What literature is there on how we learn at conferences?
Much has been written about collaborative learning, networking, linear communication & transactional exchange, dialogical learning etc. We attend conferences, listen to lectures, meet (some) people, look at posters, but often we talk about 'learning from and with others'.
- Has anyone really studied the conference setting & what we do in it?
- Has anyone given attention to conferences as a key element of our continuing education practices?
you can meet prestigeous professors and ask questions especially at coffee-breaks. You can arrange a visit to these professor's departments. Before the congress you can be printed cards and give these to collegeous. You can prepare questions about topics before congress.
Binnur: we all know what people say about conferences & many are familiar with this setting. What I am interested in is what specific research or evidence (beyond annecdote) there is to support or explain how (& if) actual learning takes place.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2015 Feb;94(6):e535. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000000535.
Information-seeking behavior during residency is associated with quality of theoretical learning, academic career achievements, and evidence-based medical practice: a strobe-compliant article.
Oussalah A1, Fournier JP, Guéant JL, Braun M.
I can find a paper you may interest
Binnur: Thanks for this article. It mainly addresses information-seeking behavior during residency, and associates this with the quality of theoretical learning. Although it covers articles, textbooks & society guidelines, it only mentions attending conferences in passing as part of 'academic career achievements'. It talks of EBM, but does not discuss conferences, their effective potential for KT, or their place in our continuing education activities.
I have not come across much evidence/RC that explores this, yet conference activities are a massive feature among disciplines & professions, consuming billions of $ every year. If anyone has any sources that discuss conference learning & activity, I would be glad to hear from you :-)
In addition to the previous answers, I learn by getting feedback on my paper (especially when other scholars in the subdiscipline catch any mistakes I made). I try to get an expanded version of every conference paper I present published, so I use the conference presentation as a form of peer review.
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