[OSList] A 3hr OST slot at Conference

[Jeff Aitken]

Sandy,

I agree with Harrison. It took exactly 30 minutes for the opening of
an OST meeting with 130 participants that I facilitated this year. I
typically try to set aside a little more time, but we were quite time
constrained (only had two hours for the whole thing.) And it's always
a useful reminder, as the opening ends and the first session begins,
that "whenever it starts is the right time."

For a three hour meeting my 'rule of thumb' used to be 45 opening, two
45 min sessions, 45 closing. But recently it's been 30, 60, 60, 30,
especially if there is no need for anything but a simple 'talking
circle' at the end.

Years ago I learned from Sam Kaner that we can invite a gathered group
to meet the challenge of completing a closing circle in the time
allotted. "We have 30 minutes, and there are 100 of us, and we want to
allow everybody to say something who wishes to." People will pass a
'talking object' around the circle and be responsible with their use
of time. Many people will pass, others will say something very quickly
but with genuine feeling, and some will speak a paragraph or two.

Jeff



On Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 4:35 AM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
> Sandy – I would cut the sessions to 1 hour each and do the closing in 30
> min. That gives you 30 min for the opening which may be a little tight, but
> doable – but you have to move folks along smartly. No speeches and side
> talk.
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
> Harrison Owen
>
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> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Sandy Gee
> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 7:19 AM
> To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> Subject: [OSList] A 3hr OST slot at Conference
>
>
>
> Hi,
>
> I posted a question a few weeks ago on using OST in an non-ideal physical
> space at a one day Existential Psychotherapy Conference (I was considering
> doing it with just half the participants).
>
>
>
> The organisers have now agreed to allow me to adapt the auditorium into a
> rough circle space for the Marketplace and use OST with the whole
> conference.
>
>
>
> They have however only scheduled 3 hours for the OST part of the conference
> (with an additional flexible 15 min slot for tea break). They are expecting
> in the region of 100 participants.
>
>
>
> I'm looking for advice on how to divide the time and how to close the OST
> space (they will continue with another conference event after).
>
> I've been thinking of scheduling:-
>
> - Marketplace 50 mins
>
> - OST topic sessions 1hr 20min
>
> - Whole group sharing/closing 45mins
>
>
>
> Any comments or suggestions on my timings and how to organise the short
> sharing/closure?
>
>
>
> Sandy Gee
>
>
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