How do you create interactive conference sessions?

Are you planning to host or attend a conference soon? If so, you might be wondering how to make the most of your time and engage your audience or peers. One way to do that is to create interactive conference sessions that foster learning, collaboration, and feedback. In this article, we will share some tips and examples on how to design and deliver interactive conference sessions that will keep your attendees interested and involved.

1 Define your objectives

Before you start creating your interactive conference session, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. What are the main goals and outcomes of your session? Who are your target audience and what are their needs and expectations? How will you measure the success of your session? Having a clear vision and purpose will help you shape your content, format, and activities.

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Paul Figueira

User Experience Designer at Open Cities Lab
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Expectation building early in the session can be so useful to getting buy in during the session itself. It can also help keep the session (kind of) on course.

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2 Choose your format

When planning an interactive conference session, you can choose from a variety of formats depending on your objectives and audience. A workshop is a hands-on session where you teach a skill or concept and guide participants through exercises or tasks. Alternatively, you could host a panel discussion with experts or practitioners to share their insights on a topic. A roundtable offers an opportunity for small-group dialogue on a particular issue or challenge. If you'd like to answer questions from the audience, consider hosting a Q&A session. Finally, if you'd like to showcase a product, service, or project and invite feedback or questions from the audience, consider hosting a demo session.

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Hannah Henza

Nonprofit Fundrasing, Marketing, & Program Director
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I find it is helpful to think about how you want participants to feel during your session - what is the vibe you want to create. If we think of sessions as unique learning opportunities we can begin to craft immersive experiences that ultimately transform those who participate.

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3 Plan your activities

Once you have chosen your format, you need to plan your activities to make your session interactive. Activities are the key to engaging your audience and creating a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. For instance, polls and surveys can be used to collect data, opinions, or feedback from your audience. You can also create quizzes to test the knowledge or comprehension of your audience or challenge them to learn something new. Breakouts are another way to divide the audience into smaller groups and assign them a task, a question, or a topic to discuss or work on. Games can stimulate the creativity, curiosity, or problem-solving skills of your audience. Stories can be used to illustrate points, share experiences, or inspire the audience. Furthermore, you can invite the audience to share their stories or examples related to the topic.

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4 Prepare your materials

To ensure a successful interactive conference session, it's important to prepare your materials ahead of time. These materials are the resources and tools that you and your audience will use during the session. Examples include slides, handouts, equipment, and online platforms. Make sure your slides are clear, concise, and attractive. For handouts, make sure they are relevant, useful, and easy to read. Ensure that your equipment is working, compatible, and accessible. Lastly, make sure the online platform you choose is reliable, secure, and user-friendly.

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5 Deliver your session

Finally, delivering your interactive conference session with confidence and enthusiasm is essential. To do so, you should start with an icebreaker to introduce yourself and the topic, and set the tone for the session. Additionally, you can use various techniques to engage your audience, such as asking questions, encouraging participation, and acknowledging contributions. Additionally, managing your time by using a timer or agenda is important to ensure that you cover all the points and activities planned. Lastly, be flexible and attentive to the situation and respond to the needs and interests of your audience.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you create interactive conference sessions?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define your objectives

2 Choose your format

3 Plan your activities

4 Prepare your materials

5 Deliver your session

6 Here’s what else to consider

Conferences

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How do you create interactive conference sessions?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define your objectives

2 Choose your format

3 Plan your activities

4 Prepare your materials

5 Deliver your session

6 Here’s what else to consider

Conferences

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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