From the CIP Learning Inquiry, in participants' own words...
o What kinds of enabling software structures can be easily learned by large numbers of users to sort through the maze of interesting tidbits to discover the most useful information for a particular purpose? + The Cafe and Open Space have definitely been overwhelming in their volume, but P+T's recent message to not have to read or participate in everything was very freeing and might have been good to put in a bit earlier. + Comments about overload prompt me to say that I have learned that it is OK not to even attempt to understand it all! Interestingly, similar threads of conversation are emerging in different geographical parts of the CIP - I want to absorb all that I can and enjoy roaming the landscape that surrounds me at any given time. However, the sheer quantity of text in the CIP seems to be de-motivating to me. + I've learned how to get around being overwhelmed by using people I have conversed with in one domain to get started in another. - It's not easy to follow the threads of several talks. If we are in a room with 10 or 20 people, even in face-to-face meetings it's hard to concentrate all the time and build a mental model of all contributions to a discussion. But the main advantage of electronic conferences is the freedom of space and time (and even quantity).