PAPER SESSION MODERATORS
Before the Session
• Please check the Conference Schedule and be clear about the exact day, time, and room of the session that you are chairing.
• If you are able to familiarise yourself with the presentation abstracts of the session beforehand, that would be useful.
• Get to the room 5 - 10 minutes before the scheduled start to ensure that arrangements are in place.
• Introduce yourself to the presenters, ensure you get the correct pronunciation of their names and explain how you will indicate 5 and 0 minutes remaining (e.g., through the use of cue cards, hand signals, etc.)
During the Session
• Briefly introduce yourself and welcome the participants to the session.
• Ask for cell phones and other electronic devices to be put on silent.
• Introduce each presenter by name, affiliation, and title of the paper at the start of each individual presentation.
• Explain the ground rules. Remind the presenters and the audience about the timing arrangements - 20 minutes per paper and 10 minutes for questions and answers at the end. In order for the sessions to run smoothly, it is essential to adhere to these time limits. Please note that some of the 90-minute sessions may have less than four papers so the chair is free to extend the question and answer period at the end.
• Monitor the presentation time. Use the cue cards or any other pre-arranged signal you have discussed with presenters when they have 5 or 0 minutes remaining.
• Take questions after ALL presentations have been made. Encourage questions and answers, discussion and interaction among the participants. Ask each person to state his/her name and affiliation when posing a question or comment. As Moderator, you are free to pose questions as well.
Sometimes the 10-minute Q/A session is too short; you may therefore have to suggest to participants that they continue their discussion during private conversations outside of the sessions or during the breaks.
Closing the Session
• To conclude the session, you may summarise the key ideas from the session and/or thank the speakers and the audience for participating on behalf of The UWI Schools of Education.
