The presentation on NC State's SpeedCon unconference, presented for the 2012 ACM SIGDOC Conference in Seattle, WA.

1. Hosting an ACM SIGDOC unconference
Presented by
Sarah Egan Warren & Jen Riehle
Friday, October 5, 2012

2. ABout us
Sarah Egan Warren Jen Riehle
Asst. Director, Professional Writing Program Dynamic Interactions Architect, NC State
Faculty Advisor, NC State SIGDOC Past NC State SIGDOC President
SIGDOC Student Relations Officer SIGDOC Webmaster
Friday, October 5, 2012

3. 01 The Inspiration
How we got started...
Friday, October 5, 2012

4. Work with professional org
Learn from/Teach others
Keep it SIMPLE
Have FUN!
Friday, October 5, 2012

5. Why host an DEFinition: unconference
unconference? An unconference is a facilitated, participant-
driven conference centered on a theme or
purpose.
Benefits
• Flexible, allowing various topics and formats
• Open to anyone; low barrier to entry
• Timely topics; session submissions not required
in advance
• Good opportunity for introductions and
networking
• Naturally collaborative, energetic and fun
atmosphere!
Friday, October 5, 2012

6. 02 Planning
The details.
Friday, October 5, 2012

7. Timeline
INITIAL PLANNING TECHNOLOGY LOGISTICS EVENT! ASSESSMENT
• Identify • Create unconference • Purchase name tags, • Team arrives early • Send out
unconference team website markers, display for setup assessment form
• Select date, time, • Explain boards • Put up directional • Evaluate data
location unconference • Verify participant signs • Begin plans for next
• Solicit sponsorship concept numbers • Welcome year based on
• Seek refreshment • Advertise event • Final order for food participants and responses
options • Solicit speakers • Confirm rooms, AV outline plans for the
• Encourage voting on equipment, tech day
early submissions support • Facilitate session
• Send reminder pitches
messages to • Create and publish
participants schedule
Friday, October 5, 2012

8. Early 21st Century Challenges to Technical
Communication (11)
voting > Non-Traditional Resumes (8)
Strategies for Simplicity (9)
Submission Topics Creating an ebook... for free (8)
> Communication Metrics (5)
Welcome to Tiki Wiki CMS (5)
Blogging Your Passion (3)
> Control from the Crypt: End-of-Life
Documentation (6)
Designing an infrastructure to support the
publishing lifecycle (5)
Getting to Know Your Users Better (2)
Why Learning DITA Can Keep You Viable (4)
Writing to Your Strengths: Writing and
Personality Type (8)
> The Genius of WordPress (8)
Documentation in an Agile World (7)
Friday, October 5, 2012

9. conference
websites Main Site eventbrite UserVoice
Friday, October 5, 2012

10. 03 The Execution
SpeedCon 2011
Friday, October 5, 2012

11. ONLINE
INFO
Be where the
people are
Friday, October 5, 2012

12. The schedule
9:00am: Breakfast
9:30-10:00am: Session Pitches
10:00-10:30am
The Attendees The Planners
Review sessions and organize day
Create signs for all rooms/sessions
John Kohl, Keynote Speaker Update webpage with schedule and
QR code
Author of The Global English
Style Guide: Writing Clear,
Translatable Documentation for a
Global Audience
Photo Credits: SAS.COM (l), B. Mehlenbacher (R)
Friday, October 5, 2012

13. The
Sessions 10:45-11:15am
Writing and Personality Types
Communication Metrics 1:45-2:15pm
Welcome to Tiki Wiki CMS 21st Century Challenges for Tech.
Communication
11:30am-12:00pm Strategies for Simplicity
Creating an E-Pub Designing an Infrastructure to Support
Non-Traditional Resumes the Publishing Lifecycle
Control from the Crypt
2:30-3:00pm
12:00-1:00pm: Lunch What Will a Professional Society Mean
to You?
1:00-1:30pm
The Genius of WordPress
[LIGHTNING SESSIONS]
Presentations Other Than PowerPoint
Fear of Speaking (15 min),
How DITA Keeps You Viable (15 min) 3:30pm: Door Prize drawings & final
[LIGHTNING SESSIONS] thoughts
Blogging Your Passion (15 min),
Better User Analysis (15 min)
Friday, October 5, 2012

14. 04 Lessons Learned
The good and bad of Speedcon 2011
Friday, October 5, 2012

15. “[i liked] the
networking
and getting to
meet people,
especially as
someone just
starting out
in the
profession.”
Friday, October 5, 2012

16. “I liked the
Less-Formal,
relaxed
Feel.”
Friday, October 5, 2012

17. “[i liked] The
open,
friendly
atmosphere
and the fact
that there
was a wide
variety of
topics.”
Friday, October 5, 2012

18. “I am a person who
likes things
planned and
orderly, but
because of the
incredible job by
the people
facilitating the Day
I never felt like
things were out of
control or
chaotic.”
Friday, October 5, 2012

19. “I enjoyed the
informality
and brevity of
it. I get bored
easily.
Professional
development on
a saturday
should be fast-
paced like
SpeedCon.”
Friday, October 5, 2012

20. “i was
impressed
with the
food and
door
prizes!”
Friday, October 5, 2012

21. “Maybe add a
session where
participants can
meet others so
they can
understand who
they are and what
they would like
to achieve [at] the
conference.”
Friday, October 5, 2012

22. “Promote it a
little more
broadly. I
found out
about it in
passing less
than 10 days
before the
unconference.”
Friday, October 5, 2012

23. “I didn't know
before I came
that attendees
would be
invited to
speak as well,
so perhaps
making that
information a
little bit more
clear.”
Friday, October 5, 2012

24. x
Early
voting
Submission Topics
1. 21st Century Challenges to Technical
Communication (11)
2. Non-Traditional Resumes (8)
g ne eded
12
10
votin
3. Strategies for Simplicity (9)
8
early
4. Creating an ebook... for free (8)
no
5. Communication Metrics (5)
6. Welcome to Tiki Wiki CMS (5) 6
7. Blogging Your Passion (3)
8. Control from the Crypt: End-of-Life
Documentation (6) 4
9. Designing an infrastructure to support the
publishing lifecycle (5)
10. Getting to Know Your Users Better (2) 2
11. Why Learning DITA Can Keep You
Viable (4)
12. Writing to Your Strengths: Writing and
Personality Type (8)
13. The Genius of WordPress (8)
14. Documentation in an Agile World (7)
Friday, October 5, 2012

25. conference
websites
x
u
Main Site
se O NE webs
eventbrite
ite!
UserVoice
Friday, October 5, 2012

26. The
schedule
x
9:00am: Breakfast
9:30-10:00am: Session Pitches
10:00-10:30am
1:00-1:30pm
[LIGHTNING SESSIONS]
Fear of Speaking (15 min), How DITA Can
Keep You Viable (15 min)
[LIGHTNING SESSIONS]
/
John Kohl, Keynote Speaker
Blogging Your Passion (15 min), Better User
10:45-11:15am
Writing and Personality Types, Andrea W. ^
Analysis (15 min)
/
Communication Metrics, John M. 1:45-2:15pm
^
Welcome to Tiki Wiki CMS, Rick S.
11:30am-12:00pm
Creating an E-Pub, Rick S.
Non-Traditional Resumes, Desiree B.
21st Century Challenges for Tech.
Communication, Dr. Brad M.
Strategies for Simplicity, Andrea W.
Designing an Infrastructure to Support the
Publishing Lifecycle, Julio V.
Control from the Crypt, John M.
2:30-3:00pm
12:00-1:00pm: Lunch What Will a Professional Society Mean to You?
Larry K.
nges
The Genius of WordPress, Jen R.
cha
Presentations Other Than PowerPoint, Sarah M.
s chedule
Friday, October 5, 2012

27. 05 Speedcon 2012
Saturday, November 17th
Friday, October 5, 2012

28. SpeedCon 2012
Nov. 17th |10am - 4pm
Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Brad Mehlenbacher & Dr. Wade Newhouse
Sponsorship covering all costs (7 sponsors)
Door prizes including books and a Kindle
Goal for attendance: 75
Friday, October 5, 2012

29. Thanks
For your attention!
PHOTO CREDITs:
Creative commons licensing, Stefan (Flickr)
Friday, October 5, 2012

30. Q&A
speedcon.wordpress.com
Friday, October 5, 2012