome attendees and presenters, announce the title of the panel, and briefly introduce each panelist. You may wish to read the abstract from the conference program, the title of each presentation, and affiliation. We encourage you to contact the panelists in advance via email for information about their session.
  1. Ensure that each speaker receives an equal amount of speaking time. If a speaker listed in the program fails to appear, consider stretching the remaining time slots by (1) extending your introduction or (2) extending the question period for the prior speaker. Give the speaker advanced notice with five minutes, three minutes, and/or one minute left.

  2. Leave several minutes at the end of the session for questions from the audience. Help guide questions or pose your own to encourage discussion.

  3. It's a good idea to repeat questions from participants to the entire audience to help everyone hear and contribute ideas.

  4. During Q&A time, it may help to think of yourself as a discussion leader-someone who is actively looking to help the audience make connections between ideas, presenters, audience members, and, if possible or relevant, the field itself. Don't be afraid to comment, share, or ask follow-up questions of your own. Be involved and encourage engagement.

  5. Encourage the discussion to move online or to the Noel Studio if participants would like more information after the session. We have dedicated physical and virtual spaces for just this purpose. The 2012 SWCA conference has a Twitter feed at #SWCA2012 or @noelstudio, or a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SWCAConference2012. Participants can also use the Noel Studio's breakout spaces or presentation rooms between sessions for further discussion and spontaneous collaboration.
  1. Thank you for your help!