WISCON 39 Schedule is now LIVE on wiscon.info

Hello all you lovely Wiscon folks out there! I am beyond happy to announce that the final schedule for Wiscon 39 is now live on the Wiscon website!

This link will get you the panels that are running, their locations, etc. If you need a list view;  here is a link if you need a grid view.

Handy info for moderators and panelists is beneath the Read More. You should also be receiving emails from program@wiscon.info if you are scheduled to moderate and/or participate on panels.

If you are scheduled for programming and do not recieve an email, please send a note to us at program@wiscon.info

ETA to clarify what email you should have received:

If you are moderating panels as well as being on a panel(s), then you will only get the moderator email.

If you are only participating on panels and not moderating anything, then you will get the panelist email.

You may also tweet at me (@cypheroftyr) for Programming questions, but sending it to the program email may get a faster response. The official Wiscon Twitter is @wiscon39

Thank you!

Tanya D. aka Cypheroftyr (programming demon, er deputy)
Wiscon 39

If you are a moderator!

What do we expect from our moderators?

Prepare. Contact your panelists before WisCon. When? Now would be
good. How? Click on the links for panelists below your moderating
assignment.

In that email, please:

1. Introduce yourself.
2. Suggest or solicit panel structure: how much time for each
panelist, if/how to solicit and handle audience participation.
3. Describe your understanding of the panel description and ensure
that the panelists agree.
4. Ask the panelists about their interest in the panel topic.
5. Determine if you and/or the panelists are going to cite specific resources.
6. Elicit 2-3 points that each panelist deems crucial.

Ten minutes before your panel, meet your panelists in the green room
and get the name tents. Go to the assigned room. Start the session on
time. Introduce the panel topic and allow the panelists to introduce
themselves and explain their interest in the topic. Introduce yourself
as the moderator and explain your ground rules (if, how and when the
audience can participate, timing for the session).

Make sure all the panelists have a chance to speak, manage how
audience members are included in the discussion, and keep track of the
time and the arc of the discussion for wrap-up. You will probably not
speak as much as your panelists.

Part of your job as moderator is to ensure equitable participation.
Gender, race, class, and ability are some factors that influence
participation styles. Be aware of power dynamics and intervene as
necessary when panelists or audience members exercise privilege to
dominate the conversation. You may need to cut off a panelist who has
hijacked the discussion. You may need to cut off an audience member
who has raised their hand to ask a question and then tried to deliver
a twenty-minute “This is more of a comment than a question…”.  You
may need to encourage shy panel members to share their thoughts.

When microphones are present, use them, and make sure all the
panelists do, too. Some of us do not hear well enough to participate
without microphones, and you can’t tell by looking who we are. Remind
your panelists not to cover their mouths when they speak; some of us
depend on lipreading to participate.

If you require A/V for your panel, you MUST request it no later than
May 11th so your request can accommodated. A/V includes: projector,
screens, microphones, pc speakers.

How do I get more information for this gig?

1. For tips on moderating, go to: http://wiscon.info/tipsformods.php
2. For tips for your panelists: http://wiscon.info/tipsforpanelists.php
3. Panels that might interest you: “Join the Mod Squad: Enhance Your
Moderation Skills” Friday from 4:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m in Conference 4.
4. Questions?  Ask us via program@wiscon.info

If you are a panelist!

Preparing for the convention

–Your moderator should contact you before WisCon. Please respond to
your moderator’s email. This is your chance to define the format,
structure, and scope of the panel. Be pro-active: if you haven’t heard
from your mod, you can contact the panel by clicking on the link below
the program item description.
–Re-read the panel description and raise questions about anything
that’s not clear.
–Formulate the things you’d like to convey during the allotted time
(you’ll be sharing 70 minutes with other panelists and the audience).
Keep this list simple.  You may want to keep the sub-topics to no more
than three.
–Do your homework. Gather the names of the works and authors you want
to discuss. People in the audience will ask for specifics. Read, view,
listen to relevant materials. Prepare notes and/or spend time thinking
about the topic. You may do this on your own and in emails with the
other panelists, depending on how the group decides to interact before
the convention.

At the Con

–Meet up in the Green Room 10 minutes before the panel start time if
at all possible; if not, make sure to tell your moderator that you’ll
be meeting up with the rest of the panel in the room.
–Start on time! If unavoidably late, quietly enter the room, take a
place at the table and wait for your mod to fold you into the
panel-already-in-progress.  Don’t apologize for being late. The
audience is paying attention to the ongoing discussion, not to you.
–Share the time with other panelists and the audience. WisCon
audiences want to get into the discussion as soon as possible. Prepare
to answer lots of audience questions. The moderator will let the
audience know how soon s/he will start taking questions, while setting
up the panel. Defer to the moderator as s/he directs the conversation.
–Bring something to write on. Discussion moves very quickly and it
can help to take notes of what you want to cover when the moderator
gets back to you.
–Look at the audience. Resist the temptation to address your comments
solely to a fellow panelist, even when responding to a specific point.
–Speak one at a time. Use the mic, when provided. Some of us cannot
understand your words without amplification. If you refuse to use the
mic, you are preventing us from participating.
–Don’t hold your hand in front of your mouth when you are speaking.
Some of us cannot understand your words if we can’t read your lips.
–Refrain from whispering with other panelists.
–Respect the moderator’s awesome powers.

And remember to have fun!

More information about being a panelist at WisCon is available at
http://wiscon.info/tipsforpanelists.php