Category: community

My Session at TechBash 2023 Next Month: How to Become a Microsoft Learn Contributor

Posted on | by Alvin A. | 1 Comment on My Session at TechBash 2023 Next Month: How to Become a Microsoft Learn Contributor

Time is running out to register for TechBash 2023. Friday, October 13th is the final day for two key items:

  • Standard Registration ends – ticket prices increase by $100 on Saturday.
  • TechBash room block at the Kalahari Resort ends, along with our $179/night rate. Regular room rates will apply beginning Saturday, Oct 14th.

You can save even more by using the EventBrite 10% off code, DOTNET10, in honor of .NET Conf and the .NET 8 release, which are coming up the week following TechBash.

This year, I’ll be presenting at TechBash for the first time. I’m excited to step out from behind the registration booth. My session is titled Share, Learn, and Grow: How to Become a Microsoft Learn Contributor. Here is an abbreviated description of the session:

Do you want to be part of one of the largest open-source projects in the world and help millions of learners achieve their goals? Do you want to learn how the Skilling teams at Microsoft are creating relevant and up-to-date content on Microsoft Learn? If so, then this session is for you!

In this session, you will learn how to use GitHub to contribute to the Microsoft Learn documentation. GitHub is a platform that allows you to collaborate with other developers and share your code and content with the world. You will learn how to:

  • Use the Documentation as Code approach to write, edit, and publish your content in GitHub.
  • Explore the open-source repositories of Microsoft Learn and see how you can contribute to them.
  • Follow the GitHub workflow to create, review, and merge your changes.
  • Use GitHub issues and PRs to communicate with the Microsoft Learn team and get feedback on your contributions.
  • Apply the Microsoft Learn tips and tricks to create engaging and effective content for your audience.
  • Use the Markdown tooling for Learn to format your content and add interactive features.

I hope you’ll join me there and attend my session on Friday, November 10th!

Save the Date – TechBash 2018 returns to the Kalahari Resort

Posted on | by Alvin A.
Greetings from TechBash 2017!

During yesterday’s keynote featuring Donovan Brown, TechBash Foundation president Jason Gaylord announced that the developer conference will be returning to the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Pocono Manor, PA for another year!

TechBash 2018 will be held October 2-5, 2018 with Oct 2nd being a pre-conference day with half/full day workshops. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements about the topics for those workshops because some proposals have already been received. An announcement regarding ticket sale dates will also be coming very soon. Potential speakers can expect a call for presentations to open in the early spring of 2018.

Next year’s attendees can look forward to more family content to be added on the last day or TechBash 2018 based on the demand for this year’s Jewelbots Build session with their CEO, Sara Chipps.

Be sure to follow TechBash on Twitter for all the latest news and sign up on TechBash.com to be informed when tickets go on sale and the CFP opens next spring!

Cheers!

 

Farewell Microsoft MVP Program (and Thank You) – #mvpbuzz

Posted on | by Alvin A. | 6 Comments on Farewell Microsoft MVP Program (and Thank You) – #mvpbuzz

I have been honored to be awarded as a Microsoft MVP eight times since 2009. The next award cycle begins on July 1st, and I have learned that I will not be among those re-awarded.

While it is disappointing to hear, as I have not changed my own level of engagement with the community, it is not completely unexpected. The Microsoft developer community is thriving today. There are more developers stepping up as community leaders than ever before. As they push the bar higher, the rest of us need to push ourselves as well.

My readers will not notice any changes to the Morning Dew based on this news, other than the MVP logo disappearing from my blog’s sidebar. I will continue to do what I do every day. You will see an increase in activity on my other blogs, WPF Tips and the newly launched UWP Tips. Be sure to check them out.

Also be sure to connect with me at TechBash 2017, the conference that several current and former MVPs (including me) started last year with TechBash 2016. We’re going to have a blast again at the Kalahari Resort in Pocono Manor, PA this fall. This non-profit developer conference has been our baby since mid-2015, taking many hours of our time every month to plan and host. It easily doubled my time working for the community over the last two years. Ping us (info@techbash.com) if you’re interested in helping out as well.

I would like to thank the MVP Award program for many great years of engagement. I am looking forward to joining MVP Reconnect and perhaps rejoining the ranks of the MVPs again someday. Thank you to Esther for being a great advocate for a number of years in the program. Thank you to Joe for reaching out personally to break the news and for doing it with class. And a huge thank you to everyone who already reached out on Twitter and Facebook when I announced the news this week.

EDIT: Adding a huge thanks to my family for supporting me over the years. My commitment to the Microsoft community has taken countless hours of my time. They have been hugely supportive of the time spent and travel required.

Congratulations to all of the soon to be announced new and returning MVPs! Keep doing great things and keep pushing the bar higher.

Alvin