Chapter: Knowledge Café Space


Café conversation

If you can design the physical space, the social space, and the information space together to enhance collaborative learning, then that whole milieu turns into a learning technology.

Credit: John Seely Brown, former chief scientist, Xerox Corporation

In this chapter, I describe the importance of the physical space in which a Café is held.


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Introduction: Knowledge Café Space The physical space is important

Knowledge Café: Microphones Knowledge Café: Choosing the Venue Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter You should choose the physical space in which a Knowledge Café is held with great care, taking the following aspects should be taken into consideration: POST NAVIGATION Knowledge Café: Microphones Knowledge Café: Choosing the Venue Close Pop-up all posts in … Continue reading Introduction: Knowledge Café Space The physical space is important

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Knowledge Café: Choosing the Tables Small round tables are best that sit 3 or 4 are best

Knowledge Café: Choosing the Room Knowledge Café: Cafés with No Tables Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Selecting suitable tables for a Knowledge Café is one of the most critical factors in the success of the Café.  The best conversations are held when people are sitting in touching distance of each other. Any further … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Choosing the Tables Small round tables are best that sit 3 or 4 are best

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Knowledge Café: Cafés with No Tables Small tables are better than no tables

Knowledge Café: Choosing the Tables Knowledge Café: Laying Out the Room Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Sometimes, when running a Knowledge Café, if the room is too small and the number of participants large, it is necessary to run the Café without tables. This is not ideal.  I have learned over the years … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Cafés with No Tables Small tables are better than no tables

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Knowledge Café: No Flip Charts or Butcher Paper They get in the way of the conversation - avoid them

In a Knowledge Café, anything that gets in the way of the free flow of the conversation is a bad thing and should be eliminated. Another principle is that everyone is equal. Flip-charts and butcher paper on tables contravene both of these principles, and in general, you should avoid their use. Continue reading Knowledge Café: No Flip Charts or Butcher Paper They get in the way of the conversation – avoid them

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Knowledge Cafés at Conferences Not the best of environments but possible

Knowledge Café: Lecture Theatre Knowledge Café: Microphones Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter I often run Knowledge Cafés at conferences. Conference settings are rarely ideal for a Café, but they are possible as can be seen below. video playerA Gurteen Knowledge Cafe at KM Egypt conference in Cairo, Egypt, September 2010. Timestamps A Gurteen … Continue reading Knowledge Cafés at Conferences Not the best of environments but possible