SXSW 2008 Proposal Effective Multitasking

Source: EffectiveMultitasking

See 2008 SXSW Interactive Panel Picker for Effective Multitasking.

Confirmed panelists: Tantek Çelik

Invited: Heather Gold (have mentioned it to her, need to follow-up), Merlin Mann

Suggested panelists: (...)

Outline:

• Zero-tasking reset. Perhaps start with a zero-tasking break for 1 minute, eyes closed, silent, deliberate paced breathing
• Explicit single-tasking call Call for single-tasking attention for 5 minutes, note you'll get more out of the rest of the session.
• Cognitive Load Awareness (2 minutes) noting that different tasks have vastly different cognitive load requirements, being consciously aware of how much cognitive load each kind of task takes will greatly increase your ability to evaluate the multitaskability of any set of tasks, and adjust your multitasking accordingly so you don't "overload" yourself and lose your place.
• incremental multitasking (1 minute) getting effective at n-tasking is a prerequisite to effective n+1-tasking.
• double-tasking how-to. 3 minutes on how to effectively double-task
  • double tasking variants
    • "primary vs. secondary" (meeting/conference/talk vs. emails)
    • "auditory vs. visual" (phone talking vs. typing)
    • others?
  • start with only double-tasking, bouncing between two things, when one "bores" you or "blocks for IO", switch to the other, just keep switching back and forth, don't add more tasks. Get good at this.
• permission to double-task explicitly note that 5 minutes are over, and that those of you that have been itching to multitask and have had the discipline to focus are now encouraged to double-task, listen to session, and pick ONE more thing to do, (e.g. text message on your phone, check your email, check a web-page) but only ONE of those things. For now.
• triple-tasking how-to
• ...
• criticism responses. Insert FISKing of Linda Stone writeups/assertions.
• multitasking crosstraining video games etc.
• homework assignments/challenges multitasking exercises to do while at SXSW in a variety of situations, during panels, in hallways, at parties, at bars, in your hotel room etc. and how to measure your effectiveness, net productivity over time etc.
• ...

SXSW proposal form:

1. Who are You? In 50 words or less, please tell us who you are and why you are qualified to organize this session. Please also give us the best URL for us to link to on the Panel Picker. Tantek Çelik, microformats.org co-founder and former Technorati Chief Technologist. Impromptu guest on the HeatherGoldShow@SXSW on Continuous Partial Attention. http://tantek.com/
2. Tentative Title for the Session. Please limit this title to seven words or less. Catchy titles are always good. Effective Multitasking
3. 50-Word Description. What is the focus of this session? Please make your description as specific as possible within this 50-word framework. Effective Multitasking requires understanding your tendencies and current capabilities, and then training yourself with increasingly challenging multitasking scenarios. This session will walk you step by step from zero-tasking to triple-tasking, with key tips on how to take each step, and when and how to step back when necessary.
4. Three Takeaways. In 50 words or less, list three information-points that attendees will learn from your session. Attendees will learn key tools and techniques for Effective Multitasking: 1) vocabulary for aspects of multitasking, 2) cognitive load awareness, and 3) adaptive multitasking and multitasking exercises, all for use both immediately at SXSW, and upon returning home.
5. Solo Presentation or Panel Format. Is this session a solo presentation (just you) or a panel (three or four speakers, plus a moderator)? Panel Format
6. Other Speakers for the Session. If this proposal is intended to be a panel, who are other potential speakers you would want to include on the panel? Please try to be realistic with your answer -- although realize this is a blue-sky type question (and you do not need to have formally confirmed these names at this stage of the game). Tantek Çelik, Heather Gold, Merlin Mann, Ariel Waldman, Micki Krimmel
7. Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced. What level of audience expertise on the given topic is this session geared to? (Submissions that are geared to "all levels" will be marked as "Beginner" on the Panel Picker interface). Intermediate
8. Technical or Philosophical. Will this session focus on code and other technical matters? Or will it be geared more to philosophical ideas and concepts? philosophical ideas and concepts
9. Category of the Session. From the list of categories below, please select the one that most closely matches the focus of the session you have proposed. If none match your idea, please categorize as "miscellaneous." Next Generation

email proposals to: interpanels at sxsw.com

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