Last month, high school television production students from McFatter Technical High School earned real-life experience by providing video services at WordCamp Miami. TV production is one of the multiple technical programs offered in both the high school and adult programs at McFatter Technical College and High School. Volunteering at WCMIA gave TV production program students editing and live production skills as they prepare for careers right after graduation.
Here’s what the students who filmed WCMIA had to say about the experience:
Mauricio Gomez – “It was a really fun event.”
Amanda “Alex” Gimenez – “It was a fun and immersive experience!”
Anais Ambrose – “I love the Wapuu’s!”
Kyle Williams – “I really like the presentation about website animation.”
We were glad to have their support. Now that WCMIA is over, these students are preparing for a national competition and are currently fundraising to support the trip to the SkillsUSA competition.
WordCamp Miami may be over, but the opportunities to learn, connect, and contribute continue. Here are 5 actions you can take to build on your WCMIA experience.
1. Attend a Local WordPress Meetup
In the Miami area, attend the South Florida Meetup Group. The group meets twice per month in Davie, alternating between user-focused and developer focused-talks. The next scheduled Meetup is April 4th at Nova Southeastern University, where we’ll be highlighting key takeaways from this year’s WCMIA, sharing the latest newest WordPress news, discussing ways to handle developer overload, and answering questions. If you are unable to join us on the 4th, join us mid-month on the 16th at Florida International University (not Atlantis University as initially announced).
If you are not in South Florida, search Meetup to find the closest WordPress group to you or look on the WordPress Dashboard for upcoming nearby meetings.
The complete list of upcoming WordCamps can be found on WordCamp Central.
3. Share What You Know
One of the best ways to learn is to teach. Sit down and write that blog post, record that podcast, or make that video tutorial. Talk about what you learned at this year’s event and how you plan to use the information. It’s a great way to reinforce what you learned at WordCamp Miami. If you are writing a post, include tweets and insights from other WCMIA attendees. After publishing your round-up post or tutorial, let others know you have included their insights in your content.
Bonus Tip: Local WordPress Meetups are always looking for speakers. Contact your local organizers about turning your post into a lightening or full-fledged presentation. This is a great first step toward applying to speak at a future WordCamp.
4. Follow the 2019 WordCamp Miami Speakers on Twitter
Valuable insights are always being shared on Twitter. Stay informed by subscribing to the 2019 WCMIA Speaker Twitter List. Follow hashtags on areas that interest you, like #WordPress. With time, you may narrow your focus to niche hashtags.
Have a blast getting to know this year’s speakers, sponsors, and other attendees by collecting speaker and sponsor cards.
There will be special surprises for the individuals who collect the most unique cards at the conference. (Learn more about ALL the contests this year.)
Don’t be shy! Ask speakers for their card — and ask your WordPress questions too. Get to know the sponsors by asking about their products and services while picking up sponsor cards (and maybe a bit of swag).
Fellow attendees can point you toward speakers you may not yet know. When standing in line for lunch or waiting for a session to start, ask what cards others around you have collected. It’s a way to strike up a conversation with someone you may not yet know.
If you have been to a past #WCMIA — or select WordCamps elsewhere — you may have had the opportunity to taste the chocolatey goodness of a “Happiness Bar.” This year, there will be two flavors of “Happiness Bars”: #Gutenberg and #Classic Editor. They’ll be available in random spots at random times around WordCamp Miami.
They will also be available at the “Happiness Bar” (pun intended).
A “Happiness Bar” (or “HB” as shown on the conference maps) is THE place to go talk all things WordPress. Speakers will be there after their presentations. If you weren’t able to have one of your questions answered, stop by HB.
It’s also the place to go if you have a WordPress question or problem.
This year’s Happiness Bar is scheduled to be in operation from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday and from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Sunday.
To find the HB, check the Venue Maps on the Saturday and Sunday Daily Guides. As of the writing of this post, the HB will be in CBC 142 (but could change).
WordCamps are a great place to meet new people and learn new things. This year, we’re adding a new way to do both: Lunchtime topic tables! No matter what your skill level, if this is your first WCMIA or your 11th, topic tables are a way to expand your network and your knowledge.
At Saturday’s lunch, there will be tables for:
Plugin Recommendations & War Stories
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Small Business & Freelancing
Content & Journalism
UI / UX
Not interested in one of these topics? Make your own! Come a few minutes early and grab a sign and a Sharpie.
No signup is necessary. Just come right up and join the conversation.
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