With the deadline for SHARE New Orleans proposals around the corner (submit by Friday, April 21) SHARE members may have questions about the recent changes to the education tagging system. Previously organized by volunteer program and project groups, sessions are now organized by focus areas and are split into tracks. However, the new system is largely similar to the previous one, with a few tweaks to make it smoother and more accurate. Read on for answers to frequently asked questions.

What are some of the goals of this change?

One goal is to better align the tagging system to how companies organize their IT departments today. Another goal is to update the nomenclature to align with common names used in IT.

Focus areas have replaced the programs in order to better align with a corporation’s IT focus. Projects have been redefined as tracks and placed into the focus areas. Some tracks were moved into focus areas that better reflect today’s IT world.

Some examples of the changes include updating language (e.g., using z/OS instead of MVS). These terms will be more understandable for those newer to the industry or just starting out at SHARE. See the full list of focus areas and tracks below and on our dedicated webpage.

As these changes continue to roll out, there will also be updates to SHARE’s volunteer program. Volunteers have always been vital to SHARE and will continue to be needed and involved in planning and executing SHARE events. Stay tuned for new and exciting volunteer opportunities and for more information about how these changes will affect education volunteerism.

How many focus areas/tracks can someone select for their presentation?

When submitting a proposal, presenters will select one primary track that fits best their content. They may also select additional relevant tracks as secondary tracks. These will enable SHARE New Orleans attendees to find sessions relevant to them and their work.

Previously, presenters selected one track and then SHARE volunteers would identify additional tags. Under the new submission process, presenters are able to select the additional tracks prior to volunteer review. SHARE volunteers will continue to vet selected tags to ensure the tagged topics are appropriate. SHARE encourages all presenters to select tags with the attendee in mind. With so many available sessions, it’s essential to give attendees the ability to accurately choose the ones that align with their interests. However, if none of the focus areas/tracks seem relevant to a presentation you’re hoping to submit, you can still submit under the “other” category with a suggested category name.

Will the focus areas/tracks change again in the future?

The focus areas/tracks are not fixed forever, and SHARE is interested in continuing to update them as it becomes relevant to the community. For example, hybrid cloud is currently categorized under new and innovative technologies. As the industry progresses, it might move to a different focus area. We encourage all attendees to complete their post-event surveys after the convention to help inform these changes.

As the industry evolves, submission ideas and SHARE member interests may change, and it’s important for SHARE’s content to evolve with it. To accommodate, before events, the education leadership (including the director of conference operations, director of year-round education, and education volunteers) will review the content and make adjustments to tracks as needed (e.g., removing/combining them, adding new ones, or updating the names of tracks).

What will be the biggest benefits of this change?

The largest benefit to SHARE and its members is aligning with the current state of technology. The changes to the categories will widen submission options and make room for proposals addressing innovative topics. It will also encourage more user involvement in sessions, with sessions centered on what SHARE members want most — learning about topics relevant to them and having opportunities to network with and learn from like-minded individuals in roles similar to theirs.

Additionally, foundational and entry-level content will be available online in the library management system (LMS) once launched. The LMS will be all-inclusive of SHARE education and will go beyond past conference presentations. Webinars and other education resources relevant to today’s industry will be available to members. Stay tuned for more news on when these resources will become available.

SHARE events provide opportunities to meet people in the industry that aren’t necessarily accessible elsewhere, and the new organization will encourage members to continue submitting proposals on many educational topics that attendees in diverse roles can benefit from. Ultimately, SHARE will always provide valuable sessions on relevant industry topics for our members. We know these changes will further our goals in this area.