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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>As some of you know, I’ve been at this for a couple of years now. Today, working on behalf of <a href="http://charterforcompassion.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=110391&qid=5124428">the Charter for Compassion International</a>, I was finally able to host a MaestroConference-based call that I felt truly lived up to the potential for “Open Space” in virtual form (in quotes since I know some of you purists might dispute that this really was OST!). <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Of course, it wasn’t like being together in person for a day or two. Indeed, there was only one round of live small group conversation. But the combination of an online space that was opened on 9/22 using the “hackpad” platform and a 90 minute call eight days later using MaestroConference’s newest “social webinar” beta really worked. Here are some highlights of the process (you can also <a href="http://www.bit.ly/cfc093014">view notes and more here on hackpad</a>): <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>We had 43 participants on the call for at least some of the 90 minutes, mostly from the US, but also including several from overseas.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Six topics were initiated by participants<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>In addition to the topic breakouts, there was a “meet and greet” session for just hanging out and connecting. This also served as a place to welcome late-comers to the call. As a result, the latter were easily integrated and able to join the conversations of their choosing<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>The topic conversations lasted a little more than 40 minutes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>We ended with a full group “popcorn-style” harvest and some announcements<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>A number of participants attended a debrief after the official end of the call<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>A few participants also stayed on the line “overtime” to continue their topic conversations<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>MC’s new “social webinar” worked beautifully, allowing participants to do the following:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Exercise the law of two feet (really!)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>See who was in their breakouts (including a thumbnail and contact info, if provided)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>See who was talking or had their “hands” up<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Using “hackpad,” we were able to do the following:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Open the marketplace in advance, in order to both save time on the call and allow for some online discussion to get going. Five out of the six topics were initiated in advance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Provide an index of topics and the “room numbers” for each (so that participants could move themselves to the right room)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Take collaborative notes during breakouts, with a separate pad for each one (note that “social webinar” now also provides shared document functionality for each breakout room, if desired)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Continue sharing notes and reflections once the call had ended (this is still ongoing)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Make detailed introductions before, during and after the call<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Compile a shared listing of resources<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Make announcements and requests<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It was also possible for participants to engage fully via their phones only (including moving between sessions) without using either hackpad or “social webinar.” This was important, as not everyone was able to be at a computer, and some who were at one had trouble using the online tools.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Not everything was perfect, of course, and there were some lessons learned. The biggest challenge was that, despite many emails and online explanations in advance, some people were confused by the three ways to engage (phone, hackpad and social webinar) or had trouble accessing one or more of these elements. The vast majority, however, were either able to use these tools or to have a valuable and satisfying conversation without them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I expect that there will be future iterations planned on behalf of the Charter for Compassion, and I will promote them to this listserv now that I feel comfortable handling larger groups! MaestroConference is also very interested in promoting a series of large group “conversations that could change the world.” Perhaps there are some folks here who might want to collaborate with me in convening one? They plan for their platform to be able to manage calls in this way with over a thousand people in the near future. The thought of being able to regularly engage people at that scale in this way is pretty exciting!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Peace,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ben<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:#4F6228'>Ben Roberts<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:#4F6228'>The Conversation Collaborative<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#4F6228'><a href="http://www.conversationcollaborative.com/"><span style='color:blue'>www. ConversationCollaborative.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#4F6228'>(203) 426-1039<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#4F6228'>Skype: benjamin_j_roberts<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#4F6228'>G+: benroberts.ipn@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=208 height=172 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CFDCCA.B7D13780" alt="tagxedo 1"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>