Moderator Information

Tips for Moderating a Panel Discussion

Prior to Conference Coordination
Moderators are responsible for coordinating communications with your panelists prior to the conference as well as moderating the panel during the conference.

As soon as possible, please review the schedule, find your panel and contact your panelists.  Please communicate the following information to all of your panelists:

1. Date, time, and location of the panel
2. Names and emails of co-panelists (sometimes they will already know each other; however this is not always the case)
3. Facilitate the discussion of the order of the panelists presentations
4. Ask any questions to help you in your role as moderator

Please remind all of the panelists that all presenters are required to join NWSA as a member and register for the conference in order to be listed in the conference program book.

Please inform the NWSA Office at nwsaoffice@nwsa.org if any panel or participant has withdrawn.

Day of the Conference

Please arrive early.

• Sessions are 75 minutes. Time should be equally allotted between the presenters with time to spare at the end once everyone has presented, for audience Q & A.
• Please start and end the session on time.
• Open the discussion by introducing yourself and thanking the panelists for coming. Introduce each panelist by name, job title, and organization. (See program book, and check with them to ensure correct pronunciation if in doubt.)
• Explain your role as moderator and time-keeper, be firm and tell each presenter that they have a specific amount of time for presentation and stick to your guns. Describe how the discussion will be organized, the general time frame, and the need to answer questions taken from the audience at the end. This will ensure that everyone gets a chance to present his or her research.

Suggested Example

3 presenters,= 15 minutes each with 25 minutes for Q&A + 10 minutes final comments
4 presenters, = 10 minutes each with 40 minutes for Q&A + 10 minutes final comments

• As moderator, keep your eye on three things:

1. Is anyone on the panel dominating the discussion? If so, call for or direct some questions to other panelists. Remind the panelists of the time constraints.
2. Has someone on the panel not spoken much? If so, direct a question to him or her.
3. If it seems that the discussion has taken a turn down a long and unproductive track, break in politely and redirect the conversation.

• Allow time for "Final Comments". Allow each panelist a minute or two to respond to a final "big picture" question.
• Thank You. Make sure you thank each panelist by name and ask the audience to join you in expressing appreciation with their applause. Let everyone know how much you enjoyed moderating the discussion and appreciated his or her active participation.