Around BloggerCon there is some discussion about formats (interview show, call-in show, unconference), formats of communication, modes of transferring, creating, and sharing of information, experiences, visions – of knowledge. I like that. Only the term unconference sounds odd to me. And I have the feeling that we are talking about an old format called workshop, the only difference is it’s scale. Remembering last “bt” there were voices that wanted more multidirectional conversations additionally to the talks – thus asking implicitly for an extension that came up later as BlogWalk.
Well we will have a dense – rather classical – broadcasting schedule this time.
Than again there is BlogWalk, born out of a clear will to converse and to emphasisze the social aspects of sharing knowledge.
I think all the formats that are around are legitimate. They are different channels and all have their strenghts and weaks and serve different needs.
Having an unconference is a revision and/or extension of what is know as workshop with a strange name.
Learning from our conferencesA Think Tank has a small handful of obvious tools at its disposal. First and foremost, there’s the Conference. (Other tools include the White Paper; the Case Study; Testimony; Advice; Courses/Seminars/Online Offerings of Various Sorts; and a very few other things.)
One of the learnings from BloggerCon II is that an “un-conference” can be very refreshing. An inversion of audience and panel/keynote, with the right structure, *can* work (maybe not always, but for some topics and within some communities with certain social norms). Dave has more on this phenomenon, and particularly the role of the discussion leader. Lance Knobel, as usual, says it better than I could (and as the former Davos organizer, this is one man who knows what he’s talking about when it comes to conferences). I like it.
A previous learning that we’ve been seeking to refine is the Food for Thought dinner. Either after the main day of the conference or in the middle evening, try organizing dinners at area restaurants on specific themes, and throw up an online sign-up form. Each FFT dinner has a leader, whose job it is to pose the Hard Question to the table and to record the insights that pop out of the conversation over broken bread (and perhaps a bit of wine).
Given the number of conferences we put on, it would be sad if we weren’t improving — or at least seeking to innovate — as we go along. Help, please, if you have ideas.
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