21
Learning at Exhibitions
Insight
I
used to joke when speaking at
conferences and similar events for
trainers and training managers that
training and learning was something we
did to somebody else. When we get to
our elevated status we don’t do courses
anymore, instead we attend conferences
and exhibitions.
But, is this also a learning experience for
many of us? I think it can be, but like all
learning, simply getting hold of a load
more information doesn’t mean that
The conference
we learn anything. In fact when I talk to
people about their attendance at events
they don’t tend to remember the content
learning guide
of what they’ve heard, but the personalities
they encountered – whether speakers or
other delegates.
Learning conferences and
One of my concerns is that as trainers and
learning professionals we spend a good
exhibitions offer a wealth
deal of time working with subject matter
experts and facilitators of programmes
of knowledge waiting to be
so that they don’t just go through several
hundred PowerPoint slides. Is there a
absorbed. Ensure you get the most
disconnect between recognising that the
approach doesn’t work on courses and yet
out of them, says Robin Hoyle,
when we get to a conference usually that’s
what is offered up? Admittedly, most of
by following these top tips the speakers possess a good deal of skill
and have interesting experiences to share,
but still...
Now I’m not asking for a completely
different approach by speakers involving
exercises and group discussions. A bit more
interaction would be good – leaving a good
amount of time for questions, finding out
why people are there by using audience
response software, throwing out the odd
question during the presentation rather
than just at the end – you get the picture.
But in reality, putting 100 strangers in a
room for an hour and a half and expecting a
freewheeling exchange of ideas and opinions
doesn’t work and while some contributors
may gain enormously, other participants
will be left observing an unstructured
conversation. So let’s accept presentations
are the stuff of conferences and move on
to thinking about what delegates can do
to make the experience a more effective
learning activity – not just useful contacts but
useful content.
•••••
Learning Magazine
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