Meeting Support Institute

Meeting Content Learning Lab

A Meeting Content learning lab combines theoretical presentation with practical demonstration. (90 min or 2 hours)

In one room, participants get a central presentation on a stage followed by a table top demonstration moment.

The presentation introduces the basic Meeting Content concept and methodology, plus a 30 second or 1 minute presentation about each table top tool or service totaling in around 40 minutes. The audience sits at rounds in a central space and the table top demonstration uses tables against the wall around the audience. As the central presentation takes place the audience is shown where the table top for a certain tool is positioned. After this short series of introductions, the demonstration moment can start. Each participant is part of a group that goes to a table: Every presentation gets 2 to 4 minutes depending on the number of tables. Every group gets to see all tools (about 30 minutes) and than goes back to their table. At the table the final exercise is to quantify each product using the meeting content matrix. With a voting system to assemble all the results in a final concluding moment.

A TABLE TOP

Each table has one meeting support tool that is demonstrated. This product must be of influence on learning, networking and/or motivation at meetings.

The person that mans this table is asked to give short, factual and educational information; selling is not allowed.

A brochure and name cards are allowed. All demonstrators have to register for the event / conference where the learning lab takes place. Sometimes they have to be member of the association organizing the conference (eg MPI)

OUTCOME

The learner outcome is for meeting planners that they

PRACTICAL

Space We need a room with sufficient space for both a presentation and the table top exhibition. Participants have to sit at round tables (6 to 8 per table): this is crucial for peer to peer learning and collaboration.

Depending on the conference / exhibition place and dates we expect between 6 and 12 “exhibitors” for the table top.

Furniture For the presentations we prefer round tables for 6 or 8, for shorter presentations, standing tables are also a good choice. With limited space, classroom or theatre is also acceptable.

For the demonstrators, one normal conference table 1m80 (6ft) x 0.6m (2ft) is sufficient. Each demonstrator gets a sign from the Meeting Support Institute

Time During the conference / exhibition we can run the Learning Lab one or more days. A standard Learning Lab day has multiple sessions: up to four: two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

A complete Learning Lab session (presentation and demo) can take 60 or 90 minutes or even 3 hours.

Connection We will take care of distributing electricity. There is no abnormal high energy consumption to be expected. Only computers and a basic AV installation will be used.

If anyone needs an internet connection, this is to be organized by us and paid by the user.

Promotion The meeting content learning Lab should be part of the normal educational program of the event where it takes place and is announced / promoted as such.

Cost We ask for a complimentary room from the conference / exhibition organizer.

This room has to be free of exclusive suppliers, or including it’s built in AV equipment (screen etc)

Furniture like tables and chairs (for presentation and table top demonstrations) has to be included.

Electricity is included (distribution to the tables is done by us)

All other needs like Internet connection, AV equipment etc is provided by The Meeting Support Institute at no cost to the conference / exhibition organizer.

IN SHORT

Important and innovative education is added to a MICE event at no cost: only limited time needs to be invested.

The concept “meeting support” connects perfectly to hot MICE issues like procurement, ROI and regulatory issues.

The quality of the session is consistently rated high. References available upon request.

Maarten Vanneste

www.meetingsupport.org

THE THREE PHASES OF THE LEARNING LAB:

PART I: educational theory about meeting content, meeting support, the Meeting Support Institute.

PART II: educational presentations by suppliers. Participants move around from table to table. Presenter stays at same table. Every 5 min. a sign is given “go to next table” E.g.: 6 tables x 5 min = 30 min of fast & diverse education.

PART III: round table discussion. Case: trying to use the learned, discussing the content.
 

REFERENCES

Results from the learning lab for the PEC-E from MPI in 2006 in Davos

A COMMENT

Thanks for the lab- it was inspiring! I'm still dreaming of all the great applications I learned about!

Megan Allday - American Red Cross