Changing Our Approach to Conferences Dr. Deborah Swain North Carolina Central University School of Library and Information Sciences

NCCU School of Library and Information Sciences2 Overview Why do you meet in person? What level of knowledge and trust is established in person? How do you use blogs in advance for creation, diffusion, and utilization of knowledge at meetings?

NCCU School of Library and Information Sciences3 Ideas Being Addressed Ideas from Ed Mitchell, Editor of Knowledge Board ( ), London- based Data from European meetings Read beforehand and then have: Structured, facilitated sessions. Open-spaced gatherings. Narrative techniques applied. Intimate, conversation-based event.

NCCU School of Library and Information Sciences4 KM Objectives of Pre-Blog Conference Format Provide networking experiences (What do you want to learn? What do you have to share?) Avoid wasting time because of virtual discussion ahead of time (more meaningful if meet beforehand). Promote democratic meeting when organize online.

NCCU School of Library and Information Sciences5 Leftovers Will people naturally self-organize? Does pre-mediation require a structured approaach? Can you promote a “state of play” to enhance innovation? Do we do this already with Poster Sessions and Birds-of-a-Feather? Can we change our behavior?

NCCU School of Library and Information Sciences6 Suggestions Use hallways, not meeting rooms Use Post-Its on walls to talk Convene in a deliberate manner Blog DURING the meeting (day blogs and wikis) Share knowledge in workshop style Hold a Knowledge Cafe (see David Gurteen)

NCCU School of Library and Information Sciences7 North Carolina Central University Contact: Dr Deborah Swain School of Library and Information Sciences