Can this work??

[Chris Corrigan]

Congrats on your first OS!

I've used Open Space as a learning tool in this respect.  It's very
simple and very powerful.  I let people know in the opening that the
convenors are invited to come forward to ask a question, or convene a
discussion around an issue that they have passion for.  Put simply, two
types of issues come forward: questions that people have about the
theme, and points for discussion, collaboration etc.

The first set attract the experts.  Those with the questions pose them
as issues, and the "experts"and others join the discussion to discover
the answer together.  It's important to note that these types of
discussion really tend to be collaborative learning rather than the
expert showing up to the group and simply answering the question...

The second set of issues create discusion groups to push the knowledge
of the theme beyond what's currently known.

Both types of discussions are rish and the learning process is very
rewarding.

In the best one I did of these, there was no convergence, but perhaps
others have used convergence in this way?

Chris



Julianne Bell wrote:

>  To my fellow Open SpacersHaving just facilitated my first Open Space
> Conference last Saturday, it seems the whole world (at least
> Brisbane!) wants to learn more about OS! (of course, I think my
> awareness might have  a LITTLE bit to do with this!!).  Anyway, I have
> a client who is so impressed with what I've told him about OS he wants
> to apply it to a second event that will follow on from a 2-hour
> seminar he had already scheduled this coming weekend.  He has agreed
> to run the follow up event for a whole day, and wants me to "promote"
> it this weekend at the seminar.But now I'm wondering if it will
> work... this is the scenario...This fellow is a lawyer (but a very
> OPEN one!).  He specialises in corporate law and this weekend's 2 hour
> seminar will be a "talkfest"... ie. he will be giving information to
> the audience on the for's and against's on setting up trusts vs
> companies.  It appears that this subject is extremely popular as we
> have only just sent out invitations and have received at least a 50%
> acceptance rate to date!   However, he would like to open the floor up
> and this is where I mentioned Open Space might be more useful... but
> there is a very large technical element.This is how I see it
> happening.  We use the OS frame but there are "experts" invited along
> (lawyers, accountants).  When the issues are put up, it will be up the
> "experts" to determine which group they join and share their
> expertise.  The outcomes won't be so much action plans or what to do
> next, but a more enlightened group of delegates who are getting
> answers to their specific questions.  The client and I are to meet
> this week to determine the theme of the event.Can this work?  Has
> anyone done anything similar and might have some pointers they can
> share with me?  The alternative is to not even think about OS and just
> run the day as a series of workshops??Any feedback would be most
> appreciated...Kind regardsJulianne BellJulianne BellExceptional
> EventsPh:  (07) 3891 0742Fax:  (07) 3891 6244Mobile:  0419 645
> 514Email:  julianne at bit.net.au Exceptional events... dynamic spaces in
> which people connect and communicate openly.

--
CHRIS CORRIGAN
108-1035 Pacific Street
Vancouver BC
V6E 4G7

Phone: 604.683.3080
Fax: 604.683.3036

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