The Case for Knowledge Exchanges

Abstract

Academic conferences connect students with ideas and individuals they might not otherwise encounter. However, they are not without limitations. Students cannot attend every concurrent session; furthermore, little time is spared for students to crystalize takeaways. To address this, and provide a more well-rounded learning opportunity for students, MiraCosta Community College’s Learning Centers(TLC) piloted a conference for students, conducted by Learning Center employees, to share information and improve takeaways: a Knowledge Exchange. The event consisted of 14 sessions in three concurrent blocks(4, 5, 5). Additionally, TLC facilitators used a three stage ‘directed networking’ strategy based on the studio model to promote student access to and retention of sessions. In part 1, students from the same session were grouped together and asked to share their name and intended major, and then to share around and discuss insight gained and knowledge reinforced. For part 2, attendees from each of the separate sessions were grouped together and given time to share what they learned. Finally, in phase 3, students were encouraged to discuss next sessions of interest. Feedback for this process and the Knowledge Exchange as a whole was largely positive, suggesting a place for similar conferences in the future.