Learning 2.009

[Brian Lockwood]

Learning 2.009, what's next?

[Brian Lockwood]

I'm saying in regards to being hosting in a place like Dubai, anywhere else I think the current date is fine.

[Jeff Utecht]

Not a bad idea, bandwidth would be an issue. You would have to have a place in Asia where the bandwidth could support such a conference. S. Korea, HK, other ideas?

Then you would have to get a school on board (administrators)

Then you would have to get it on the calendar

[Jon P. Zurfluh]

Jeff's very accurate that a host school is critical. This conference has proven that you have to avoid the hotels to keep costs down. You can still use hotels for accomodations, but the key to a conference of this nature is lots and lots of classrooms and small to medium sized spaces.

A volunteer committee is also key to the model. Committed people that are dedicated to an almost evangelical frame of mind in spreading the concepts that are represented in what the name implies. You have to really want it to make it happen.

Also, you have to watch your numbers. I think we all agreed at the reflection session that we may have nearly crossed the line on being a bit too big this year. 500 seems a fair limit and consistent with what most schools can offer in terms of facilities. You have to have a space where all can gather to set the tone and keep periodically coming back together. For 500, you need 20-25 rooms at any given session time. Central eating space is critical for both collaboration and cohesiveness of the group. Un-conference coordination and dynamics are important and this becomes daunting challenge for much over 500.

As Jeff points out below, bandwidth is an issue. You need to think 8-10M sustainable capacity for 500. Wireless and infrastructure issues are also a factor. Most hotels I know could never support this. Key to this conference is EVERYONE on a laptop. One alternative might be to consider college campuses as hosts. That might also give you dormitories for housing if scheduled during the summer.

Given all of the factors, and also food provision, etc., I'm hard pressed to consider an alternative location to Shanghai for the same price. While I accept that HK and Seoul. to name two, could easily support the criteria, the expense would be far greater. However, the vendor support of these cities could offset that somewhat.

Don't forget the vendors, by the way. You need a bulldog like Michael Lambert to cushion your budget and keep your bottom line afloat.

You also need talent for graphics and electronics and a host of other things.

And, don't forget the geek squad. They are critical and you need to think about how your recruit them.

OK - that's my thoughts for now. I'm sure others will come later after I think about this some more.

[Jeff Utecht]

See...that's what makes this conference work. We come at it from 100 different angles and from 100 different perspectives and some how we pull it off. :)

[JenWagner]

I liked that you ustreamed SNB into the conference............and wondered if perhaps, next year, you could make one area totally preecorded?? That way, you could invite more people to participate who might not be able to afford the time away, could not get their visa, or (etc etc).............but you could have them as part of the conference?? All you would need from them was 1 40 minute presentation (and if they were available during the time it was being shown, they could be available by skype.

Just a thought.
Jen