How would you make the conference less boring?
Open Engagement 2014 featured a Kids Art Camp run by Wooloo and the Queens Museum as well as a Kids Lounge, an interactive play-space facilitated by Regeneración Childcare NYC.
As part of this space Wooloo collected feedback on Open Engagement from children and parents to find out how to make the conference less boring (more fun was the initial phrasing, but the children insisted the right question was “less boring”).
Were you also at OE 2014? If so, we also want to hear from you! Share your thoughts by filling out our post-conference survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OpenEngagement2014
Below are the suggestions on ‘How to you make the conference less boring?’
More glitter.
Empathy, equity, social change
Collective imagination act
More connective
Plans for next steps
More kids!!!
More snack food?
More alcohol?
Games?
Borrow “advice roulette” concept?
Entertaining performances? Music, puppet shows, “FREAKS”, jugglers—people are doing socially conscious/political versions of these.
Drop in collaborative projects.
More art making and collaborative exercises—less watching presentations.
More interactive presentations.
Video and movie screenings in between presentations
Pizza
comfy chairs
healing spaces
Balloons!
Cut down on show and tell
Invite practitioners to engage directly in the space
More interactive and hands on activities
Salsa and cumbia dancing
Singing together
Go outside!
More games and ice breaking
More problem solving hypothetical scenarios as a group
Food?
Alcohol?
Keynote speaker with social justice projects.Workshops on social justice art making.
More conversations, less talking heads.
Work even more with local communities! These were great!
Field trips
Physical exercise
Plenty of chances to leave the room.
Pets (optional)
Shake it up! Dance in the atrium!
More walking sessions
Put kids area at the center
Community kitchen
Community art making zone
Scavenger hunt where you find people at the conference instead of things and get to know them!
>MORE SNACKS!!
Bouncy balls and piñatas
More dancing
Less information and explanation and more cats, ice cream, flowers and friends.
A place to make lunch and hangout.
More food and drinks, please.
More radical social justice conversations please.
Serve ice cream on a stick, make the conference more messy.
More Australians.
I wish there was more dance breaks during the day and communal eating, but I don’t think this is a boring conference! Thanks!