Roller Coaster Scream Machines, Ho-Hum Train Rides And Event Experiences August 11, 2010 by Jeff Hurt Your palms sweat. Your heart races. Adrenalin pulses through your veins. The closer you get to the main entrance, the more your body is on high alert. Part of you wants to run away as fast as possible. Part of you wants to stay and conquer. Finally, it’s your turn. You sit in the small … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conferences, Education & Adult Learning, emotional connection, emotional experience, event experience
Thinking About How Conference Meeting Design Impacts The Brain August 10, 2010 by Jeff Hurt The things that make you go hmmm. I’ve been reading a lot of books recently about how our brains experience emotions, engagement and learning, and how we remember, retain and apply information. I’ve been thinking about the application of cognitive neuroscience to conferences, events and meetings. These are the things that make me go hmmm. … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education, Experience Design Tagged With: , adult learning, brain-friendly conferences, brain-friendly meetings, conferences, Education & Adult Learning, engagement
Weigh In On What Do We Call Them? August 6, 2010 by Jeff Hurt In a recent blog post I asked Registrant, Attendee, Participant Or Learner? What do we call people who attend a conference or event? As a recap, here are the definitions of those words and I’ve added delegate to the discussion as well. The differences are subtle yet articulate distinct responses and actions. Registrant – one … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education Tagged With: , attendee, conferences, Education & Adult Learning, engagement, learner, participant
Registrant, Attendee, Participant Or Learner? August 5, 2010 by Jeff Hurt Words, words, words. They are everywhere. Billboards, blogs, books, Facebook, menus, movies, internet, LinkedIn, magazines, newspapers, roadway signs, screens, social media, smart phones, television, Twitter and websites to name a few. Words are rapped, shouted, spoken and sung. Some are believed, felt and trusted. Some are disputed, doubted and cause negative emotions. Some words dance, … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education, Experience Design Tagged With: , attendee, conferences, Education & Adult Learning, engagement, learner, participant
Are You Asking The Right Questions? August 2, 2010 by Jeff Hurt I’ve been thinking a lot about questions lately. My mind is always pondering things. Wondering who, what, why, how and when. I’m always “chewing the cud” so to speak. Thinking about how to improve things. Make them better. Make them more authentic and genuine. Make them more effective, efficient and experiential. I think it’s healthy … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , association, conferences, meeting planner
We Participate, Therefore We Are July 27, 2010 by Jeff Hurt This spin on cogito ergo sum (English: “I think, therefore I am”) could possibly be a good motto for all conferences and events. Social Learning We participate, therefore we are. Our learning, understanding and knowledge are developed in participation with others. Social learning occurs through conversations about the content and through grounded interactions and engagement … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education Tagged With: , active learning, active participation, adult learning, conferences, Education & Adult Learning, engagement, meeting
Virtual Tradeshows: Horizontal Or Vertical Markets? July 26, 2010 by Dave Lutz This post is by Dave Lutz, Managing Director of Velvet Chainsaw Consulting. If you’re a show organizer, you’re probably wondering how to best leverage virtual event technology to help drive revenue, engagement and attract new blood. You might consider a virtual event to incubate a new show idea, attract an international audience, bridge the gap … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Technology, Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , conferences, virtual event, virtual meeting, virtual tradeshow
A Conference Attendee Dear John/Jane Letter July 20, 2010 by Jeff Hurt Dear Conference Organizers: This relationship isn’t working out. You know, the one between us, the attendees, and you the conference organizers. It’s time for us to explore other educational, community-building and networking opportunities. We’ve tried to make it work. But it’s not us — it’s you (really). We thought we would do things together. We … [Read more…] Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: , community, conferences, content, meeting, meeting planner
HAPO – Help A Planner Out! Crowdsourcing A Speaker Confirmation Letter July 14, 2010 by Jeff Hurt Have you heard of HARO – Help A Reporter Out? We’ll here’s your opportunity to HAPO – Help A Planner Out. If you have expertise in meetings, events, education, association work, marketing, branding–whatever, think about helping this meetings and education specialist. Crowdsourcing A Speaker Confirmation Letter Meet Veronica Bemis, Education Program Coordinator, American Wind … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , #eventprofs, adult learning, conferences, Education & Adult Learning, HAPO - Help A Planner Out, speaker, Speaker Emerging Practices
Improving Your Conference Education: Begin With The End In Mind July 1, 2010 by Jeff Hurt When securing speakers for you next conference or meeting, here are two things that you can do that will have an immediate positive effect on your conference education: Tell your speakers that you want them to build their presentations backwards. They should begin by identifying the learning outcomes. What is it that they want their … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education, Speaker Coaching Tagged With: , conferences, delivery, Education & Adult Learning, speaker, Speaker Emerging Practices
