The Crossroads Model

As we've attended various professional conferences over the years, we've noticed an interesting phenomenon—the most animated, high-quality conversations often take place outside the meeting rooms. In coffee shops, in hallways, and on furniture pulled to one side of an unoccupied ballroom, pairs or small groups gather to engage in energetic discussions. That made us wonder, why not make these collaborative conversations the centerpiece of a conference, rather than something people have to sneak away to accomplish?

We knew that we were not alone in being frustrated by attending conferences, hoping to be inspired by energizing and innovative ideas, only to find ourselves sitting through didactic presentations. Most educators thrive on genuine, face-to-face encounters with other people. When professional development fails to deliver such interactions, we feel cheated.