December 2004 — Exclusive
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Creating and Facilitating a Handheld Users Group
Content Planning
Planning the content of each meeting takes some time and thought. In addition to the questions and suggestions garnered at each meeting, agenda ideas are solicited form group members. I also review numerous handheld Web sites and technology magazines for ideas to use. If I'm in an electronics store, I peruse the merchandise to see if there are any great deals on hardware or software. I also share information on handheld sales from the Sunday newspaper circulars. Sometimes, group members will even contact me with information to share with the others. If a Web address can be connected to any of the above we add it to the Alerts!.
In the original planning meetings for the users group, we brainstormed numerous ideas so that we would always have some jumping-off points. We recorded ideas, themes, specific applications and more general application areas. The brainstorming helped a lot so that we do not have to start from scratch for each meeting. Here are some of the talking points we captured during those meetings:
- Updates, scoops on new handheld models
- Photos on your handheld! (Yes, it is possible to show too many photos of your dog)
- Web site focus (one for each meeting?)
- Peripherals
- SD/MM cards/storage/memory
- E-books - public domain and commercial
- E-book readers
- Projection devices
- Organizational and management tools
- Shareware/freeware - trial and terror!
- Copying applications to a storage card
- What version is it?
During each meeting, we make sure to provide announcements, demonstrations, as well as tips and tricks. I always give a tip about how to use an application or how to find something in the handheld operating system. These small nuggets are extremely useful and helpful to group members.
In addition, I'm lucky to work in an organization with technology in the meeting rooms. I try to book the rooms for the year so that I don't have to worry about it each time a meeting is coming up. I've found that using an ELMO visual presenter, which features an overhead camera for projection, is sufficient for my purposes. I just place a handout or my Tungsten T under the camera for the entire room to see.
Tweaking the Meetings
Well, now you know how I planned the users group, implemented it and continue to facilitate the meetings. It has been about a year and a half since starting OSHUG, so I can share with you what I have learned and what needed to change along the way. First, no meetings are held June through August because that's when people go on vacation.
The rest of the year - September through May - the meetings are held every two months. Since I am usually the main presenter, planning and facilitating one meeting every two months is a lot more manageable than trying to put together a monthly meeting.
Also, getting group members involved in content seems to be an ongoing struggle. Some volunteers demonstrate applications, but they are usually short demos. Many people are not confident enough to do this, while many others do not download additional applications to their handhelds. I've even asked for volunteers to demonstrate freeware at some of these meetings. To do this, I beam the freeware application to them on the spot so that they have it long enough to prepare for the next meeting.
In addition, I have offered to e-mail a PDF of the agenda to anyone who cannot make it to a meeting since people have busy schedules. This way, at least, they have some Web addresses and other information on hand, and they can also call me with any questions.
