Learning Conferences--Learning from the Real World for the Virtual World

One of the more recent developments on the Internet is a "Virtual World--3-D" Conference capability.  One of my friends has his own "Virtual World" for use for large group and small group conferences.

In May, 1998, while working as a learning architect with Accenture (then called Andersen Consulting), I was the designer for a multinational hands-on learning event (see ELACOMM98 and the video for that event) for 200 communications executives held in Cannes, France.

What I learned today is that much of what I designed for the "real world" conference in France can be adapted in a hybrid format for the virtual world conference.  Some of the presentations at the three-day conference were "whole group presentations," one of which was via video conferencing with a partner in Los Angeles, CA.  The Virtual World can accomodate hybrid conferencing where some people experience live conferences with streaming video and simultaneous presentation of what people in the virtual conference are experiencing.  This effectively integrates the participants and speakers and facilitators from the entire conference (both live and virtual).

The report from some successful hybrid virtual world conferences is that the holistic experience encouraged more participation and interest from both real world and virtual world participants, many of whom actually experienced both forms of the conference.

This means that I can apply the skills I developed in designing, developing, and delivering conferences for hundreds of participants and apply them to the virtual world.