Introduction

Preparing yourself for the event will help make the event experience more valuable and enriching.

Ask yourself?

Why are you planning to attend the event?

What do you need to move forward with your work assignments?

Action plans

Read the agenda to gauge whether the event is right for you. Plan to attend sessions that will contribute to your effectiveness on the job.

• Classes where relevant research findings are presented.

• Sessions by peers doing the same type of work as you.

• Demonstrations where you can see things working that you might use.

Align with your interest

How do the purpose and objectives of the event align with the work you do?

Read the purpose, objectives, and general descriptions of topics. Answer this question in your mind, "How will my work be improved by attending this event?" List what you plan to gain from the event.

Schedule

Draft a schedule to support your personal objectives. You might select two sessions for each hour. If one session is not what you expected, or full, you will be able to attend the other session.

You may want to coordinate your schedule with co-workers. It may be valuable to attend a session together or to attend different sessions and swap information later.

These scheduling options will more likely apply to large events. Smaller events have fewer scheduling options.