MoodleMoot Global is only a few days away, and we can all agree that there’s still a lot to do! Some of us are adding the last set of revisions to our slides, others are figuring out which workshops to attend. And it is no secret, we are all thinking really hard about our costumes for the legendary Moodle Party.
Whatever’s on your checklist, the more prepared you are, the better! Every year we go to MoodleMoot Global with big expectations — that we will learn something new, we will meet people who share the same passion for education.
But there’s also so much happening at once. The real challenge then, is: how do we make the most of it?
Here’s a quick checklist you can look at
1. Keep your essentials ready
This might sound simple, but it’s something you really can’t go without. Keep your notepad, pens, and business cards handy. Breaks between talks are short, and you don’t want to waste precious time digging through your bag when the real value is in the conversation. Jotting down quick notes, offering a pen to someone who needs one, or handing over your business card so they remember you, these little things can make a big difference.
2. Create that shortlist
Yes, it might not be as hip as going with the flow, but creating a shortlist of the talks that you want to attend is always a good idea. We often come across participants and speakers who carry a copy of the event schedule and highlight the presentations that they are interested in. That way, they do not have to rush from one talk to the next, and can even pace themselves to either grab some coffee or have those in-between chats.
If it helps, you can take a quick look at the program and mark out the sessions that interest you.
3. Make small talk
Speaking of the in-between chats and coffee, our Moodle Team is kind of a connoisseur when it comes to small talk. One of our team members mentioned,
“If things go quiet, you can always ask about the weather or coffee culture in their country; those are usually ‘safe’ subjects to break the ice.”
The idea is just to say ‘hi’ and take things from there. We will meet people from all over the world, with so many different stories to tell. There is so much to learn, and so much to share.
4. Keep an open mind
With so many stories being shared from around the world, it is important to keep an open mind. You might not always relate to somebody’s experience, to their ways of doing things, but you will always learn something new that you can later apply to your own work and life.
As one of our speakers, Annelies Dejonckheere, said,
5. Stay curious
While this is more of an instinctive habit, staying curious can really surprise you. You don’t have to be too bold or break out of your comfort zone for this. You can simply listen, or you can choose to be a part of a conversation where you only ask a few questions.
Staying curious means that you are willing to learn different ways of thinking, which is something we truly encourage at Moodle.
To get started, learn everything you need to know about MoodleMoot Global.
