🤔Have you ever heard of Open Space Technology? (OST)?
It's a specific form of an #Unconference
🙏 One month ago, on March 16th, Harisson Owen, the creator of Open Space Technology passed away. He didn't know me, but his methodology has been instrumental in my #learningexperiencedesign work. 🙏
I can think of no other way to honor his passing than to share more about this incredible #participantcentered methodology in today's #TrainerToolTuesday
💡THE CONTEXT:
Harisson Owen created the structure of Open Space because he found that far too often when he attended conferences, the most interesting conversations happened in the coffee breaks! ☕️ How might a conference be designed differently that felt like those rich break discussions the entire time? 🤔💭
💡 HOW IT WORKS:
👉 You can specify an event theme but there is NO pre-planned schedule.
👉 In OST no topics are mandated and any offers are welcome
👉 There are no separations made between “speakers” and “participants”
👉 All attendees co-create an agenda based on what they are personally interested to explore, discuss, share, or experience
👉 Anyone can "host" an offer - whether they have information to share with others, or are curious to learn more about the topic. You do not need to be an expert to share
👉 Offers can run the gamut from conversations to facilitated experiences, activities, and more!
💡 THE ONLY RULES (AND 1 LAW):
✅ Whoever shows up are the right people - be open to who joins and who does not join the offer (it's meant to be!)
✅ Whatever happens is the only thing that could have - be open to what happens in comparison to what you hope or expect may happen
✅ Whenever it starts is the right time - creativity does not run on the clock, so whenever the feels ready to get into the offer topic, it's the right time
✅ When it’s over, it’s over - it's okay if people want to stay and dig in deeper, linger, etc. Creativity does not have an end time either.
✅ 🐾The law of mobility (also the law of 2 clicks online)
If at any point you feel you are not able to contribute, or not receiving value from the conversation YOU CAN LEAVE AND JOIN ANOTHER SESSION WITHOUT SHAME!
🦋 Some people may prefer to be butterflies and float around
🐝 Others may prefer to be busy bumble bees and stay in one place
ALL is welcome and okay! Show up as you need.
🤩 HOW EMPOWERING IS THIS APPROACH TO LEARNING?! Honestly I LOVE IT!
Whenever I offer longer training programs, I always try to squeeze in an Open Space, and YES, you can host them #online!
💥 2 years ago, Kirsten Anderson, Mallory Penney and I hosted THIS virtual Open S.P.A.C.E. on #PsychologicalSafety.
👀 I'm sharing the follow up materials created so you can get a real sense of what it looked like.
🤔 Perhaps it's time to offer another in honor of Harrison Owen! What do you think?
💬 Would you want to attend an Open Space online? Let me know in the comments and if yes, on what theme? 👇
#ExperienceLearningwithRomy
