Your first conference: How to be an attendee

I had the opportunity recdently to attend the AERA (American Educational Research Association) conference, and I’ve reflected a little bit on how much I would have struggled with conferences as an undergrad...

So I wanted to share the tips that I’ve learned since my undergrad so you can get more out of your first conference!

Networking: Talk to someone.

For a lot of us, this is the most intimidating task at the conference! Here are my tips for talking to more people.

Where to talk to people

Anywhere, really! But here are some good ones.

In a line. You’re going to have a few minutes next to people in a coffee or food line, or maybe even waiting for the washroom. Why not strike up a conversation. Say “hi” when you arrive, move on to “how are you,” and then pick from the options below.

You can also strike up conversations before or after sessions with the people you’re sitting near. Again, “hi” and “how are you” are a good place to start.

What to say

Of course you’re starting with the “hi” and “how are you.” And if you’re not sure what to say next, here are some easy options. Talking about the conference is an easy way to break the ice because it’s obviously something you have in common.

Ask if they’ve been to this conference before, or if they come every year. This is an easy one!

You can also ask about the sessions. Which ones have they attended so far, and were any particularly interesting? What sessions are you going to next?

Of course, you also need to be prepared to answer these questions! If you ask what their favourite session so far was, they will probably answer you and then ask the same question back, so you need to have something to say.

You can also approach presenters after their sessions with questions about their work. I’ve added more about this below.

And just remember that it’s not really proper to talk about things you didn’t like, or that weren’t relevant for you. If you went to a really bad or irrelevant session, don’t focus on that. And always remember that the other presenters could be in this person’s network!

Getting the most out of sessions

Go through the program ahead of time and pick the sessions you definitely want to attend. You don’t need to attend something in every time slot - I like to take breaks when I can review my notes or figure out what elsen I want to attend.

I like to take notes in sessions. It helps me pay attention because I’m trying to write down a few important points that will help me remember the session or remind me why it’s relevant for me. I will often also write down any citations they mention that I want to follow up on.

It’s also really helpful to try to come up with a question about the presentation. Whether you have an opportunity to ask it or not, try to find something you could ask about the presentation or about their work. And if you’re feeling particularly brave, try approaching the presenters after their sessions and asking your question one-on-one! Not only does this help you build your knowledge and understanding of the content, it also makes you stand out.

Taking Notes

I keep my notes in a google drive folder called "events & conferences.” That way I can search for keywords later if I remember that I went to a session on a topic. I can also go through the notes after the conference and look up specific researchers’ papers - I use Google Scholar for this because it shows you everything they wrote. Then you can see if you want to read any of their papers or books on the same topics.

Taking Breaks

My final tip is just a reminder to take breaks when you need them. Focusing on difficult topics for a long period is tiring. If you’re struggling to focus, or feeling overwhelmed, it may be time for a break.

Don’t feel that you have to attend every single session, every single day. Focus on the most relevant sessions for you, or sessions by people you want to network with.

I also find networking very tiring, perhaps because I’m an introvert. So I always make sure to have some “introvert time” when I can just be alone and read, or check email, or take a scrolling break.

If you are looking for more tips for students, head over and follow me on Instagram so you’ll always see when I add something new!