Last day of the conference and we’re knackered. There’s a (not entirely unjustified!) perception that generally Geoff and I don’t work much, but we started working on this conference in May, and just because we work pretty flexibly, doesn’t mean we don’t put in the hours. So what’s it like running a JISC online conference?

After all the preparation is done, all the content converted and we’ve actually started the conference, we both sit in front of two computers each. We monitor separate live rooms of Elluminate, which is an electronic meeting place, where the presentations take place. At the same time we monitor the Web Crossing conference environment for technical problems and assist the facilitators and presenters. We have to add/change information in the conference, update the live twitter feed and the programme. We are constantly checking our email in case people report technical problems, or have other queries or comments. We process and make available the recordings of the live sessions. We send out a constant stream of publicity and updates on events. At the same time there is a near constant back channel of conversation going on between us and the three JISC conference co-ordinators through skype text. It’s basically communication overload for us. We work with a great team of co-ordinators, Sarah, Ros and Lou, which makes it all a lot easier.

The conference ended up having 444 participants, 1533 discussion postings, seven hours of live presentations (web casts), 21 hours of activities (tours, socials, etc.) in Second Life, and 4 hours of Elluminate sessions for delegates. Plus numerous other non-live presentations, papers, videos, walkthoughs, etc. And a conference blog with 89 posts and 9 videos.

All week we’ve been looking forward to getting out of the house and the first treat is always the big meal we have in the restaurant opposite our house. Jose, the proprietor knows that when we appear looking tired, pasty and hungry in November and February that we have had a conference and he feeds and waters us accordingly. So all week I have been keeping myself going with the promise of roast red peppers, followed by his special steak with roquefort sauce, lashings of wine and ice cream. When we got there, Jose had been taken to hospital – no dinner for us. I was gutted! We were rescued by Cala Paula, who squeezed us in without a reservation. And (the irony!) we’ve sat indoors through 5 days of epic flying weather, enduring texts from friends saying how good the flying is and where the hell where we, only for the forecast to turn rubbish tomorrow! Arrrgggghhhh.

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