As the holidays are quickly approaching, I wanted to take a moment to talk about the ASAE Technology Conference & Expo that I am attending and speaking at in mid December. This conference which is taking place at the Walter E. Convention Center in Washington, D.C. from December 13th – 15th is, take it from me, definitely worth a visit. My reasoning behind saying this is two-fold. First, I believe strongly that the ASAE is an excellent resource for information for associations and non-profits in all industries and fields, and I feel that resources like this are essential to success. Secondly, with the expansion of social networking and other technologies, it is becoming increasingly important to stay on top of these trends and develop a greater understanding of their implications now and in the future for your organization.
The reason I specifically mention social networking again (two weeks ago I blogged about Jeff Cobb’s Learning 2.0 report) is because of what it means for professional development. In terms of professional development, social media has provided an opportunity for informal learning that can be of great benefit to associations especially when combined with formal learning programs launched within a Learning Management System.
On Tuesday, December 14th, I will be speaking about how to use online games to increase membership and achieve educational goals. From my personal experience, I have learned that games can provide a dynamic to the online learning experience that can not only help recruit members, but also plant a seed of curiosity that could lead to interest in pursuing a future profession. By tapping into these gamers’ mindsets, we can offer direction and guidance to our future leaders as well as generate activity and discussions about their experiences within your association. All of which can stimulate your organization’s growth and popularity.
Of course, this conference offers more than a wealth of information on topics other than social media, and membership recruitment through online gaming, and that is why I encourage you to consider attending this year’s conference. You can get more information about it by clicking on the link below. Hope to see you there!