Submission
Types - Idea Markets
Idea
MarketsA printable version of the Call for Participation, tailored for idea market topics, is available.
Ulf Andersson, the originator of idea markets (and member of UPA), created the session format after attending a conference during which he realized that the most interesting and useful discussions happened between sessions. Ulf, a co-founder of INTECOM (the International Society of Technical Communication Societies), developed Idea Markets for INTECOM’s first international conference.
Ulf wanted “a way to arrange a conference consisting of an entire, long break,” a format in which attendees could easily find the people they were most interested in talking with about the topics they were most interested in discussing. Ulf’s solution, idea markets, creates a temporary environment in which people from different backgrounds not only learn from the experience of others but also generate new ideas.
Idea market topics set up opportunities for discussion about burning questions – either practical or philosophical – that you have about:
Methodologies
and toolsProcessFindingsTheories
or hypotheses you haveSessions are 90 minutes of discussion and interaction, of which you should use 15-20 minutes at the end to summarize your “after thoughts” about the discussion.
BenefitsAs an idea market “activator” you will be able to have in-depth discussions with your peers about Big Questions you have. You need to know little about the topic you are discussing. You don’t present anything except a short description of your main question and up to five “starter questions” to spur and direct the discussion.
Each activator leads a discussion around a chosen topic. On one flipchart, the activator posts the questions or issues to explore about the topic and on the other flipchart, the activator records the ideas that come up during the discussion. As sheets fill up, the activator tapes them on the wall behind the station so attendees can see the points covered.
During the session, activators are in some ways managing a focus group in which the attendees and the group size may be constantly changing. Activators are not necessarily the experts on their topics – in fact, they don’t offer their opinions or experience during the session. Rather, activators ask questions and manage the discussion, focusing participants and eliciting responses.
Idea market topics take place during one of the Presentation sessions. You are required to summarize the discussion for publication at the conference. A separate summary of “after thoughts” will be posted on the UPA website. Your “after thoughts” may be up to 5 pages long and are due no later than 2 weeks following the conference.
Submission
InformationAll submissions must include two documents: a description, and background information about the facilitator(s). Please use the UPA-provided templates to prepare these documents. In addition, you will complete forms online with additional information when you submit your poster. See the section “Submitting Your Proposal” for additional information.
1. Description of idea market topic (1 page, 1MB maximum file size)
The Description should cover the following topics:
Title:
This is your Big Question.Provide
a 50-word expansion of your Question. This expansion will appear in the
Advance and Final programs for accepted submissions.Starter
Questions: A list of questions you will post at the time of the session
to start and then direct the discussion that you will be managing.· If you previously have presented the proposed material at UPA or another conference, your UPA proposal should include the number of conferences at which you previously presented the materials and how you have modified your materials for UPA 2004, if applicable.
New
for UPA 2004 – New for UPA 2004 for all submission types
– Without using names or other clearly identifying information, describe
your professional history of working with the material you will be presenting.
We realize that this can be difficult, but this section is intended to help
reviewers understand the depth and length of your work in the topic of this
session. Examples:
“The
speaker has worked as a usability consultant for 8 years, and has given
several presentations on this topic at national and international conferences.”
"The
speaker is a graduate student in a Human Factors program. The research described
in the presentation is part of the speaker’s thesis."2. Your Background
In a separate document, describe in one or two paragraphs the relevant background and experience of each presenter, including presenter names and their affiliated organizations. Background description should not exceed 150 words for each person. This description will be used in all published information about the presentation or panel.
To facilitate the blind review process, the background document of your submission will not be sent to the review panel. Some information from the submission process (e.g., keywords, audience, etc.) will also be provided to reviewers. To keep your identity confidential:
Do
not include your name, product name (noncommercial products only), or organization
on any page of your Description, including headers and footers.Be
sure to remove your name and organization from the Property settings in
your document.
Additional
Submission Information
During the online submission process, you will fill out a series of forms
that ask for additional information. Several of these questions will help
UPA classify the audience and subject matter for your idea market topic.
Please be sure to read the section, “Preparing
Your Submission” before submitting your poster proposal.
Review
Questions & Guidelines
Idea market topic submissions are evaluated for originality, practicality,
and relevance to UPA members, and for appropriateness of the idea market
format for discussion of the proposed topic.
Reviewers will evaluate all idea market topics on the basis of
these questions:
1. System, product, or project focus: Do you agree with the submitter’s
system, product, or project focus?
2. Topic category: Do you agree with the submitter’s topic category?
3. Topic keywords: Do you agree with the submitter’s focus keywords?
4. Importance: How important do you think this topic is to the usability
field?
5. Practicality: To what extent would this presentation provide practical
tips, tricks, and techniques that can be applied in the workplace?
6. Value to attendees: Will the session provide direct benefits that attendees
can apply immediately to their jobs?
7. Audience: How effectively does the submitter address the needs of his
or her targeted audience? See the section “Target Audiences.”
8. Theme: In your opinion, how well does this topic fit the conference
theme (“Connecting Communities”)? While UPA encourages submissions
tied to the conference theme, it is not required. This is an “added
value” in evaluating submissions.
9. Originality/Novelty: How well does this presentation provide original
or new content for returning conference attendees?
10. Challenging: How well does this presentation challenge UPA mainstream
thinking? How well will this presentation stimulate and promote “outside
the box” discussion?
11. Overall Assessment
As a submitter, you will receive anonymous reviewers’ comments in
response to these questions.
Templates
UPA provides templates both for idea market topic submissions and for
biographical information. These templates guide you through the process
of building a submission that will describe your material in a way that
will help both you and your reviewers to evaluate your submission against
the review questions. We strongly urge you to use these templates.
Download
the idea market template at template_idea_market.rtf
Download
the biographical information template at template_bio.rtf
Examples
Some examples of topics discussed in past years are available. Reviewing
these examples will give you some insight about what makes a strong submission,
and what kinds of things that UPA reviewers look for.
Idea
market example 1: Ideamarket_alternativedatasources_newby.doc
Idea
market example 2: Ideamarket_usability
problems_wilson.doc
Idea
market example 3: Ideamarket_science
of usability_bias.doc
Thank you to Randolph Bias, Ethan Newby, and Chaunsey Wilson for permission
to use these examples.
After Your Idea Market Topic is Accepted
UPA will notify submitters of the status of their submission by March
19, 2004. If you are accepted, you will be asked to confirm your
participation. Once you confirm, you are expected to give your presentation,
or arrange for an equivalent substitute presenter.
Idea Market Materials
If your idea market topic is accepted, you will need to provide the following
materials by April 9, 2004:
For
the Conference Proceedings: A 2-4 page paper describing your idea market
topic
Important Dates for Idea Market Topics:
Submissions are due: January 30, 2004
Submitters notified by: March 19, 2004
Provide idea market materials for proceedings by: April 9, 2004
For more information:
Contact Idea Market Co-Chairs:
Dana Chisnell (dana@usabilityworks.net)
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