Conferences. You know the sort of thing: long queues, presentations where you feel you need a fast forward button, complicated and conflicting schedules, sore shoulders from a mountain of brochures and freebies. And yet, what do people repeat, over and over, when they return? The best bits were talking with like-minded people, sharing ideas and experience, eating, drinking and companionship.
So. If we were to redesign the idea of a conference, to give the best and most valuable experience for every delegate, how would we go about it?
I've noticed several rumbings in the blogoshpere about this sort of thing recently. Doc Searls has some suggestions. He wants comfortable surroundings, sessions based on subjects, not personalities (nor, I assume, on blatant product marketing), and a chance to get your hands dirty actually doing stuff. Chris Corrigan repeatedly waxes enthusiastic about "Open Space Technology" (a fancy name for a way of organizing adaptable meetings that actually get things done), and I have many fond memories of "delegate-organized games" at UK GenCon.
I can't help thinking that there's also been a lot of educational research that might help with this. The "constructivist" approach to teaching and learning recognizes that some of the greatest value comes from the interaction between learners and teachers, rather than some direct absorbtion of a hosepipe of presented material. The most effective modern education tends to be interactive, creative, and continually adapting to the changing needs of the learners. If we consider our ideal conference largely as some sort of learning experience, it would seem crazy to ignore all this research.
I'm sure you'll all have your own ideas about how to take this forward, but here's a few of mine to be going on with.
- Bring and Share One of the powerful aspects of the Open Space Technology and Delegate Organized Games experience is it's "bring and share" nature. Everyone can propose topics for discussion, or bring games to run. And if something grabs your attention during the event, there's a way to publicize it and gather other participants then and there. This encouragement to participants to get involved with making things happen helps to blur the divisions between presenters/teachers and delegates/learners, which must be a good thing. So in our redesigned conference, everyone is encouraged to think in advance about what they want to gain from the event, and what they have to offer, and come prepared with information, resources, issues and questions.
- Tools to Create From constructivist theory comes the idea that people learn while creating - new ideas, new products, explaining to others. So our conference would make sure that the tools for this creativity are everywhere and encourage people to use them. Plenty of paper and pencils, wireless networks, computer workstations (or ask delegates to bring what they need), a bunch of cosy "booths" with tables and whiteboards, a central "store" where people can buy/borrow a range of other creative and thinking tools. Whatever seems appropriate to the scope of the event.
- Suggest, Schedule, and Contact Join "bring and share" to the "tools to create" by providing a simple way for people to contact each other, seek like-minded groups to work on something, or raise topics for discussion. Pinboards, paper blu-tac'ed to walls, an interactive web site, whatever works for the delegates.
- Choose and Change Your Mind From "Open Space Technology", comes the law of two feet. Your time is too important to waste on something that's not doing it for you, and there are so many other things that could make better use of your attention. So, if a a session is not what you were expecting, go choose something else. After all, with everyone at the event ready with their own topics, ideas, problems and questions, there's bound to be something else more suitable...
I'm sure there are logistical problems in a model like this, but wouldn't it be a buzz! And those corporate marketing presentations would really need to work hard to gather more interest than fast-moving, lightweight, catch-the-meme-of-the-moment individual suggestions. Think about this next time you are fidgeting your way through an hour or two of droning powerpoint slides that you could have skimmed on the web.
Any more suggestions? What would you like to see in conference version 2.0 ? Do you know of any events that actually work anything like this?
During dinner on the second BlogTalk day Thomas raised the question whether he should organize a third BlogTalk in 2005. There are several things that I want to say about this. BlogTalk is unique First BlogTalk is the only place...
Read more...
TrackBack from Ton's Interdependent Thoughts on 12 July 2004 09:58:30 BST
dd418f8f8c31cdc3a03ec5ec087f62cb
dd418f8f8c31
Read more...
TrackBack from dd418f8f8c31cdc3a03ec5ec087f62cb on 19 December 2006 15:48:41 GMT
TrackBack from on 24 December 2006 08:12:45 GMT
TrackBack from adipex on 24 December 2006 09:28:59 GMT
TrackBack from xenical on 24 December 2006 09:33:45 GMT
TrackBack from buy xenical on 24 December 2006 09:36:45 GMT
TrackBack from meridia on 24 December 2006 13:41:14 GMT
TrackBack from on 24 December 2006 13:42:06 GMT
TrackBack from buy fioricet on 24 December 2006 18:18:30 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet on 24 December 2006 19:12:14 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet without prescription on 24 December 2006 19:16:51 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet prescription online on 24 December 2006 19:18:19 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet cod on 24 December 2006 19:30:38 GMT
TrackBack from order fioricet on 24 December 2006 19:31:09 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet on 24 December 2006 19:31:46 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet with codeine to buy on 24 December 2006 19:35:34 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet price on 24 December 2006 19:35:44 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet and fioranil controlled 5 on 24 December 2006 19:35:54 GMT
TrackBack from advanced book by fioricet guest powered on 24 December 2006 19:36:00 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet florida on 24 December 2006 19:36:29 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet generic online on 24 December 2006 19:36:34 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet online no prescription on 24 December 2006 19:37:00 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet addiction detox on 24 December 2006 19:39:51 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet etc butalbital acetaminophen on 24 December 2006 19:40:33 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet ra1 b on 24 December 2006 19:42:33 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet drug on 24 December 2006 19:42:59 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet with codeine to buy without prescription on 24 December 2006 19:43:31 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet 3 with codeine on 24 December 2006 19:43:55 GMT
TrackBack from buy fioricet codeine on 24 December 2006 19:44:15 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet withdrawal symptoms on 24 December 2006 19:44:34 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet online on 24 December 2006 19:44:54 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet with codeine on 24 December 2006 19:45:20 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet prescription on 24 December 2006 19:46:13 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet pregnancy on 24 December 2006 19:47:48 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet a barbituate on 24 December 2006 19:48:05 GMT
TrackBack from ordering fioricet on 24 December 2006 19:48:24 GMT
TrackBack from no prescription fioricet on 24 December 2006 19:48:39 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet prescription online on 24 December 2006 19:48:53 GMT
TrackBack from novartis fioricet 2355 on 24 December 2006 19:50:35 GMT
TrackBack from l école de pharmacie en ligne quel est fioricet on 24 December 2006 19:50:59 GMT
TrackBack from ordering fioricet by 4:00pm eastern time on 24 December 2006 19:51:19 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet generic on 24 December 2006 19:51:48 GMT
TrackBack from what is fioricet on 24 December 2006 19:53:45 GMT
TrackBack from neck and shoulder pain fioricet on 24 December 2006 19:53:55 GMT
TrackBack from online ordering for fioricet on 24 December 2006 19:54:05 GMT
TrackBack from buy fioricet on 24 December 2006 19:54:51 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet abuse on 24 December 2006 19:57:49 GMT
TrackBack from fioricet c.o.d. payment on 24 December 2006 19:58:05 GMT
TrackBack from on 24 December 2006 20:25:15 GMT
TrackBack from on 24 December 2006 20:25:53 GMT
TrackBack from on 24 December 2006 20:26:04 GMT
TrackBack from on 24 December 2006 20:28:33 GMT
TrackBack from filmato di sesso gratis on 24 December 2006 20:29:18 GMT
TrackBack from sesso hard on 24 December 2006 20:29:37 GMT
TrackBack from annuncio sesso on 24 December 2006 20:29:47 GMT
TrackBack from filmato sesso on 24 December 2006 20:30:18 GMT
TrackBack from donna sesso on 24 December 2006 20:30:52 GMT
TrackBack from sesso video on 24 December 2006 20:34:38 GMT
TrackBack from sesso orale video clip on 24 December 2006 20:35:17 GMT
TrackBack from foto di sesso con animali on 24 December 2006 20:35:27 GMT
TrackBack from sesso foto on 24 December 2006 20:35:41 GMT
TrackBack from annuncio per incontri di sesso on 24 December 2006 20:36:11 GMT
TrackBack from racconto sesso con animali on 24 December 2006 20:36:54 GMT
TrackBack from foto gratis sesso on 24 December 2006 20:37:11 GMT
TrackBack from foto sesso on 24 December 2006 20:37:42 GMT
TrackBack from sesso orale amatoriale on 24 December 2006 20:39:25 GMT
TrackBack from sesso gratis foto on 24 December 2006 20:39:26 GMT
TrackBack from sesso collant on 24 December 2006 20:40:01 GMT
TrackBack from sesso con animali gratis on 24 December 2006 20:41:32 GMT
TrackBack from sesso com on 24 December 2006 20:41:40 GMT
TrackBack from foto annuncio sesso on 24 December 2006 20:42:01 GMT
TrackBack from sesso gratis on 24 December 2006 20:42:30 GMT
TrackBack from sesso free on 24 December 2006 20:43:24 GMT
TrackBack from donna fanno sesso animale on 24 December 2006 20:43:38 GMT
TrackBack from nera fa sesso bizzarro on 24 December 2006 20:44:04 GMT
TrackBack from sesso lesbo on 24 December 2006 20:44:22 GMT
TrackBack from sesso gratis it on 24 December 2006 20:44:45 GMT
TrackBack from amore e sesso on 24 December 2006 20:45:06 GMT
TrackBack from annuncio incontro sesso on 24 December 2006 20:45:21 GMT
TrackBack from sesso video gratis on 24 December 2006 20:45:28 GMT
TrackBack from sesso orale gratis on 24 December 2006 20:45:32 GMT
TrackBack from uomo sesso on 24 December 2006 20:45:36 GMT
TrackBack from anteprime gratis sesso on 24 December 2006 20:45:48 GMT
TrackBack from sito sesso gratis on 24 December 2006 20:46:17 GMT
TrackBack from sesso donna animali on 24 December 2006 20:47:36 GMT
TrackBack from incontri sesso on 24 December 2006 20:47:46 GMT
TrackBack from test sesso on 24 December 2006 20:47:59 GMT
TrackBack from sesso animale donna on 24 December 2006 20:48:31 GMT
TrackBack from sesso tra animali e donna on 24 December 2006 20:49:04 GMT
TrackBack from sesso gratis com on 24 December 2006 20:49:34 GMT
TrackBack from sesso gratis com on 24 December 2006 20:49:37 GMT
TrackBack from incontri sesso gratis on 24 December 2006 20:50:00 GMT
TrackBack from donna sesso animali on 24 December 2006 20:51:44 GMT
TrackBack from sesso vivo on 24 December 2006 20:51:54 GMT
TrackBack from storia sesso on 24 December 2006 20:52:15 GMT
TrackBack from sesso amatoriale on 24 December 2006 20:52:29 GMT
TrackBack from sesso italiano on 24 December 2006 20:54:34 GMT
TrackBack from on 25 December 2006 08:04:42 GMT
TrackBack from on 25 December 2006 08:13:01 GMT
TrackBack from meridia online on 25 December 2006 13:12:43 GMT
TrackBack from meridia online on 25 December 2006 13:16:08 GMT
TrackBack from 40 mg fioricet on 25 December 2006 15:52:04 GMT
TrackBack from on 26 December 2006 19:31:16 GMT
TrackBack from jmqbhvns on 02 January 2007 16:58:41 GMT
TrackBack from wiunrgjt on 05 January 2007 22:19:00 GMT
TrackBack from itfnsaev on 24 January 2007 19:48:51 GMT
carisoprodol online
Read more...
TrackBack from carisoprodol online on 26 January 2007 02:19:24 GMT
TrackBack from ultram on 26 January 2