Don't gamble on your education!

By: Margaret Tassin, CFSP, CDC
Program Council, Director of Education

Come to the Symposium in Las Vegas for a sure thing education-wise.  There is a fantastic lineup of classes and sponsor presentations for all the latest in education. 

If databases are your thing, we have classes to bring a triple win:  Database 101 is for the basics to set up a database while Database 201 reviews writing queries and reports and how to handle an inherited database.  Finally, the Database Showcase features five different BFMA members demonstrating their forms databases, including special features and benefits of unique applications from health care to knowledge management. 

Are you betting a move from paper forms to electronic forms will enhance productivity at your company?  If so, learn the latest in usability techniques before you make a bad system just work faster.  Three new classes on usability are: Eye Tracking and Usability Testing in Form Layout Evaluation, Testing the Standard: Does Zebra Striping Really Aid Readability?, Why People Make Mistakes on Forms.

Is someone making you play a new game by giving you a new assignment?  Are you now responsible for collateral material?  Outsource vendors?  Lean manufacturing?  Imaging systems?  The mail room?  There are classes at Symposium that cover everything from lean manufacturing to redaction to outsource relationships to the latest mailing requirements.

Are you after a better process?  Got you covered.  There are classes on Business Process Analysis, Process Mapping, Motion Economy/Ergonomics, Process Modeling and Mapping.  And if you want to learn how to be a better interviewer while you are working on your process analysis we have classes on Fact Gathering and Interview Skills and Dealing with "Attitudes" Professionally.

Do you need software specific information?  BFMA members who are product users will present sessions about the related topics such as Javascripting or Advanced PDF Searches.  The BFMA sponsors present classes about their products and other related subjects.  Finally, there are post-symposium classes offered on Thursday that take you in-depth to Adobe LiveCycle, Microsoft InfoPath and Javascripting.

Symposium is the place to speak to the company representatives and learn about the latest product developments and releases.  The sponsor companies send product managers or owners to Symposium, so it provides the very best opportunity to make excellent sponsor contacts.

But don't forget the networking.  The Symposium is simply the best venue for networking with other professionals in your field.  You can do it informally at coffee breaks and meals, but there are other structured events to help you.  Sunday afternoon there are three open forum group discussions:  Forms Committee Operations, Forms Management and a Call for Forms Procedure.  On Tuesday the E-forms Panel of Vendors and the E-forms Panel of Users allow you to interact with some of the leaders in the industry.

The Sunday evening icebreaker is a great place to meet people, and this year it also is the special industry groups meeting.  You really want to attend the icebreaker this year.  Remember it is BFMA's 50th anniversary celebration and there are special events planned at the icebreaker. 

There are more than 70 different classes this year!  There may be other educational opportunities come your way, but none will be a sure thing like BFMA Symposium in Las Vegas.  Go to the BFMA website for full details and registration information.