tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117005533318160902.post6695370209579247485..comments2024-03-27T19:53:53.708-06:00Comments on growing changing learning creating: The strange persistence of conferencesTom Haskinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12658791778134826289noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117005533318160902.post-35720744648535850812007-06-25T09:22:00.000-06:002007-06-25T09:22:00.000-06:00I agree with you Michele, that people need to go b...I agree with you Michele, that people need to go beyond the easy access to content. I've not considered "helping them make it useful" until you mentioned it. I've been assuming "the context of the customer" happens naturally and the usefulness depends on the situation of each learner.<BR/><BR/>I suspect this ties into another facet of disempowerment: decontextualization. When we're disempowered, we are morbidly dependent on authority figures to tell us what to think, know and say. We cannot think for ourselves. Our own problems, feelings, history and situations are invalidated. We cannot see new content as USEFUL to those problems, feelings, etc - but our context does not count. <BR/><BR/>When we are easing someone's pain, reviving their power, dishing out dignity, etc. -- we are restoring their context. We validate their feelings, speak their mind about problems, include their history and relate to their current situations. I had not thought of that as "helping them make content useful". Thanks for provoking that connection in my mind.Tom Haskinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12658791778134826289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117005533318160902.post-92152727820374971302007-06-24T15:55:00.000-06:002007-06-24T15:55:00.000-06:00A few days ago, Tom, you were exploring business m...A few days ago, Tom, you were exploring business models for blogging and independent professional development. It seems to me that creating better conferences may be fertile ground for a version of the "live road show." Someone needs to help people go beyond just getting access to information and into making that information useful. <BR/><BR/>I personally think that a better investment of conference dollars might be in paying for the creation of truly rich and useful content that could be delivered via inexpensive digital venues. I'm also a big fan of unconferencing and Open Space. <BR/><BR/>It will be interesting to see where this all lands.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117005533318160902.post-50532547950608783622007-06-21T17:06:00.000-06:002007-06-21T17:06:00.000-06:00Thanks for the rich insights, Roger.Some of my own...Thanks for the rich insights, Roger.<BR/>Some of my own peak life experiences were at live concert venues. I can relate to what you're say about live performances. I've also had let downs when I met some of my favorite authors in person. I suspect there are two separate issues here: <BR/>1) the need for "in person" contact when the intent is to be inspiring or motivational. <BR/>2) the possibility of using online communication when reasoning is being clarified, information is being transmitted or logistics are getting resolved. <BR/><BR/>I hope this helps.<BR/><BR/>tomTom Haskinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12658791778134826289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117005533318160902.post-68396868960361901852007-06-21T16:41:00.000-06:002007-06-21T16:41:00.000-06:00Hi Tom,I am told that only 7% of "verbal" communic...Hi Tom,<BR/><BR/>I am told that only 7% of "verbal" communication is contained in the words. Tone of voice, body language, facial expressions and the like carry the remaining 93% of meaning.<BR/><BR/>Reading the "I Had a Dream" speech, or any of JFK's speeches really loose something, if you've never heard recordings of them.<BR/><BR/>I really enjoy recorded music, but nothing beats a good live performance.<BR/><BR/>Beyond that, if you really want to get to know someone, and understand the context of what they are saying, I think you have to share a meal with them. <BR/><BR/>I see a really important place for high bandwidth, high quality, video conferencing, particularly in the business arena. But as humans, we require the use of all our senses in our interactions with each other. We cannot shut off touch and smell, so I think there will always be a need for gatherings, like conferences, to bring us together as a group.<BR/><BR/>RogerMarchHarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06665453209699009869noreply@blogger.com