This is a quick thank you to the 2,046 participants in Learning 2011.  And, to the over 11,000 colleagues around the world that followed my Design Blog.

It was quite different to be this transparent about the Design Decisions and even challenges in creating an event like Learning 2011.  Thanks for your interest and support.

In the next week, we will post many assets including:

• Learning Cotent is already up in droves at http://www.learningwiki.com 
• Video from Learning 2011 will be posted in the next 10 days.
• Dates for Learning 2012 are: Oct 21 to 24th at Walt Disney World.  Registration will open next week for people wanting to use 2011 funds.
• I will post an in-depth Design Debrief on this blog in the next few days.

Once again, thanks!  And, it is an honor to be in touch with so many cool

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When we launched this Design Blog, I said that designing Learning 2011 was much like organizing a Wedding.  Except, for 2,000 people :)

And, with 36 hours to go, I feel like the Father (and Mother) of the Bride (and the Groom).  Why? Because, just like a wedding, there are always small changes at the last minute:

• One of our workshop speakers has a sinus infection, so they can't fly across the country.  (We will cancel that one - there are 239 others to choose from - and we can always get a video from him later).
• One of our facilitators has to fly back to Washington DC for a few hours on Monday, to be with a Cabinet member and then return to Orlando for his workshop.  (OK, we will punt and breathe deep).
• One of our General Session Speakers, Antonia Galindo, was pulled away at the

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It takes a village to produce Learning 2011.  And, this year the team is even larger and more complex.

We are now at Disney and the build for Learning 2011 is already underway:

• 20 AV people are rigging lights, screens, speakers and the entire stage area - as the AV company works with 4 other groups providing staging, electricity and more.
• We just finished a meeting with President Clinton's advance team, Secret Service and Disney to go over the logistics for security for his visit to Learning 2011 on Monday afternoon.
• Content is being delivered by faculty in over 240 sessions - and our Program Team is hard at work putting the final tweaks on the logistics.
• Wireless is being lit up as well as increased access for Cell Phones throughout the property.

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With just 4 days until Learning 2011, all the details are coming together. My train trip down to Orlando was delightful. Advance teams from our keynoters are in Orlando, catering and facility details are coming together and we are doing the final logistics of the event.

And, there was time for just one more piece of video to the 2,046 participants registered for Learning 2011.  So, Debbie, our event manager, held my iPad as a camera - in the lobby of the Coronado Springs Convention Center at Disney, while I sent a quick message to our participants.

My design model is to keep our participants engaged not just at the event, but before and afterwards.  So, we are using these videos and even this blog, as a mechanism to make our design transparent and part of the ramp up for 3 1/2

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With one week to go until Learning 2011, what are the design decisions still open? 

First, comes the content of the General Sessions.  Today and tomorrow, I will have conversations about each of the Keynoters - getting a fresh focus on what they will be talking about - and "micro-shaping" their content to the needs of 2,000 colleagues:

President Clinton Speechwriter: I created a major brief for the
President on the audience, key issues in the learning field and spent a 1/2 hour with his speechwriter - anwering their questions to help the President shape his remarks.  There are so many connections between Learning 2011 and his work, including Employability, Globalization and evolving methods of Learning.

Next, I had conversations with keynoters from Educause and Creative Commons,

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Timing is everything!  Today we got exciting news.  President Bill Clinton, our keynoter at Learning 2011, will be releasing his new book on the morning after his speech in Orlando. 

On November 8th, "Back to Work" will be published - focusing on President Clinton's views on how to get the economy and job creation recharged.

President Clinton's keynote, followed by my interview with him, will begin at 6 PM on Monday, November 7th at Learning 2011 in Orlando.  All participants will be able to attend and we have made special arrangements for family members accompanying them to attend - after checking in with us at Registration.  

Reminder, for security reasons, all participants must be seated no later than 5:45 PM and we are asking that everyone bring official photo

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Designing a Tablet Skin?  Huh??

Using my iPad Tablet in front of 2,000 people - instead of notes - raised an interesting question for me.  Do I promote Apple with the familiar logo or do I add my own branding. 

My friend and Producer of Godspell, Ken Davenport, sent me as an investor a special case for my iPhone, so I thought - why not "Skin" my iPad with a Learning logo.  This arrived today - and Lauren the designer sent it to me while I was at a Board of Trustees meeting:

Cool!  Now my tablet has our own branding on it - as do 5 other iPads of my staff.  Cost was about $35 a piece and it can come off after the event.  Reminds me of the printed cards that Oprah and other hosts have with content and questions for their guests. 

These are just a few of the small design details

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21,280 Buttons Were Printed for 2,000 Learning 2011 Participants.

30 Words, Phrases & Pictures ... Another Form of Social Media ...Wearable Profiles