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We Built It and They Came! A Blueprint for Developing a Community Conference
Nola Coulson, Carlow University Karen Hall, Point Park University
Ruth Newberry, Duquesne University Deborah Ayers, Butler County Community College
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Purpose – Answer the following questions:
• Who are we?
• Why do we have a regional conference?
• What can we tell you about hosting a conference?
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Carlow UnivCarlow Univ• Private
• BB Since 2003
• 2200 FTE/ 82 faculty
• Basic
Who are we?Who are we?
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Point Park UnivPoint Park Univ• Private
• BB Since 2001
• 3300 FTE/ 128 faculty
• Basic
Duquesne UnivDuquesne Univ• Private
• BB Since 1998
• 9000 FTE/ 486 faculty
• Enterprise
Butler CCCButler CCC• Public
• BB Since 2001
• 3800 FTE/ 70 faculty
• Enterprise
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The Pgh Bb User Group takes shape…
Our Mission– Promote collaboration among members
• Conference
– Exchange ideas• Ways to leverage the BB investment• Supplemented, hybrid, and online courses• Committees and student groups
– Share resources• Training, technical support, best practices
– Share the pain• Meetings and User group
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24 Member Institutions in 2007!
• Butler County Community College
• Californian University of Pennsylvania
• Carlow University • Carnegie Mellon University • Chatham College • Clarion University of
Pennsylvania • Community College of
Allegheny County • Community College of Beaver
County • Duquesne University • Gannon University• Geneva College
• Grove City College• La Roche College• Mercyhurst College• Mount Aloysius College • Pennsylvania Highlands
Community College• Point Park University • Saint Vincent College • St. Francis University• Thiel College• University of Pittsburgh• Washington and Jefferson College• Westmoreland County Community
College• Wheeling Jesuit University
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Conference Building Overview
• We Break Ground– 1st Conference, October 2003 - Carlow University
• We Build the Foundation – 2nd Conference, March 2005 - Carlow University
• We Frame Our Structure and Finish Rooms – 3rd Conference, November 2005 - Duquesne
University– 4th Conference, March 2007 - Duquesne University
• We Maintain and Improve– 5th Conference, October 2008 - Butler County
Community College
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Blueprint for a Conference
• What do you want to see/learn from vendors?
• Pick a Conference Chair– Someone to track, manage, coordinate all the details and keep the idea
moving forward
• Call for Presentations– Involve presentations from faculty and staff and group members– Lisa Byrnes, Mt. Aloysius
• Create a Conference Web site– http://www.ltc.duq.edu/pghbbug/
• Form a Review Committee– Develop a review rubric– Email proposals to conference chair– Accept as many proposals as possible
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We Break Ground1st Conference - October 2003 Carlow University
• The Chart… the evolution seen in the categories
• Carlow’s Layout– Attendance free for Users Group members– 8 vendors – small, tiered fee for each
• $250 for presentation slot, exhibit, food• $500 to sponsor a Lunch
• Presenters: User Group Members/Vendors/Faculty
• BB’s Participation – they were learning too!– Keynote
• Sales pitch and product roadmap– Wanted to do the keynotes on both days– Social Hour– Special lunch time gathering
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We Break Ground1st Conference Chairperson - Dos
• Get the help of Colleagues• Keep the momentum going• Meet and plan• Create a shared goal and vision for the
conference • Solicit help from other departments• Build community and commitment
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We Build the Foundation 2nd Conference - March 2005Carlow University• Growth … see the Chart
– March 2005 (pushed back from October 2004)– Revenue covered expenses
• 12 vendors - vendor fees the same– $250 for presentation slot, exhibit, food– $500 to sponsor a Lunch– tier pricing opens options of sponsorship
• Making it easier– Co-chair w/ Ross Donohue, CCAC– Logistics easier a bit
• What’s New– Raffle
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We Build the Foundation2nd Conference Results
The Role of Blackboard Changed
• Blackboard Requests to host– Transaction System Breakfast
• Wanted VPs/ Provosts to attend
– Adrian & Nola contact each other• Adrian Alleyne gives Keynote
– Talked about User Groups
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Time out!Pgh BbUG Re-evaluates its Purpose
• Blackboard used for many purposes- Online, hybrid and web-enhanced classes- Clubs, departments, groups, etc.
• Group’s interest encompasses more than Blackboard…all instructional technology
• Some members move to open source solutions• Host challenges – burnout and dependency
Is conference a distraction?
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We Frame Our Structure3rd Conference - November 2005Duquesne University
• Capitalizing on past strengths… more growth– See chart
• What’s New– Conference Theme: Blackboard and Beyond…– Formalized Sponsor Commitment
• You get this for $$; Collected sponsorship fees sooner
– Developed online registration with pay later option– Secured lodging discounts– Assembled and raffled Institutional baskets
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We Frame Our Structure 3rd Conference Chairperson – Dos
• New Challenges– Keynote Speakers? Sign them up!
• Who? How much? Logistics• Matthew Pittinsky and the President
– The future vision – networked learning
• Melissa Anderson and the Provost– The here and now…
• Give & Take w/ Blackboard• Executive only Luncheon for Pittinsky• The Bb Executive Team and Entourage• Listening Sessions
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We Frame Our Structure 3rd Conference
• Money is a problem!– Institutional “anxiety”
• Breaking even• Whose revenue is it?
– “Seed money” and faith • $10,000 institutional• Sponsorship revenue asap
– $1500 Excess Revenue• Attendees + Sponsors – Costs = Revenue• Crossing Budget Years
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We Finish the Rooms – Is Bigger Better? 4th Conference Duquesne University
• Capitalizing on Success! – The Conference Checklist and the chart
• What’s New– “Sponsored by” Pgh BbUG
• It’s more than Blackboard – it’s Educational Technology• Conference theme: Reinventing the Classroom of Today for
Tomorrow
– Securing Keynote speakers• Enhance your marketing with timely speakers• Travel, Lodging, Honorariums
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We Finish the Rooms – Is Bigger Better?4th Conference
• What’s New– Early Bird pricing for registrants and vendors
• Online registration and payment• 2 days $40/50 or 1 day for $20/$25• Vendor visit cards for prizes
– Poster sessions – get them in some way
• Blackboard’s Support and Requests– K-12 Track – The Social Hour– Listening Sessions
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Maintenance and Improvements 5th Conference - October 2008Butler County Community College
Motivations and Drivers
• Institutional– Showcase campus and Technology Building– Bring conference to a location that serves a
larger regional audience– Expose faculty and administrators to new
educational technologies– Strengthen the 2 + 2 + 2 connection
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Maintenance and Improvements 5th Conference
Motivations and Drivers
• Personal• Commitment to the User Group• Champion Community Colleges • Can get it done
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Maintenance and Improvements 5th Conference
• Future plans– Broaden K-12 presence– Add a hands-on “training track”– Expand beyond BB & learning systems
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Lessons Learned & Words of Encouragement
• It’s worth it! Lots to gain by hosting
• Needs the support of the group; conference comes from the group– Does a conference fit with your mission?
• Must have institutional support
• If we had known,…• Formalize the Group• Create by-laws
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The Conference Blueprints
• Timeline
• Conference checklist
• Budget Overview
• Marketing Tips
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Contacts
• Nola Coulson, Coordinator, Instructional Technology, Carlow University, [email protected]
• Karen Hall, Associate Director Instructional Technology & Media Services, Point Park University, [email protected]
• Ruth Newberry, Director, Educational Technology, Duquesne University, [email protected]
• Deborah Ayers, Dean of Educational Technology, Butler County Community College, [email protected]
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Want More?
• To view my resources and references for this presentation, visit
www.scholar.com• Simply click “Advanced Search” and
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