Tag: conference best practices


Two Strategies To Infuse Lectures With Learning

Lectures are ineffective methods to promote learning. Even if you want to disagree with this premise, the scientific research remains the same. Lectures have limits. They are effective ways to transmit information. They are as effective as distributing a report to read. They are not as effective as discussions for learning. Two Methods To Combine … [Read more…]

What Lectures Actually Achieve

Lectures have limits when used for education. Lectures are a great way to share information. However they are not as effective as discussions for getting learners to think, develop attitudes or change behaviors. Why Lectures? In politics lectures are called speeches. In faith institutions lectures are called sermons. In colleges and universities lectures are called … [Read more…]

Avoiding Zombie Zeitgeist: How Passive Listening Undermines Learning

The walking dead! We see them at every conference we attend. Eyes glazed over. Faces void of emotion. Weird body twitches from sitting in one position too long. Aimlessly walking the same direction to the next session. Grunts and groans as they salivate for something they will not get–relevant, meaningful information, relationship building activities and … [Read more…]

The End Of Conference Education As We Know It

“In the spirit of honoring tradition, conferences hang on to past practices imperiling their futures,” paraphrase, Clayton Christensen, Harvard University. Conference speakers present today, exactly the same way they did one-hundred years ago. Little has changed. Yet, we’ve learned so much more about how people learn and retain information. Unfortunately, the conference presentations have not … [Read more…]

When Conferences Go Awry

Most nonprofit organizations host some type of annual meeting every year. Generally their bylaws require that they hold at least one annual membership meeting. Similarly, many corporations and associations organize, plan and implement one or more conferences every year that have other goals beyond the annual membership meeting. Some corporations hold customer events to showcase … [Read more…]

Six Conference Committee Improvements

When it comes to the traditional volunteer conference planning committee model, there seems to be plenty of room for improvement. Here are a half-dozen ways to create a more rewarding experience for your volunteers and better results for your organization: 1. Stay out of the weeds. If your committee charter includes selecting what kind of … [Read more…]

Overhauling Your Conference To Adapt To The Lean, Mean, Thinking Machine

Regardless of one’s age, culture, gender or race, we share one thing in common: Our human brains love to learn! Our brains are a lean, mean, thinkin’ machine. It’s always on the prowl for new things to explore. It is genetically programmed to learn. Brain Boredom Our brains are always paying attention to something says … [Read more…]

Creating A World Wide Rave For Your Conference

The World Wide Rave is one of the most exciting and powerful ways to reach an audience says David Meerman Scott. Imagine if people couldn’t stop talking about your conference, your organization, your exhibitors and your sponsors online. Imagine if they were posting information about your upcoming event in Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social … [Read more…]

The Way You View Your Annual Meeting Changes The Way You Look At Things

We see the world as we are. Scientists will tell you that there is no objectivity. Researchers influence the outcome of their research. The questions that we ask influence the information we uncover. If you change how you think, you’ll change how you see the world. How Do You View Your Annual Meeting? Valeria Maltoni … [Read more…]

Changing Attitudes: The Conference Mindsets Of Progress

Where are the dynamic conferences going in the future? Who is driving these conference changes? A renewed vision focused on learning, value, connections and ROI is driving this change. Participants and conference organizers are leading the charge. Mindset: Conferences Are About Learning Not Just Distributing Information Participants can find information online. Ask any Millennial for … [Read more…]