MM - 2013 March 07 Google Hangout Summary

so you don't have to remember to dig through this email.

We decided on two goals (note: I'm articulating them in a slightly different way than on the call, partly because of inspiration and partly because I didn't take close notes. Mostly the latter. Fellow planners feel free to correct or elaborate.)

1) To connect attendees based on self-selected institutional roles, providing the opportunity to share best practices, common interests, and share knowledge.

2) To connect attendees based on themes, providing the opportunity to collaborate on projects, share resources and knowledge, and explore ideas of common interest.

Evolution of the Cafe' strategy (our thoughts at this point in time, may continue to evolve):

A) Provide about 45 minutes of the Café time for the structured "herding".  Provide the second 45 minutes for complete freedom in connecting in any way chosen. 

B) Use a "Speed dating" concept to bring people together for short bursts of facilitated time, enough to identify common themes and interests. 

C) Provide contact information but within the bounds of Privacy. Meaning that as people meet in facilitated groups, it might make it easier if we facilitate sharing of contact information (e.g. sign up sheets, scanning QR codes, etc), but we have to respect privacy for folks who do not want to share. Need to integrate this tightly in our process. Laura has an idea for taking registration information, assigning numbers, having the numbers written or printed on the back of badges, so that there is no direct sharing of contact information. Details being investigated including possible technologies to support (though I strongly recommend we have a low tech way as a backup or integrated in the process).

D) Provide a clear path for individuals, or self-formed groups to schedule Ad Hoc meetings throughout the week and to advertise the meetings for others to join. (This builds upon an early conversation of using Google Calendar or Google Spreadsheets for a self sign in service, combined with having some reserved spaces).

Those are principles. 

We discussed using colored badges to delineate roles (keeping to a small number, maybe 4) and stickers for themes.  Allow attendees to choose their self identified roles and themes at any time, not be forced to choose at registration online or in person. Give them time to think about it. Logisitically this could be, if inexpensive enough, providing them with all the options in a packet, as one possibility.

Did I miss anything?

Please email nealcaidin@sakaifoundation with the tasks you've been assigned, so I can track. I'll schedule another meeting for the next week or so. 

Cheers,

Neal Caidin