What is Virtual Space & How Does It Work?
(Here is the explanation you have been waiting for)

"Virtual Space" is an incredible meeting technology. Ward Flynn of the Venture Center of Colorado experimented with Harrison Owens' Open Space concept and gave it a practical twist. In this evolution, "Virtual Space" allows for both traditionally prepared workshops and it allows for passion and spontaneity when practitioners come together and realize that a need or opportunity has presented itself.  "Virtual Space" creates the structure that allows practitioners to gather what they need when they realize the moment.

"Virtual Space" works like this: I challenge everyone to come prepared to present on topics of their expertise or to be ready to request sessions from others who may have a skill or experience that they need.

On Thursday morning, "Virtual Space" alumni and first time participants will "surface" potential session topics, expertise and questions.  This phase of the process will take just under 3 hours. 

During the next phase, I cover the necessary details and boundaries that make this technology work and introduce 4 types of sessions:

Presentation:  A session by a person with expertise who has come prepared to do a session, perhaps even including handouts, overheads, videos, props, etc..

Workshop:   A session by a person with expertise who may be responding to a request by another practitioner.  While this type of session may not be as polished as the "presentation" above, these tend to be passionate and frank opportunities for the sharing of information.

Discussion:   This type of session is much more free form. The leader may have agreed to facilitate a discussion by a group of practitioners who have chosen to meet and share their experiences or voice their concerns on a particular topic. The three types of sessions allow practitioners to set realistic expectations for the types of sessions they choose to attend and the topic that best fits their needs. 

Fun Stuff:   Games, activites, ice breakers, new stuff, old stuff, with props, without props, and "Attempts to Break World Records in Richochet."  The only requirement here is that it's active and fun.

Once in a session of any type, participants are encouraged to choose to move to a different session if the one they selected is not meeting their needs.  The permission to leave a session and then create a new offering through "Virtual Space" to meet a more specific learning goal gives "personal responsibility" a whole new meaning in this conference setting. 

 

If at the end of a scheduled session, the participants and the presenter wish to continue with the topic, they can:  (1) Ask for an open room and simply move the session and keep going OR (2) Schedule a "part 2" for the topic when we meet for "Virtual Space" the next morning.

Friday and Saturday morning we meet again at 7:55 AM as a large group.  Things get really exciting!  New sessions are created.  Part 2 sessions are added.  Initiatives and games sessions are added.  We negotiate with presenters to repeat a session or we re-work a time block on the schedule to ensure that interest conflicts get resolved.  The most amazing part of this process is that participants learn that they can create what they need!

A Call for Presenters!

How do you create a session during "Virtual Space"? Simple. Clear your mind and answer these questions:

1.   What areas of expertise can I offer to my peers?

2.   Do I have a presentation or workshop that I would be willing to offer at the Symposium?

3.   What burning topics or questions do I want addressed?

Trust the Process!  It really works!

"The world is a better place because of what happens here in the space of 3 days"  K.H., Texas

"What helped me the most was being with others who shared the same love of life, learning and others."  S.M., Oklahoma

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