The Role of the Session Chair or Facilitator of a traditional paper session or roundtable paper session:

The role of Chairs or Facilitators is much more than just timekeeper. How can they organize and facilitate sessions to bring out audience participation?

In Preparation for the Session:

• Make sure everyone gets copies of the papers (authors should also get copies of other papers if possible to promote a panel discussion).
• Assist presenters who do not have laptop or cannot bring a laptop to the meeting by coordinating with the other presenters who do have a laptop. Please note: Laptops are only required for presentation in a traditional paper session. 
• Contact the presenters in advance of the annual meeting to make sure that they are all set for their presentations
• Work with discussants, if there is one, to set up debates, themes, puzzles -- that could be addressed and carried through the session.
• Discuss innovations in session structure and time usage with presenters well in advance. Here are a few variations on the usual theme:
  • Small Group Breakout:
    1) Each presenter gives a 3 minute overview of their paper (15 minutes)
    2) Authors run discussion groups on their papers (40 minutes),
    3) Large group reconvenes to bring it together (20 minutes).

During the Session:

• DON'T give the standard boilerplate about time, and take up too much time doing it. Tell the presenters the rules before the session.
• DO start out with a few words about the subject matter of the session and how each paper will contribute toward exploring that research domain.
• Session chairs/facilitators must shut down inexperienced or unprepared presenters who do not conform to the prescribed time limits.
• Create an informal first-name atmosphere in the session to encourage discussion.

For a comprehensive guide, please download the slides from the Orientation for Chairs, Facilitators and Discussants from the 2009 Annual Meeting.