What are interactive conference sessions to guide your event?

Interactive conference sessions are sessions that allow all conference attendees to have a say or ask questions. Whether your conference is academic or professional, in-person or virtual, your interactive sessions are sure to impress your attendees when you plan around your goals and organize sessions according to their needs. That’s why we’ve dedicated this article to a number of interactive session ideas for a variety of conference types.

Interactive Conference Sessions Ideas

A discussion-focused interactive conference session can be a great way for participants to connect, solve problems, or brainstorm. Especially if you’re hoping to get participants to come up with some bright ideas, try one of these session ideas:

Roundtable

Roundtables are a classic discussion session. A roundtable discussion sets aside time for small groups to discuss a specific topic or theme. These sessions are usually non-hierarchical and can be a great opportunity to give quieter participants a dedicated space to share their ideas.

Case Study Discussions

Looking for a solution to a problem? Dedicating a case study to the discussion sessions allows participants to gather their thoughts and focus on a solution. When you come together, you’ll have lots of new ideas to consider. More hands make the work easier, after all!

Brainstorm and Ideate

Big dreams need room to breathe! Participants have a lot to offer, but the conference environment doesn’t always allow for collaborative ideation. Creating breakout sessions where participants can use their creativity will lead to new suggestions and help everyone feel heard.

Setting Goals

First comes the brainstorm, and then comes the plan! Whether it’s setting individual, group, or organizational goals, attendees can take a practical approach to the future of their event theme by participating in a breakout session focused on goal setting.

Book Discussion

Are you running an event where the main text or book is central to your attendees’ interests? It’s easy to skip the individual reading experience when you’re in a large group, so this is where a breakout session shines. Provide stimulating questions so that each group has a place to start chatting.

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Examples of breakout sessions at conferences

At a busy conference, not everyone will get the chance to speak at length in front of a large audience. But that’s no reason to assume that attendees can’t share their knowledge in other ways!

Here are some ways to offer presentation opportunities through discussion session examples:

Three-minute thesis

Three-minute thesis sessions are a staple of academic conferences, allowing presenters to share their thesis in a concise and concise manner. Attendees can either register and prepare their presentation in advance, or even register on the day of the conference and give a quick talk.

Demonstration or presentation

Sometimes the best way to understand a new product or idea is to see it in action. If you’re looking to give attendees a closer look at a product, technology solution, or other tangible item, holding breakout sessions can provide better access to individual attendees and the opportunity to ask and answer key questions. Ultimately, this can be the difference that makes the sale possible!

Discussion

Common conference session formats don’t allow for much exchange between presenters. With breakout sessions, presenters can have more freedom to talk about their chosen topic. Or you can create a team-building exercise and divide attendees into groups to strategize around pre-determined topics. Step back from the discussion sessions and let the discussion begin!

Quick Talks

Even the most interesting conference presentations can seem monotonous after a long day. To break up the rhythm of long conference sessions, use a series of quick talks. Invite attendees to share their expertise for 5-10 minutes each and you’ll be surprised at what you’ll learn!

Ask Me Anything (AMA)

Engaged attendees will always have questions that aren’t answered in the main conference session. The solution? An AMA or Ask Me Anything where attendees get direct access to the conference speakers or other experts in a field. The relatively unstructured Q&A sessions allow presenters to talk in more detail based on the interests of the attendees in the room.

Ideas for Discussion Sessions at a Skills Development Conference

Many attendees hope to develop professional skills when they attend a conference. Whether they’re looking to learn something new or refresh old knowledge, here are breakout session ideas to give attendees a way to improve their skills at your conference:

Workshop

Most workshops consist of facilitators and attendees focusing on a specific topic. With one or more experts, workshops can include interactive components as well as presentation components. The best workshops provide attendees with key takeaways that they can apply after the session!

Worksheets

For many people, the best way to remember information is to write it down! Give participants worksheets to fill out in response to prompts during a breakout conference session, or have registrants fill them out in advance to prepare for the discussion. You can pair this idea with other ideas on this list!

Training Session

Training is critical to the operations of any organization, regardless of size. Attendees from a variety of organizations can benefit from learning similar skills to bring back to their teams! A group setting can provide training where attendees have time to ask questions, while also working efficiently through the material.

Role Playing

Practice makes perfect, and what better place to practice than in a separate session? Get creative by providing a hypothetical scenario that attendees might encounter at work. Then, invite attendees to act out these conversations! Afterward, attendees will feel better equipped to tackle the real thing.

Mentoring Session

There are many ways to learn, but nothing beats having a mentor in the field take the time to talk about your specific concerns. Keep the attendance at these mentoring sessions low so attendees get individual attention. You might even consider using an event app that makes booking one-on-one meetings easy for attendees and mentors alike!

Skill Sharing

Every attendee at your conference brings something new to the table. Create a breakout session where each attendee has the opportunity to share their skills, perhaps around a topic or organizational need, and attendees will empower each other with knowledge.

Peer Learning

Similar to skill sharing, some attendees will have skills that other attendees are looking for! Instead of bringing in outside experts, bring in knowledgeable people in the room and encourage them to lead a peer learning session. This can also build team cohesion and help peer leaders keep their skills sharp.

Survey-Based Topics

Are some participants feeling quiet? Live polls are a great way to democratize session decisions and gather attendee feedback in a virtual setting. Then, once you’ve let them choose their breakout session topics, send them out to discuss and get back!

Quick Communicate

Gather groups together and let them chat for 2-5 minutes, before switching who they’re talking to. It would work best if attendees could also book time with each other on the event platform you’re using.

Conclusion

Whether your conference is academic or professional, in-person or virtual, your interactive sessions are sure to impress attendees when you plan around your goals and structure sessions according to their needs.

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