Hi everyone:

Thank you for all the great feedback and ideas on Code4Lib pre-conference workshops.

The pre-conference group has started off planning for this with a focus on having plenty of time to liaise with the accepted workshop leaders on questions like when and with whom to share the workshop preparation materials/installation instructions/etc, as well as how to best support last minute installation/changes the day of (i.e. not just relying on wifi for downloads, having instructions easy to find and access, etc.).

We will look into the (very good) idea of having a shared virtual space for preparation materials provided by the leaders of each pre-conference workshop so that attendees can prepare in advance. Perhaps we can also use that space to share any questions that come up for other attendees going through the installation processes. We will reach out to the workshop leaders earlier than last year with list of registered attendees so they can get preparation materials to the shared site and directly to attendees as soon as they are able.

I’m uncertain that we will be able to offer a library box loaded with pre-conference materials for all the possible pre conference spaces, but we will definitely look into it. And we will recommend for workshop leaders to have back up downloads via thumb drive or other such device of necessary materials/applications/etc.

If someone wants to propose a pre-conference on preparing for pre-conferences, we welcome your submission.

Thanks,
Christina

Christina Harlow
Cataloging & Metadata Librarian
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
306Z1 Hodges Library
865-974-0029
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

On Oct 7, 2015, at 2:53 PM, McKeehan, Morgan <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:

I recently attended a workshop as part of a conference for conservation of software-based artworks that did a great job of providing advance preparation for participants.  They sent emails with detailed instructions and links to this documentation on github (participants needed to install Virtual Box and an .ova file on their machines in advance of the workshop).

https://github.com/techfocus3/resources/tree/master/Virtual%20Machine%20Setup

There was also a link to a dropbox site participants could access for slides and supporting materials.  The organizers also gave us USB drives with the resources as soon as we arrived, but most people seemed to have already installed everything.  It worked out really well; I thought this was a great model.

-Morgan McKeehan
NDSR-NYC, Rhizome


________________________________________
From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Katherine N. Deibel <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 7, 2015 2:46 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Call for Code4Lib 2016 Pre-Conference Proposals

And just to add to this, even if you provide the links beforehand,
presenters should bring a few thumb drives with the software/files/etc.
as well just in case something needs to be reinstalled or there are a
few slackers who didn't read their pre-workshop e-mails.

Providing silly hats to wear while using the thumb drives is optional.


Kate Deibel, PhD | Web Applications Specialist
Information Technology Services
University of Washington Libraries
http://staff.washington.edu/deibel

--

"When Thor shows up, it's always deus ex machina."

On 10/7/2015 11:17 AM, Fox, Bobbi wrote:
Hi, Christina!

I don't have a workshop to propose, but I *do* have a plea for any workshop that is a hands-on-the-laptop experience:

That the presenter of said workshop provide links, in advance, to any software needed.  If the presenter would suggest the use of vagrant or docker (or whatever else is out there), then links to those tools, plus good, easy implementation instructions, should also be supplied in advance.  In addition, if the workshop is going to feature a particular language or framework, that should be specified in advance as well.  (why no, I *don't* know how to spin up a web server on my Windoze laptop; at work I do it in Linux!)

I have unfortunately been to too many workshops where the presenter either assumed a crystal-clear, fast, internet connection for the 40 participants, or assumed a lot more vagrant/docker knowledge than I, and several others, had.


(hmm, maybe I can find someone to propose an "everything you need to learn, software package-wise, to take advantage of Code4Lib hands-on workshops...)

Cheers,
Bobbi