COABE PRESENTER COACH, Steve Schmidt

I’m Steve Schmidt, the COABE Presenter Coach, and I’m very excited to embark on this journey with you! I look forward to assisting all COABE presenters in delivering their best professional development at the COABE conference, whether live in Dallas, hybrid, or virtually across the world.

I have worked in adult education for 32 years as an instructor, local program administrator, and professional developer. Providing powerful professional development is my passion. No matter how experienced we are, we can always grow and improve in our craft.

As we head toward the conference, I am excited to meet you during office hours, webinar events, and in one-on-one coaching sessions. I look forward to meeting and coming alongside you as we prepare for the conference. You can reach me at [email protected].

PRESENTER OFFICE HOURS

Office Hours will be provided in the months leading up to conference to ask questions as you prepare for your COABE presentation.

• Friday, March 7th at 2 PM ET, Register HERE
• Friday, March 14th at 3 PM ET, Register HERE
• Friday, March 21st at 12 PM ET, Register HERE

ONE-ON-ONE COACHING SESSIONS

Steve Schmidt, COABE Presenter Coach, is happy to do a free, individualized coaching session with you where we can review your session content prior to the conference. Sign up for the sessions here.

Can’t find the time you are looking for? Email Steve at [email protected] 

Use this guide to help plan your conference session.

COABE PRESENTER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Webinar: AALPD & COABE Coffee Break for COABE Hybrid Presenters

February 4th, 2025, 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET

Are you presenting hybrid (both in person and remote at the same time) at the COABE 2025 Conference? If so, we’ve scheduled a coffee break, an informal session where we can share best practices for hybrid presenting. Come with your questions and presentation tips so you can present with confidence at COABE 2025! Presenters: Steve Schmidt (COABE), Kim Glenn and Sarah Goldammer (AALPD).

REPLAY: Presentation Slides|Handout

Webinar: Present with Excellence at COABE 2025!

February 27, 2025, 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET

We all want successful workshops at COABE 2025 but what goes into creating an effective presentation that empowers participants and helps them work more effectively? Find out in this session conducted by both AALPD and COABE. Presenters Kim Glenn, Sarah Goldhammer, and Steve Schmidt will lead this session that will provide tools and techniques for delivering your best presentation at COABE 2025!

Register: HERE

 

COABE PRESENTER TRAINING

COABE Hybrid Presenter Training

To ensure a seamless presentation, COABE requires each hybrid (virtual and in-person combined) presenter have a support person (buddy) to assist them.

Looking for a buddy? Please use the Buddy Finder where you can ask for or volunteer to serve as a buddy or ask a colleague for assistance.

Hybrid Professional Development Videos

Kim Glenn Shows How to Set Up for a Hybrid Presentation at the COABE Conference
Hybrid Presentation Hints with Dr. Glenda Rose
You Need a Buddy for Your COABE Hybrid Presentation!
Change Your Mindset about Your Online Audience

Tips and Notes for Hybrid (In-person and Virtual) Presenters

• COABE Planning for Hybrid (Virtual & In-Person Combined) Presenters – 2024
• COABE Presenter Notes with Screenshots for Hybrid Presenters

COABE Conference Speaker Training – Features of the Conference App

Check out Information about the conference app, Whova, and features for presenters.

Tips for Presenting Virtually – COABE webinar for Presenters

• Tips for Presenting Virtually – COABE 2024

STRANDS

Your proposal will be reviewed by a Strand Partner. Please see the Conference Strands here for a description of each Strand and the intended audience. Consider your primary topic and audience, then select a Strand for your session. [Note that reviewers may consider your session for another strand than the one you select].

PRESENTATION TYPES

• Concurrent Session: 70 minutes. Offered Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Room setup In-Person: Theater; Virtual: Webinar
• Preconference Half Day Session: 3 hours. Offered Sunday only. Room setup In-Person: Rounds; Virtual: Meeting
• Preconference Full Day Session: 6 hours. Offered Sunday only. Room setup In-Person: Rounds; Virtual: Meeting

WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED

• Screens in all rooms
• Wi-Fi connection
• Projectors
• Lavalier Microphones
• Podium with Microphone
• Laptop (for hybrid session rooms only)
• Chart Paper (must request by 1/31/25 to [email protected])

WHAT YOU SHOULD PLAN ON BRINGING

• Please bring your own computer and any special adapters or plugs (HDMI adapter, RGB adapters, correct Apple MAC VGA adapters, or external speakers). Our projectors connect using the following: HDMI, VGA-In, VGA-out, Composite Video, USB power out, Audio-In, Audio-Out and RS-232C, your presentations are visible from any source device.
• Furnishing handouts in the quantity needed for sessions (prepare at least 45 handouts)

WHAT YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

• First time COABE presenters must complete your “Present with Excellence” credential by 12/31/2024 to receive placement in the conference program. If you need assistance, please email [email protected].
  • Steps on how to earn your Present with Excellence credential
  • Present With Excellence FAQs

• Register for the conference by 1/15/2025.
• Review your presentation’s information and scheduled date and time.
  • All changes must be submitted by 1/31/2025 to [email protected].

PRESENTER GUIDANCE

• Training will be offered on presenting both virtually and in-person
  • Practice sessions will be made available prior to the conference

• All sessions will be 70 minutes in length

Virtual Sessions:

• Will be presented using the Zoom platform with tech support available for virtual presenters.
• Virtual sessions will be set up as webinars by default for ease of use unless a special request is made for a meeting format.
• Virtual Sessions will be recorded for playback.
• Available virtual presenting tools will be chat, Q&A, white board, annotation, interactive polling, and tech support.
• Pre-conferences will be set up virtually for the meeting format for virtual with the ability to have breakout rooms and will not be recorded unless otherwise specified.

In-person Sessions:

• Available presenting tools will be screens, internet connections, projector, mic, presentation remote, and chart paper. Must request chart paper by 1/31/25 to [email protected].
• Pre-conferences will be set up as round tables.