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The ”Learning Meeting” and Simple Techniques for Participant Involvement. Ib Ravn and Nina Tange Learning Lab Denmark, Danish School of Edcuation, Aarhus University, www.dpu.dk/fv MPI PEC-NA, Houston, TX, USA Feb. 3, 2008. 1. The Professional Conference: Problems. The way it is Drawbacks
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The ”Learning Meeting” and Simple Techniques for Participant Involvement Ib Ravn and Nina TangeLearning Lab Denmark, Danish School of Edcuation, Aarhus University, www.dpu.dk/fv MPI PEC-NA, Houston, TX, USAFeb. 3, 2008
1. The Professional Conference: Problems • The way it isDrawbacks • One-way presentations Most people are two-way • Sit and listen Use it or lose it • Q and A ”See me!” ”I’m clever, too!” • Breakouts Mini-conferences • Panels Congestion on One-way Street • Networking? You’re on your own!
2. The Empty-Container Model of Learning Assumptions: • Conference-goers come empty • They want to be ”filled up”
3. Learning as Human Co-Flourishing • People have potentials, interests, projects. They want to flourish • They go to conferences to get inspired by others • The conference as a forum for learning, mutual inspiration and human co-flourishing
4. Design Principles for a Learning Meeting Blah Blah . 1. Concise presentation ●●● 2. Active interpretation 3. Self-formulation 4. Knowledge sharing 5. Competent facilitation
5. The Design Principles (for your own reading) • Concise presentations. Fewer, shorter, more provocative. • Active interpretation. There must be processes that help participants actively relate what they hear to their own experience. Time to digest, think and talk. • Self-formulation. There must be opportunities in pairs and small groups for people to talk about the personal interests and projects that brought them to the conference in the first place. • Networking and knowledge sharing. Facilitated activities that help participants discover each other as resources. • Competent facilitation. The facilitator must create a safe and trusting learning atmosphere where people will want to go along with the new learning processes.
6. Research into the Learning Meeting • Learning Lab Denmark with Radisson SAS, Nyborg Strand, Odense Congress Center, Hotel Legoland and Danske Bank • 18 months. Funded by Danish Ministry of Economics • 30 meetings and conferences (100-300 people) • Corporate, association, professional education • We redesigned the program with meeting planners and coached meeting facilitators • Observations and measures of subjective outcomes
7. Learning Techniques Tested • Concise presentation: Break it in two. Do it as an interview. • Active interpretation: Mini-dialogue. The constructive opening question. Silent reflection. Question cards. The speaker’s cornered. • Self-formulation: Participants direct the speaker. Two consultants, free of charge. Participant construction. • Networking: Meet people. Six-person tables. Find a new seat. A networking lunch.
8. Research Results • Mostly small changes proved possible • But they made a big difference • Generally, 60-70% of participants were satisfied • 5-10% were dissatisfied: “The professional movie theater” • Meeting planners and hosts were highly satisfied • Mini-meetings almost always successful • The facilitator must be attentive, trustworthy and persuasive • Progression and variation • Kinds of folks that like learning processes… • Cultural factors: Danish egalitarianism!!
9. Question for Your Consideration What inspired you in the presentation? • Think in silence for a minute • Tell the person sitting next to you
10. Learning Techniques Used • Meet people: Mingle to create a friendly learning space (56) • Divorce your colleague: Everyone makes an effort with a stranger (58) • Short presentation, or break it in two: Enhances attention (64) • Constructive opening question: What inspired you in the presentation? • Silent reflection: Jot down your thoughts (70) • Mini-dialog: Share with your neighbor (72) • Sample the answers: Produces inspiration and energy (76) • Speaker’s cornered: Q & A in the lobby minimizes irrelevance (80) • How to use today’s input + First steps: Learning and action (86)
11. Task for Triads How can I use this in my own work? Help each other decide on a couple of first steps • Think for a minute • Form triads • Present and get feedback; all of you (taps on glass)
12. Resources on Learning Meetings • Steen Elsborg and Ib Ravn: Learning Meetings and Conferences in Practice. People’s Press, Copenhagen, 2007, 92 pp. • Ib Ravn and Steen Elsborg: Creating Learning at Conferences Through Participant Involvement (paper with research results, www.dpu.dk/om/ibr, click Publications) • The Learning Meeting Module: Web-supported tool for meeting planners, with facilitator’s manuscript and individualized learning cards for participants (www.ims.dk) • Ib Ravn: The Learning Conference, journal article (www.dpu.dk/om/ibr) • Ib Ravn: The Learning Meeting, brief magazine article (www.bbt.be/Library/guest/guests012006.cfm, a magazine article)