Speed Networking Lounge
The OLC Speed Networking Lounge is an informal space that allows participants to connect with fellow attendees through lightweight, collaborative activities.
Overview | Schedule | Committee
What is Speed Networking?
The OLC Speed Networking Lounge is an informal space that allows participants to connect with fellow attendees through low key, collaborative activities. Arguably one of the best features of conference attendance is the ability to network with colleagues from across the world. But how do you make your time networking meaningful, especially if you are a person who finds it to be awkward or intimidating? Our goal is to create a safe space that makes it easy and stress-free to engage by having fun, short activities to bring people together, give your brain a break, and meet some new colleagues. And new, for Accelerate 2021, we have built both synchronous and asynchronous experiences for you to enjoy!
- Connect with people from a range of higher education roles, institutions, and backgrounds. Get to know individuals through fun events!
- Engage in synchronous and asynchronous networking events as your schedule allows and on topics that interest you!
- Expand your conference learning to the next level by engaging in collaborative experiences and networking activities.
Virtual Speed Networking at OLC Accelerate
Make new connections using the Virtual Speed Networking Lounge! You will be able to interact with other virtual attendees from the convenience of your digital device through a variety of pre-planned sessions. There will be one Speed Networking session each day of the virtual program, offering informal opportunities to connect and discuss topics of interest. Attend one or all, and come as you are! Whether you prefer to lurk or lead the conversation, Speed Networking offers something for everyone.
Onsite Speed Networking at OLC Accelerate
Joining us in-person in Washington D.C. in October? Well, the Speed Networking Lounge will be a major hub while you’re there for meeting new colleagues, getting to know old friends better, or simply as a place to sit back and relax if you need a breather from conference sessions. We’ll have puzzles and games for you to interact with throughout the conference, and have designed a series of facilitated live sessions for you, to be held during the conference networking and coffee breaks. Stop in at your leisure (even if you simply stumble upon the space). We look forward to getting to know you and supporting your conference experience!
New to Speed Networking This Year
Additionally, Accelerate 2021 brings something new this year. You are invited to participate in a set of asynchronous activities, designed for you to engage when it works into your schedule. Join us for puzzle building, resource sharing, PLN mapping, story writing, and other fun activities.
Schedule
Note: All scheduled times are listed in US Eastern Time Zone
| Virtual Schedule | ||
| 12:00pm - 12:30pm US EDT | Lost in Space: What Five Things Will You Take With You? Shereene Harford Twum-Barimah and Tina Rettler-Pagel |
In concert with the conference theme, “An Odyssey into the Future of Online, Digital, and Blended Learning” let’s journey together to space! What are your “must bring” items for this critical trip? Let’s learn a little about one another as we make our travel plans, and take on an exciting challenge along the way. |
| 2:30pm - 3:00pm US EDT | Virtual Scavenger Hunt: The Home/Work Edition Shereene Harford Twum-Barimah and Tina Rettler-Pagel |
Does your team have the “stuff” needed to win this virtual scavenger hunt? Chances are you do! Join us to work with your team to gather common home and work items in this virtual scavenger hunt. |
| 12:00pm - 12:30pm US EDT | Live From OLC Accelerate: Speed Networking Lounge Game Show Edition Shereene Harford Twum-Barimah and Tina Rettler-Pagel |
Join us for a few quick virtual rounds of some online multi-player games. Put your best game hat on (or virtual filter) and let’s play! |
| 3:45pm - 4:15pm US EDT | Choose Your Own Speed Networking Adventure: Breakout Bonanza Shereene Harford Twum-Barimah and Tina Rettler-Pagel |
Join us in the Speed Networking Lounge for open topic Thursday! We will leverage the power of Zoom breakout rooms to create casual, “mini speed networking lounges” based on common interests. We’ll determine interests and themes in the first 10 minutes, but hop in whenever you can and we’ll help you make some quick friendships before the 30 minutes are up! |
| 10:45am - 11:30am US EDT | Closing Out the Week with a Slow Networking Lounge: Gratitude, Gifts, and Recharging Shereene Harford Twum-Barimah and Tina Rettler-Pagel |
It’s been a wonderful week of conference sessions, and our brains are buzzing with new knowledge, inspiration, and hopefully, new friendships. Remember, though: your brain needs downtime and reflection, too! Join us in our final Speed...er, Slow Networking Lounge session. This session is an open invitation to take a breath, take a walk, take a stretch, and take what you need to recharge your batteries. We will have structured opportunities to share statements of gratitude and to share “gifts” with other participants through meaningful learning points experienced throughout the conference. |
| Onsite Schedule | ||
| 3:00pm - 3:45pm US EDT | #WeAreOLC’s Resume of Mundane Skills Tina Rettler-Pagel, Dorothy Loftin & Megan Kohler |
Is there something you’re weirdly good at but which is rarely...if ever...under discussion in your professional working contexts? Well, now is the time to shine! Whether it is something seemingly subtle (like organizing books on a bookshelf) or the admittedly bizarre (like selecting the best Cadbury Creme Eggs from the store), we’re making space to not only talk about it but curate it through the collaborative development of #WeAreOLC’s Resume of Mundane Skills. Not sure what to do between sessions or looking for a place to sit back and have some fun with colleagues? Come join us in the Speed Networking Lounge, a reflective and collaborative space where you can recharge your brain (and maybe even recharge your devices). There you’ll find puzzles, games, and activities, as well as new opportunities for “slow networking” to engage in while you chat and get to know people (old and new). |
| 10:15am - 11:15am US EDT | Speed Networking: Quick Prompts Style Tina Rettler-Pagel, Dorothy Loftin & Megan Kohler |
With only 30 minutes to get to know each other better, join us for quick rounds with some of our favorite (and fun) networking prompts. Not sure what to do between sessions or looking for a place to sit back and have some fun with colleagues? Come join us in the Speed Networking Lounge, a reflective and collaborative space where you can recharge your brain (and maybe even recharge your devices). There you’ll find puzzles, games, and activities, as well as new opportunities for “slow networking” to engage in while you chat and get to know people (old and new). |
| 2:30pm - 3:15pm US EDT | Speed Networking Lounge’s Escape Room in a Box Tina Rettler-Pagel, Dorothy Loftin & Megan Kohler |
Inspired by the OLC Escape Room experience, this Speed Networking Lounge will challenge you to work in small teams to complete an “escape room in a box.” Not sure what to do between sessions or looking for a place to sit back and have some fun with colleagues? Come join us in the Speed Networking Lounge, a reflective and collaborative space where you can recharge your brain (and maybe even recharge your devices). There you’ll find puzzles, games, and activities, as well as new opportunities for “slow networking” to engage in while you chat and get to know people (old and new). |
Questions? Contact us at conference@onlinelearning-c.org.
Committee Members
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Tina Rettler-Pagel Tina (she/her) is a Faculty member and Chief Online Learning Officer at Madison College, in Madison, Wisconsin. Tina has completed an Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Online Teaching Certificate, as well as participated in OLC’s Institute for Engaged Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) in 2017. Tina’s hashtags? #Mom #Partner #CommunityCollegeProud #OnWisconsin #Equity-MindedTeaching #A11yAdvocate #OnlineTeaching #Includer #Kindness #Connector #OnlineLearning #TechNerd #Resilience #StrongGirlsStrongWomen #Hockey #Fishing #AnythingSummer #JamMaker #Perseverance #SayYesToNewAdventures #ComeAsYouAre #StartWhereYouAre #ImpostorPhenomemon #Access |
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Shereene Harford Twum-Barimah Shereene (she/her) is an Educational Technology Specialist at St. George’s University, on the island of Grenada in the Caribbean. She has over 13 years of experience in training and supporting faculty and staff in their use of instructional technologies and serves as Lead Functional Course Management System Administrator. Shereene has served in various volunteer capacities for the OLC Accelerate Conferences since 2016 and is excited to continue this journey. |
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