There are two things I want to stress as crucial for the new writer. Please take heed or do as I say, not as I do, so when you see this first suggestion, it really does apply to plotting.
Lesson 1: When you attend a writers conference, attend classes that pertain to WHERE YOU ARE CURRENTLY in your writing process. Of course, you want to learn how to move forward, but you can't move forward correctly until you know the steps of the craft. Here's why I say this. I had no guidance when I attended my first conference, so I randomly decided on classes that looked interesting, not classes that taught me where I was in my current writing level. The classes I attended were terrific, but the problem was I learned advanced techniques before I understood the basics. I learned things backward, which sent me down a path of re-learning. Trust me. Learn it in order. Your life will be easier. Again, do as I say, not as I did!
Lesson 2: Once you learn the basics, begin focusing on advanced writing techniques. And with that, we begin to understand the elements of the plot.
Depending on who is teaching the class, you'll be told there are 5, 6, or 7 elements to the plot. Don't panic. Some folks combine very similar features, but we'll name all seven for your understanding of what others may teach.