Appendix 1: nls-forum: Guidelines for Presenters
Kicking off and facilitating an on-line discussion - somewhere between speaking and writing - is a little different from either presenting a conference paper face-to-face or writing an academic paper. Based on our experience on nls-forum so far, and feedback from list-members, we have drawn up the following brief guidelines for leaders of our "mini-conferences."
nls-forum. Set up specifically to discuss all technical, professional and organisational issues relating to networked learner support (defined as on-line support for learners and researchers in their use of electronic information resources - e.g. on-line enquiry/reference work, on-line approaches to user education and information skills training). The educational role of the information specialist in the networked learning environment is a key topic for the list, therefore, but in general terms the aim is to debate information support issues in the development of networked approaches to teaching, learning and research in higher education. It is worth bearing in mind that the list's perspective is broadly educational rather than IT-technical or library-technical.
nls-forum members. The audience for the mini-conference is diverse, and one of the main aims of the forum is to stimulate discussion across professional groups. The list has around 900 members at any one time and we think, a majority of librarians. However, members also include IT specialists, academic teaching staff, staff from teaching/learning support roles (open/distance/flexible learning support, multimedia) and others. A wide range of countries are represented, though most contributions to discussion come from the UK, US and Australia.
jargon and local references. Given the list-membership, to be avoided - e.g. library jargon and references which only library folk will understand will not go down well with other groups represented! Likewise, references to uniquely UK systems, if needed at all, may need to be explained.
examples. On the other hand, people greatly appreciate concrete examples of local initiatives which they might be able to adapt.
point of view. Related to the point on jargon above - it's important to bear in mind that the audience is diverse and over-emphasis on one professional group's point of view (to the exclusion of others) is to be avoided.
length of initial paper. Between 2 to 3 A4 sheets as printed out. Any more than this seems too much for people to cope with.
structure & general readability of paper. Bear in mind that some people will read this from their screen, others will print it out. We have found that list-members appreciate clear headings and sub-headings within the paper, so that they can pick out the key points/questions rapidly and identify those which interest them.
inviting contributions. Open questions strategically placed in the initial paper are often effective in stimulating debate, and interventions in the discussion as it goes along, to summarise, draw out main points and re-state questions from time to time is important to keep momentum going.
tone and style. A conversational but succinct style seems to be appreciated - readers want to "get to the point" rapidly, but also need to feel they are responding to a person rather than to a journal paper. So a balance needs to be struck - lengthy anecdote is probably to be avoided but a friendly, inclusive tone is tremendously effective.
discussion period. Around 3 weeks seems to be a reasonable period for discussion, and people seem to like the clear boundaries around the mini-conferences, so we always give starting and closing dates at the outset.
rounding off.Rounding off the discussion period with a brief summary of the debate and any further observations will be much appreciated.
general procedures. Phil will introduce you at the start of the mini-conference, so will need a brief "speaker's profile" of you. Please send the final version of your paper to PL a couple of days before the mini-conference is due to start, and she will forward it to the list at the appointed time, with a general introduction. From then on you simply participate in the discussion directly, as a list-member, rather than via PL.
PL. March 1997.
[Contents] [Section 1] [Section 2] [Section 3] [Section 4] [Section 5] [Appendices]
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last updated 12th December 1998