BPC-DP: Let's CONNECT!

科罗拉多矿业学院提出了一个项目，以开发一种工具，为旨在扩大参与的会议的与会者提供网络援助，即创建开放网络和扩大与技术的联系。例如，Grace Hopper计算机界女性庆典、Richard Tapia计算机界多样性庆典和科罗拉多计算机界女性庆典等会议的与会者一致表示，网络是会议的一个极其宝贵的组成部分。专业网络对代表性不足的人群尤其重要，因为参与的障碍包括缺乏导师和不属于自己的孤立感。BPCECT使用技术帮助BPC会议与会者在会议上建立支持网络，更重要的是，在会议结束后保持这些联系。有了EQUECT，会议的与会者在活动之前就设定了网络目标。然后，当两个（或更多）人想要验证并交换联系信息时，会议徽章将被扫描。参加者还收到网络提示，每日进度电子邮件，详细说明他们的网络目标正在实现，并建议类型的人尝试和满足第二天。在会议结束时，共享由出席者建立的联系的联系信息。来自该系统初始试点的反馈将用于显著改进ECOECT系统，例如，增加不需要人员监督的固定ECOECT站的开发，通过从手机发送文本消息进行连接的能力，这避免了扫描徽章的需要，与其他社交网络系统的连接的集成，在会议场地提供面对面的指导机会，可以用作破冰船的网络游戏组件，以及促进形成具有共同兴趣的个人BPC社区。将在几个不同类型的BPC会议和会议上部署和评估BPCECT系统。

The Colorado School of Mines proposes a project to develop CONNECT (Creating Open Networks aNd Expanding Connections with Technology), a tool that provides networking assistance for attendees of conferences aimed at broadening participation. Attendees at such conferences as the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, the Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing, and the Colorado Celebration of Women in Computing, for example, consistently state that networking is an extremely valuable component of the conference. Professional networking is particularly important to underrepresented populations, as barriers to participation include a lack of mentors and the feeling of isolation that one doesn't belong. CONNECT uses technology to help BPC conference attendees develop a support network at the conference and, more importantly, sustain those connections after the conference ends. With CONNECT, attendees of a conference set networking goals prior to the event. Then, when two (or more) people want to CONNECT and exchange contact information, conference badges are scanned. CONNECT attendees also receive networking tips, a daily progress email that details which of their networking goals are being met, and suggestions on the types of people to try and meet the next day. At the end of the conference, contact information of the connections made by an attendee is shared. Feedback from an initial pilot of the system will be used to significantly improve upon the CONNECT system, adding, for example, the development of stationary CONNECT stations that do not require personnel to oversee, the ability to make a connection by transmitting a text message from a cell phone, which avoids the need to scan badges, the integration of connections with other social network systems, a face-to-face mentoring opportunity at the conference venue, a networking game component that can be used as an icebreaker, and the facilitation of forming BPC communities of individuals that share common interests. The CONNECT system will be deployed and evaluated at several different types of BPC conferences and meetings.