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How I’m Using Session Builder for Microsoft Ignite

I’ve been spending a lot of time on Session Builder to build out some sessions that I’d like to get to.

Session Builder is the program that is sitting on the Tech Community that allows people (those registered for MS Ignite to access the key note, sessions, events that are happening at the conference. However, it will also be the site where all events will be live streamed for public access too).

With over 1400 sessions, it can get overwhelming.  Check out the sessions in the Catalogue.

So I’ve been building up some of the sessions I’d like to get to however, it’s all dependent on my roles and responsibilities as a Community Reporter for this year – those duties will come first.

However it’s best to be prepared. I’ve built out sessions that relate to my preferences aligned to my work as an adoption consultant and community manager. That means a focus on topics such as:

  • Productivity
  • Collaboration
  • Change Management
  • Adoption
  • Video
  • Intelligent search (an interest of mine as search, filtering, curating and sense making is a skill gap that many workers have nowadays)
  • Anything related to Microsoft Learn – helping people build personal learning skills for their professional development

One of the best things I like about Session Builder is the Appointment and Meeting functions. I’ll have to organise appointments with various people to interview them and it’s going to be hectic trying to locate them – online and physical presence on location. This will help me out immensely. I like that you can also make your schedule open to other participants as well as to the public. I see it as a portfolio of your entire experience and could be used back at your work as “evidence of learning” if you need to report back to your manager and Teams about what you saw, who you’re connected with and as well as this, you can upload your own Trip Report.

If you could export this entire program, you could easily upload it to your Learning Management System or LinkedIn profile or your other “Learning Record” System so that it’s kept in the one place.

Here is a video of how I chose the sessions according to the learning goals I set out to achieve (I use MS OneNote to capture everything) and how I’m using the site.

I also recommend this excellent video by Darrell Webster where he interviews Anna Chu (who is our Community Reporter Co-ordinaries) about how to navigate through the site.

Free Certifications

Another thing that is showing MS Ignite to be the learning experience that it is – that Microsoft have waived the fees for some of the Developer certifications and exams.

Follow the process I have created here (thanks to Kori Monson for writing out the instructions).

Video Demonstration on How to Access Your Free Certifications

However check out Sarah Critchley’s excellent video on how to do this.

As always, please share your own experiences, tips and strategies for MS Ignite.