When my district sent teachers to conferences, we were expected to submit a list of sessions we attended. NSTA has a great transcript feature for this documentation, producing a professional-looking document. But I never thought of including the time I spent in the exhibit hall (which you can do with the transcript tool).

After walking around today, I realize that was probably a mistake. Many of the vendors have set up seminar areas with seats or tables and offer brief mini-classes and demonstrations. Afterwards, they often give “door prizes” to participants.

I also saw teachers having intense one-on-one conversations with vendors, asking questions or getting personalized information about science-related products and services.
So how would you document these informal sessions? With a camera, of course! I saw several teachers snapping photos with their cell phones, tablets, or digital cameras. (One even asked if a passer-by could take the photo of her with a consultant. You could even photograph a display of all of the posters, books, and other supplies that you collect in the exhibit hall, illustrating the report submitted to the principal.

Cameras are becoming indispensable tools at conferences–capturing screens at a presentation, products at the exhibit hall, documentation of events, and especially the memories of new-found friends and colleagues.