Dear MSR Paper Authors and Moderators,
We are looking forward to your presentations at the conference!
This message provides a LOT of detailed information-please review closely; you may want to print it out for easy access. We created this message to supplement the presenter information found online here, and clarify the role of the session moderator (presenters can identify your session moderator here, and replace the last five NNNNNs in the link with your symposium submission number found on the PDF located here).
As you may know, we were not able to accommodate all presentation modality requests. Some of you may be unable to attend onsite due to many reasons, ranging from visa processing delays to the prevalence of COVID to financial concerns. If you are experiencing this, you have two options: 1) to pre-record your presentation; or 2) to use Zoom (or other agreed upon application) to present virtually at the time of the onsite scheduled session. Note: this second option is not the same as if your session was scheduled as a hybrid or online session! This second option is an arrangement made between the presenter and the session moderator that allows you to present as an 'onsite' participant through Zoom or similar application. The AOM has shared that tech support personnel will be at the conference venues to provide assistance to your moderator as needed.
Flexibility and advance preparation is key. Moderators received an information email a couple days ago and they may already be reaching out to you to organize your session. To send a message your session moderator, use the AOM conference messaging system; find their name on the attendee list page and you will find a search option in the upper right side of the screen to locate their information. Click the three dots in the upper corner of their tile; then click 'send message.' You will know if you have a message by logging into the AOM conference platform (called Pathable); clicking on your name on the very upper right corner; and clicking on 'inbox.' PLEASE remember to regularly log in to Pathable to check for these important messages, especially as the time of the conference draws near. (You should also receive a notification email to the email address used for registration if you have new Pathable messages).
The session moderator will have primary responsibility to coordinate the technical arrangements (e.g., create a Zoom meeting and invite/send access information to presenters) and the Academy has communicated there will be technical support to call on around the venues. Note, however, that the AOM is not able to provide dedicated tech support for each room, so there is a degree of advance planning, self-sufficiency, and flexibility needed. We are recommending that you contact your moderator now to make arrangements in advance, and to anticipate the need for flexibility. For instance, you may plan to use Zoom to present virtually; but we recommend also that you pre-record your presentation and send the file to your moderator to play during the session just in case of technical problems (this is in addition to uploading your presentation on the AOM platform which is optional but recommended). There are times when internet connectivity is unstable or weak in certain sections of buildings, and if this happens you can still deliver your presentation through the recorded version.
Here is a suggested to-do list:
- For each paper, identify one author to be responsible to coordinate with the session moderator. That author should communicate with your moderator for each paper to confirm 1) onsite or 2) virtual presentation. See info above on how to message your moderator.
- If virtual presentation is needed, create a pre-recorded version of your presentation as a back-up in case there are Zoom or other technology glitches. Send a copy of that presentation to your moderator for them to play during the onsite session if needed.
- Work with your moderator to organize a Zoom meeting scheduled for the onsite session time (plan to open the Zoom room 10-15 minutes prior to the onsite start time). This should include sharing the Zoom links with all virtual participants.
- Your moderator will connect a laptop to the technology provided in the room and open the Zoom meeting and may decide to use a cell phone hotspot to ensure a strong signal. You should run typical sound and screen sharing tests and reconfirm the order of each presentation. You might also discuss how to handle questions posed to virtual presenters (e.g., the questions may need to be repeated by the moderator to allow virtual presenters to hear).
Finally, please note that we are aware that shifts in moderator assignments continue to happen and we are addressing them on a case by case basis. We will be reassigning moderators as needed, and we will communicate to you through the AOM conference messaging system to let you know your new moderator as soon as they are assigned.
We hope that your sessions are meaningful and impactful! See you soon in Seattle!
Be well,
Julia Storberg-Walker, MSR Scholarly Program Chair
Deyang (Mike) Yu, MSR Scholarly Associate Program Chair
***This message will also be sent by AOM directly to all MSR presenters to the email used to register for the conference--please look for that in your inbox. ***
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Julia Storberg-Walker
Scholarly Program Chair, MSR
Department Chair, Human and Organizational Learning
The George Washington University
Washington DC
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