Planning

Tutorials require thought and planning. Moderators are asked to consider the best format for their content, how to sequence the run of show, and prepare in advance to be ready on day of event. 

A common and effective flow for tutorials includes: 

• Context Setting. A short-presentation or multiple short talks to set the background.

• Panel. A short (15-20 minute) panel of up to 4 people diving deep on a topic. 

• Roundtable discussions. Small group discussions at tables, often with a prompt to solve together, turning the information shared above into practical use. 

Presentations + AV

• Presentations are not required, but you are welcome to create one. An optional slide template can be found here. We do expect moderators to create a title slide for their session regardless of whether a presentation will be used. Details can be found on the moderator page.

• AV: We will have a monitor or screen projector and HDMI chord in each breakout room. You must bring your own computer to run your presentation. If you have a Mac, please bring your own Mac HDMI adapter. 

• Sharing slides with attendees: Please use this form to submit your presentation to be shared with attendees post-event.

Logistics

• Seating and Microphones: There will be 5 tall stools at the front of the room for speakers to use and 4 handheld microphones to share. If you need something different, please contact jessica@trellis.net.

• Room setup: Your room will be set in either rounds or theater style.

• Feedback: Our conference app contains a survey feature — please encourage your participants to provide feedback following your session! Just have them click into your session in the app and then click "Session Feedback." There are only two questions.

What Makes a Great Tutorial?

Here are 6 tips intended to help you conceive and develop a successful tutorial.

• Be thoughtful about design. A half day is a long time. How can you best use it to communicate your message and spark understanding, connection and inspiration? 

• Engage your audience. The best tutorials are those that are interactive and participatory. Including a hands-on exercise in your tutorial enables your tutorial participants to meet one another and work collaboratively, and helps them get to know you. At the very least, include plenty of time for Q&A and feedback during the tutorial. 

• Focus on tangible knowledge and skills. The most effective tutorials present information and skills that are applicable to the work of corporate sustainability professionals, and immediately actionable. 

• Set a specific outcome. Participants appreciate knowing they’ve used their time well, especially when they have other options on how to spend it. Give them a specific goal or outcome — “Today, you will learn how to make smart choices in choosing energy-efficiency projects.” That will give everyone a clear vision of what success looks like for the hour. 

• Don’t sell. Tutorials fail when they are preachy or sales-y. If you’re trying to promote something — yourself, your company, a product or service — you’ll lose the audience. Instead, share an idea, framework or set of tools. If you do it well, it will give you far more credibility, and will invite conversations that will allow you to make your pitch later on. 

• Have fun! Okay, it may seem hard to do after all these tips, but if you can make it happen, you're well on your way. Audiences appreciate tutorial presenters who truly enjoy what they're talking about. It can be contagious.