How Open Space (Small Groups) Work

The small groups are run based on the open space methodology You'll be able to suggest ideas for group discussions at the event, but see below for some existing suggestions, or to propose your own. See the ECF live pages for details of the topics and discussions at last year's event.

Speaker Selection Criteria

For each Forum, the aim is to have speakers who can demonstrate cutting-edge campaigning via digital media. Generally this is one working in an established NGO and one working outside an 'established' NGO structure. Since may event participants return each year, a speaker also can't be from the same organisation as the previous year.

Any speaker needs to:

• Relate directly to the event focus (e.g. e-campaigning/e-fundraising/digital leadership)
• Be useful for most of the event participants
• Challenge event participants to think beyond their current activities
• Have recent/current examples thay can use to demonstrate their points
• Be different from each other (e.g. not both from the same type of organisation / country / sector)
• Can use current examples (in last 6-12 months)
• What they share is not likely to be available elsewhere (e.g. other events, articles/videos)

Peer Presentations

Presentations can be organised by anyone - including you. Times are made available the agenda for anyone to present to a group of people.

• Parallel Presentations three 30 minute presentations that run in parallel and event participations choose which one they attend
• Short Presentations are four 10 minute presentations to the whole group run back-to-back.

The style of the presentation is decided by those making it, but presentation that involve input and dialogue tend to be more interesting.

Presentation Topics

Peer presentation topics can be proposed by anyone. Once a presentation is proposed, event participants need to express their interest in those topics they are most interested in and provide input for those presenting.

If there are more proposed presentations than space (parallel presentations) or time (short presentations) available, then the presentations will be decided based on which are the most popular based on sign-ups on the wiki pages.

Parallel Presentations

The Parallel Presentations are three 20-30 minute presentations that run in parallel and event participants choose which one they attend.

The style of the presentation is decided by those making it, but presentation that involve input and dialogue tend to be more interesting.

Short Presentations

Short Presentations are 7 minute talks 'Ignite-style' to all ECF participants. There are up to ten over the two days and they several usually run consecutively.

'Ignite-style' means that is is 7 minutes with 15 second pre-set intervals between slides (if you have them). The total length is the main thing strictly enforced.

The short presentation focus is just a guide. Presentations on other topics are welcome too, including on the outcomes of the open space sessions.