Open Space Presentations

at the AET CONFERENCE 2008

Saturday, June 21
2:45 - 4:30 p.m.

An extraordinary opportunity to take in the many views of others or present your own to a captive audience, the 2008 AET Conference will feature Open Space, an innovative multi-presentation process of co-creation and interaction that generates solutions to vexing challenges, insights to established understandings and in-depth explorations of emerging ideas.

How Does It Work?
Open Space begins by gathering everyone together and forming a circle around the center of the room. Our Conference Chair and Open Space Facilitator, Catherine Tornbom, will then invite everyone to consider creating a presentation discussion around one of their Enneagram-related passions. This means that anyone who has an idea, an issue, a challenge or a topic related to the Enneagram will be encouraged to step forward and create a session. Those interested can select to join your session and become your immediate audience. Open Space is all about passion and less about expertise - keep that in mind. It's about the chance to share a passionate view with others in an open-session environment that is conducive to exchange.

Creating an Open Space Presentation
Sessions may be created spontaneously as you find yourself moved by something at the conference, or a session could be based on a topic for which you already have an interest - a passion! - and something you know you want to explore with others. Or start ahead of the game and come prepared.

Four simple-yet-profound guidelines for everyone to acknowledge:
. Whoever comes are the right people
. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have
. Whenever it starts is the right time
. When it's over, it's over

There is no set limit to the number of presentations possible, and there are two presentation timeframes to work with: Two 45-minute sessions (one after the other) or a single session that is 90 minutes long. It is up to the individual presenter to decide if a 45- or the 90-minute session is best for his/her topic.

Session Requirements are Simple
Each presenter must convene the session, make sure someone is taking notes, and when the session concludes, turn the notes in to the Open Space Facilitator. All session notes will be compiled and distributed to all conference participants at the end of the conference.

Please note: Overhead projection or computer hook-ups for PowerPoints or other presentations (even an available power supply) will not be available. Handouts may be distributed but must be prepared in advance.

For more information about this exciting opportunity at our upcoming conference, please contact Catherine Tornbom, conference chair and open space facilitator.

For additional information about this unique learning process, consider reading Open Space Technology: A User's Guide, by Harrison Owen. Second edition c.1997, published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc., San Francisco. Or check out the international Open Space website.