Lowdown on Unconferences
Andrew ShupingOctober 2010
What are they?
"Happy hour with colleagues, sans beer"
Amy Buckland
http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/access-aej-spring2010.pdf
"What makes an unconference unique is the way it is engineered from the start to enable as much active participation by all attendees as possible." from: http://tinyurl.com/2bq5v6o
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennafreedman/3363355683/in/photostream/
Just like regular conferences, but with some key differences: • Agenda set day of the conference• Everyone participates in an active discussion• More fluid, more easy to change• May also be called camps, like barcamp or librarycamp • Are informal • Free or low cost
Some key tenants: • Whoever comes are the right people• Whatever happens is the only thing that could have• Whenever it starts is the right time• When it’s over, it’s over• Rule of two feet: don't like the topic then walk away
Where did they come from?From the tech industry and open space technology which Wikipedia defines as: "an approach for hosting meetings, conferences, corporate-style retreats and community
summit events, focused on a specific and important purpose or task—but beginning without any formal agenda, beyond the overall purpose or theme."
And this is really where the core tenants of the unconference come from, like the "law of two feet"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83156837@N00/1756495297/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/christajoy42/3416272145/
What do you need?Overall:
1. A need 2. A venue3. A date4. Sponsor or other funds5. Communication tools/logo/publicity/other 6. People
Getting ready:
1. Conversation2. Way to organize:
o emailo wikio Google Group
3. Some people to sort out the logistics4. Be flexible
Funds
For: • Keynote Presenter (if you have one)• Supplies • Food• Space• Schwag
Had:
– $100 from GLA which paid for lunch– ~$50 from Tarver Library to pay for assorted snacks throughout
the day
Tips and tricksDo x, y, and z...no really. Seriously. Z's are really important (as in sleep). • Don't over prepare, difficult for perfectionist but is important• Diversity of roles for planners/facilitators is handy, i.e. someone to
be creative, someone to ask questions, etc. • Library camps/unconferences are casual• Many unconferences are hybrids, and borrow some of the traditional
concepts of a conference (keynotes, registration fees, etc.)• Utilize social software, like wikis• When planning a date/place/time, remember: Every day is a bad day
for somebody. Think of yourself as the host or hostess for this event.
Need to have ready • Room with plenty of chairs • Marker pens• Large sheets of paper• Schedule slots ready to be filled in• Whiteboards• Recycling & trash bins• Nametags • Duck tape • Food• WiFi• Enough power sockets• Hashtags
From: http://work.miramarmike.co.nz/2009/10/how-to-facilitate-barcampunconference.html
Day of Advice
Remember this is new for a lot of folks let them know what they need to do that day, such as: • Helping come up with the schedule• Participation in discussions is encouraged • Help in taking notes
For the organizes remember: • You can't control everything• Things will be stressful in the beginning, but it will happen• “Whatever happens is the only thing that could have”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035678396@N01/4299713318/
Advice for attending a session• Come prepared to share information, ideas and questions.
Unconferences work best when people are willing to share. • In order to encourage the spirit of sharing, use open-ended
questions.• Give everyone an opportunity to share their ideas.• Keep track of ideas that interest you.• Exchange business cards with those people that you want to
continue talking with after the unconference. Consider using the unconference as the start of your conversation with that person.
• Bring whatever you need for taking notes (e.g., paper, pen, laptop, PDA, etc.)
Selections from: http://cnylibrarycamp.wetpaint.com/page/Advice+for+Participants
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahockley/2481722549/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Advice on leading a session
• Create a topic and an angle• Be a good host• Relax and have fun• Continue the conversation
Things to avoid: • Don't walk in without a question• Never assume you know more or less than the audience
Selections from: http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/2006/how-to-run-a-great-unconference-session/
Lib2.0 unconf
LibraryCamp West
Difficulties
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/2788648775/
• Format can create anxiety for some people• Might not look as good on the resume for presenting• Some people just aren't going to be happy
When all is said and done...• Step back• Enjoy the results• Take pictures• Take videos• Learn for the next go round
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9352758@N04/2121437918/
Examples of Unconferences
Master list of Library Camps/Unconferences:
• http://liswiki.org/wiki/Library_Camp Examples:
• http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2008/08/22/library-20-and-beyond-getting-our-hands-dirty-library-unconference/
• http://librarycampperth.wetpaint.com/• http://wiki.oreillynet.com/foocamp06/index.cgi• http://librarycampks.wetpaint.com/• http://thatcamp.org/ • http://denver-stella.pbworks.com/
Selected Resources: Books:
Steve Lawson, tech set forthcoming Michelle BouleOpen Space Technology: A User's Guide
Websites: http://www.openspaceworld.com/users_guide.htmhttp://www.unconference.net/ http://www.openspaceworld.org/http://work.miramarmike.co.nz/2009/10/how-to-facilitate-barcampunconference.html http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2009/02/11/ala-annual-unconference/http://chronicle.com/article/The-Unconference-Technology/65651/http://chimprawk.blogspot.com/2006/07/advice-for-planning-bar-camp.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Space_Technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference
Questions?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76283035@N00/1507585665/
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