Welcome to the NETA Conference!
First time here? No Problem.
Attending the NETA conference for the first time is a great experience; however, it can also be a bit overwhelming with all of the activities and people. It takes a little planning to get the most out of the conference. Here are a few things to think about as you prepare to make the trek to Omaha for the NETA conference.
Get Ready
Your NETA conference experience should start before you ever get into your car. Start getting fired up about attending the conference a week or two before it starts, let your administrator know how much you appreciate being able to attend and get excited about what technology can do for your students. Make sure you check out the NETA web page to find valuable information about speakers, presenters and workshops before heading to Omaha.
Workshops
If you signed up for a hands-on workshop you should pay particular attention to the location of the workshop. Plan on arriving at the workshop in plenty of time to allow you to find a seat, gather handouts and have a chance to relax a bit before the workshop starts.
Travel Tips
Plan your travel arrangements to allow you to arrive at the conference early enough to register, look over your conference packet of information and attend the keynote speaker. There will be a keynote speaker each day at 8:30 AM. They have proven to be an exciting part of the conference, filled with vision for the future and what's best for our students' education.
Planning Your Time
When you receive your registration packet take time to look at all of the sessions scheduled and come up with a plan of which breakout session to attend each time slot. Breakout sessions are the one-hour demonstration/discussion sessions that you may attend freely without "signing up." The registration packet will include a schedule of all sessions, brief description of each session and a map of the Holiday Inn. Highlighting or circling the sessions you want to attend will help avoid conflicts during certain time slots. Notice which room the sessions will be held in and try to take a quick tour of the facility to familiarize yourself with the layout to avoid the frustration of getting lost and missing part of a session. Try to attend as many sessions as possible to get the most out of the conference, and make sure you pick up the handouts that each presenter has. To make it possible for you to attend all sessions there will be a lunch stand in the hallway that will allow you to eat lunch quickly and not have to miss anything.
Vendors and Exhibits
Vendors provide an exciting part of the conference and you will want to spend time in the vendor exhibit area seeing what products are available and meeting new people and asking questions about new products. There will be a scheduled time to visit the vendors and if there is a time slot that doesn't contain any sessions that fit your needs you can visit the vendors then as well. Remember to wear your nametag, as you won't be allowed in the vendor area without it. Many of the vendors hold drawings for prizes so make sure you sign up at each table. The vendors also host a reception on Thursday at 4:15 PM that you won't want to miss! It is at this time that prize winners from drawings are posted in the exhibit hall.
Take Note
A couple of other suggestions that will help make your NETA conference experience a rewarding one is to take plenty of notes. You will be attending many sessions and hearing many great ideas, it will be difficult to remember everything once you get home if you don't take notes. Talk to people as you are waiting for a session to start or over a cup of coffee in the morning. The most valuable resources at NETA are the people--you can get great ideas by visiting with people every chance you get. When you get back home, make sure you share the information you received with others and keep the information cycle going.
Did we mention the prizes?
As the conference winds down on Friday afternoon it is important for you to fill out your conference evaluation form. This form gives the conference planners an idea of what worked and what needs work. Please fill out the form honestly and help make the conference even better next year. We'll even give you a prize as a thank you for your input.
Make sure to stay until after the last session on Friday, when we gather in the Ballroom for great prize drawings! You can turn in your evaluation form at that time as well. Enjoy your NETA experience and try to gain as much from it as possible. Have fun!
submitted by Tony Scism, Aurora Public Schools