by Jeff Hurt, Velvet Chainsaw
This spin on cogito ergo sum (English: “I think, therefore I am”) could possibly be a good motto for all conferences and events.
Social Learning
We participate, therefore we are.
Our learning, understanding and knowledge are developed in participation with others. Social learning occurs through conversations about the content and through grounded interactions and engagement with others. Often when we discuss a concept or issue with someone, we are internalizing and integrating it into our own personal framework. It is though social learning that we seek practical knowledge to solve our professional problems.
Many conference organizers know that much of the true learning and understanding happens in the hallways. Inside the conference education sessions, attendees receive information. Outside the education rooms, attendees start to socially construct their own understanding. Most of what we know, we have learned with and from others.
We, as conference organizers, have to find ways to capture what happens in the hallways and move it into the education sessions.
Moving Hallway Discussions Into Conference Education Sessions
We participate, therefore we are.
That phrase is exactly where I think conference organizers should begin to focus their meeting planning efforts.
- We should be designing conference experiences that encourage registrants to transition from attendees to participants.
