Solution Tree Hybrid Events

A hybrid event is an opportunity for a large school team to experience one of our conferences without traveling or incurring food and lodging costs. Instead, at a convenient location of your choosing, your staff will view a live (or delayed) video stream of keynote and breakout sessions and panel discussions, while enjoying expert on-site facilitation from a PLC associate trained by Richard DuFour, Robert Eaker, and Rebecca DuFour (architects of the Professional Learning Communities at Work™ process).

How does it work?

For a significantly lower per-person cost, rather than travel to the conference, you can host a hybrid event. You make arrangements for the location where the hybrid event will be held for your staff, and we arrange for the facilitator and materials.

Can you walk me through the experience?

Suppose Jane is in charge of professional development (PD) for a remote North Dakota district. She loves Solution Tree conferences and wants to implement the PLC at Work™ process in her district. But the idea of sending her staff to the closest conference (in Lincolnshire, Illinois) is discouraging because of expense, travel time, etc.

She hears Solution Tree is offering a hybrid event that would not require her staff to travel. In fact, instead of a small group traveling and reporting back, her entire staff could experience a PLC at Work™ Institute firsthand from the comfort of her school auditorium. Jane signs up her district to host the live hybrid event.

Jane reserves the location, invites attendees, and ensures the facility is equipped with the proper A/V components. Solution Tree sends the facilitator and a trained hybrid staff member to assist with on-site logistics. Our staff member arrives the day before to complete the event setup. Throughout the event, Jane's staff is able to participate in the event breakout and panel discussions in real time.

• Travel and hotel expenses add up and are not necessary with the hybrid event.
• A hybrid event is easier on your staff. You will not have to ask them to sacrifice personal time.
• All school or district staff, rather than a small team, can participate firsthand.
• The hybrid event is facilitated by an on-site PLC associate who will provide a personalized experience.
• You will benefit from direct access to top authors and PLC experts, like Richard DuFour and Rebecca DuFour, who may be unavailable for on-site PD.

Are these virtual events? Why is this model called a “hybrid” event?

We prefer to use the term hybrid event because this is not going to be like sitting at your computer or watching the conference on TV. This is a multifaceted, participatory, and guided alternative experience that captures the collaborative dynamic of the conference.

What will my staff receive?

Each hybrid event participant will receive an attendee tote bag, a comprehensive binder including printed materials for keynote sessions, Leaders of Learning (summit) or Learning by Doing (institutes), a Solution Tree pen and sticky note booklet, and a certificate of participation (hours dependent on the number of days chosen). If your staff participates in all three days of the hybrid, they are eligible to earn graduate credit through Lynchburg College.

• PLC at Work™ Institute, July 17–19, simulcast from Pasadena, California (Purchase deadline is June 26.)
• PLC at Work™ Institute, July 24–26, simulcast from Orlando, Florida (Purchase deadline is July 3.)
• PLC at Work™ Institute, August 5–7, simulcast from Lincolnshire, Illinois (Purchase deadline is July 15.)

Please note:

The purchase deadline is the date by which your contract must be signed. This allows us enough time to coordinate the materials, facilitator, and logistics.

How long is a hybrid event?

A hybrid event can be one, two, or three days long, depending on your needs and your budget. Day three of a summit or institute typically ends around 12:00 p.m. For the remainder of the day (post-lunch), the on-site facilitator will deliver a customized PD experience. Your staff will benefit from the hybrid event as well as on-site PD.

How many people can attend, and what are the costs?

The hybrid event is designed to be cost-efficient for large groups (a minimum of 160 attendees is required), and up to 500 people can participate. The cost varies according to the number of days.

Does it matter what time zone I'm in?

There is a conference that can be streamed live in nearly every time zone. You may wish to choose your event by considering the dates that work for you, your time zone, and territorial restrictions.

The following chart summarizes whether the hybrid event is available as a live or delayed simulcast for each US time zone and the local time when each begins.

Call Customer Service at 800.733.6786 or email us at hybrids@solution-tree.com. The hybrid events are not available for purchase through our website. Find out if a hybrid event is the right fit for your school or district today!