How to become an Open Space facilitator

From RCC 2007

Open Space Technology-- How to be a facilitator.

Attendees: Ted, Kaliya, Evan, Kristin and ___?

Can't step on anybody's toes. Nobody owns the technology, it's OK to start using it without permission.

Kaliya: attended open space, never read readings. Learned on her own.

Harrison wrote the book, asked people to go use. Can't get a certificate. Not a franchise.

Open Space on Open Space. Michael Herman facilitated last year. His web site has further info to read and download. http://www.michaelherman.com/cgi/wiki.cgi?Home Ted says Michael is getting out of training facilitators.

Kiev OS on OS. http://www.openspaceworld.org/news/open-space-on-open-space

US OS on OS in North Carolina in October.

openspaceworld.com -- Web site about OS.

Lisa Heft -- recommended by Kaliya for writing online about Open Space.

Ted making the change from OST participant to facilitator. OST (former) training Michael Herman. The key to being a good facilitator is to be "Totally Present, Totally Invisible."

Ted had practiced. Open Space facilitator. Omidyar.net members conference.

Ted was asked to facilitate this RCC and invited Kaliya to help.

Working in pairs. "Space holder" -- different job. Having some help if people work in pairs together. It is hard to have both hats of participant and facilitator. That's why Ted is doing more and more facilitation and less organizing. You can't do both.

Ted for WikiSym -- called up OS institute Denmark. OS chair for Wikisym 2007.

Ted hadn't facilitated something yet. If you're part of a community, you can't be the only person. Working in neighboring communities (e.g. Mashup camp). Convert existing conferences into doing OST for some stuff.

PDF is at the same time. Post on unconference.net blog, OST what happens and how it works. OS for technical communities. Talking heads, complex issues, half an hour on stage. She did that for her conference.

- Fishbowl - Speed intros Creates a group empathy

Working alone

At OSCamp last summer, OST was there.

Be ready to be surprised when running OST.

Selling OS into a conference

BarCamp and OS are different things. FooCamp is different. RCC is different.

BarCamp is really harsh. There everyone MUST participate and present.

Kaliya reminded us that diversity is meeting the needs of high-end as well as the low-end. People who are deeply involved need to have a feeling that things are pretty good. We remember the attendee on a budget, but we also have to remember those who are used to a more comfortable environment.

Inform participants that the session may be solo, as in "you're the only one there." Still go for it. Write notes even if you are the only one that comes to your session. Remember to inform circle as a facilitator.

It's okay to negotiate if you come upon someone still in your space.