AAR cameos

Today was a good AAR day, perhaps because I took advanage of a recently permitted session format. There are still many panels with 20-minute presentations, respondents and Q&A (mine yesterday was one) but there are also freer form ones with a larger number of presenters, each given just five minutes or so. Since 20 minutes isn't really enough time for an in-depth account of interesting new research anyway, this seems a better use of conference time - and it's definitely more fun! I started the day with a panel which was supposed to have ten presenters, on top of the presider and respondent! Two were unable to attend but it was still a problem for a room set up for four presenters. Next came the one above, with eight presenters. Both were fireworks displays of different approaches and styles of presentation, which also left time for much more audience participation in the ensuing conversation. Intead of hearing six or eight voices, I heard more like thirty-six. Isn't that why one wants to be at a conference like AAR anyway?