Discussion-Group-H

Comment

Comment by David Williams on July 23, 2008 at 7:55am

Discussion Group H
The group split up into two groups as it was quite a large group. As a result we have two set of thoughts that were arrived at independently.

Benefits
Networking / Face to face (yes, despite what we say about users still wanting to talk to humans, we do to).
Sharing Problems / empathy / skills
What not to do
Ideas – what others are doing
Time out to think

Future
Probably (b), but we like (c)

Achieving the future
Speakers / contributors participating remotely (via video etc) (should have tried this for Paul Boag, currently en route from Devon by car)
Live Questions via instant messaging

The Sceptic’s view
(Un)reliability!
Poorly targeted / following fads / fashions

1 Benefits
Find the status quo / What was hype / what is actually being done
Networking
Get out of the office (call it professional / personal development) / get a perspective
See how others have arrived at their decisions – why they did it? Did it work?
Realism / appreciation of character of publically funded HE Institutions

2
We want to go for (c) because we are here and if you were in the office it would be hard to ring fence the time. (b) is also likely to be true, but perhaps with a dedicated team to run the ‘off site’ audience. Speakers have time after their session to do an online Q&A.
By 2010 (that’s the year after next!)
Double the number of tools / widgets
Big increase in cultural change issues
Defined strands that people can attend (technical, marketing, content, etc)
People new to the conference have found it cliquey. Have networking before the event for people to start to engage so that they feel less ‘out of water’.
Better define the purpose of social networking tools – eg to network with each other before the event, to help choose the plenary sessions.

3
By developing themes/tracks within the conference and people sign up and follow those, rather than mix and match. Would help those new to the event, both in terms of what to go to, but also who they meet.
CPD focus
Put out a range of plenary subjects and get people to ‘vote’ on those they would like to see. Then get speakers for those.
Use the social networking tools for people to say what their institution is doing (monthly?) that would help assess the ‘mood’ of the community when looking at what to put on / provide
Increase transparency in developing the conference – blogs and wikis open all year round.

4
This year there were probably too many web technologies available, getting too complex to work out where you should say what. I packed a web cam in case it was all video. Perhaps we need a portal.....

Most of the above was on the flip charts. Some I added myself. If you are not happy that it is a true reflection, that is what wikis are for.