Unconference
Encyclopedia
An unconference is a participant-driven meeting. The term "unconference" has been applied, or self-applied, to a wide range of gatherings that try to avoid one or more aspects of a conventional conference, such as high fees, sponsored presentations, and top-down organization. For example, in 2006, CNNMoney applied the term to diverse events including Foo Camp
, BarCamp
, Bloggercon
, and Mashup Camp.
held since the 1930s, events which include many members of the geek community.
Harrison Owen developed the Open Space Technology
format/method in the mid 1980's.
He published Open Space Technology: a User's Guide, in 1993. This book discussed many of the techniques now associated with unconferences, although his book does not use the term "unconference." The term unconference first appeared in an announcement for the annual XML developers conference in 1998.
The term was used by Lenn Pryor when discussing BloggerCon
and was popularized by Dave Winer
, the organizer of BloggerCon, in an April 2004 writeup. The first BloggerCon was October 4-5, 2003.
FooCamp is an invitation-only event for the Friends of O'Reilly that was created by Tim O'Reilly
and Sara Winge the VP of Corporate Communications for O'Reilly Media
. Sara drew on her experience of open space and conversations with Harrison Owen to develop the format. The first one happened October 10-12, 2003. In 2005 some of the attendees from previous years decided to produce their own "Bar" Camp
.
These three different events, BloggerCon, FooCamp and BarCamp were all part of popularizing the term "unconference". Foo and Bar Camp in particular popularized the form where "there is no agenda until .. the attendees made one up."
Foo Camp
Foo Camp is an annual hacker event hosted by publisher O'Reilly Media. O'Reilly describes it as "the wiki of conferences", where the program is developed by the attendees at the event, using big whiteboard schedule templates that can be rewritten or overwritten by attendees to optimize the schedule...
, BarCamp
BarCamp
BarCamp is an international network of user-generated conferences . They are open, participatory workshop-events, the content of which is provided by participants. The first BarCamps focused on early-stage web applications, and were related to open source technologies, social protocols, and open...
, Bloggercon
BloggerCon
BloggerCon was a user-focused conference for the blogger community that ran between 2003 and 2006. BloggerCon I and II , were organized by Dave Winer and friends at Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for the Internet and Society in Cambridge, Mass. Bloggercon III took place in San Francisco on...
, and Mashup Camp.
History
Many unconference features match the characteristics of the traditional science fiction conventionScience fiction convention
Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and...
held since the 1930s, events which include many members of the geek community.
Harrison Owen developed the Open Space Technology
Open Space Technology
Open-space technology is 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.- Law of two feet :If at any time you find...
format/method in the mid 1980's.
He published Open Space Technology: a User's Guide, in 1993. This book discussed many of the techniques now associated with unconferences, although his book does not use the term "unconference." The term unconference first appeared in an announcement for the annual XML developers conference in 1998.
The term was used by Lenn Pryor when discussing BloggerCon
BloggerCon
BloggerCon was a user-focused conference for the blogger community that ran between 2003 and 2006. BloggerCon I and II , were organized by Dave Winer and friends at Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for the Internet and Society in Cambridge, Mass. Bloggercon III took place in San Francisco on...
and was popularized by Dave Winer
Dave Winer
Dave Winer is an American software developer, entrepreneur and writer in New York City. Winer is noted for his contributions to outliners, scripting, content management, and web services, as well as blogging and podcasting...
, the organizer of BloggerCon, in an April 2004 writeup. The first BloggerCon was October 4-5, 2003.
FooCamp is an invitation-only event for the Friends of O'Reilly that was created by Tim O'Reilly
Tim O'Reilly
Tim O'Reilly is the founder of O'Reilly Media and a supporter of the free software and open source movements.-Life and career:...
and Sara Winge the VP of Corporate Communications for O'Reilly Media
O'Reilly Media
O'Reilly Media is an American media company established by Tim O'Reilly that publishes books and Web sites and produces conferences on computer technology topics...
. Sara drew on her experience of open space and conversations with Harrison Owen to develop the format. The first one happened October 10-12, 2003. In 2005 some of the attendees from previous years decided to produce their own "Bar" Camp
BarCamp
BarCamp is an international network of user-generated conferences . They are open, participatory workshop-events, the content of which is provided by participants. The first BarCamps focused on early-stage web applications, and were related to open source technologies, social protocols, and open...
.
These three different events, BloggerCon, FooCamp and BarCamp were all part of popularizing the term "unconference". Foo and Bar Camp in particular popularized the form where "there is no agenda until .. the attendees made one up."
Styles of facilitation
An unconference can be conducted using a number of different facilitation styles. Some of these are:- BarcampBarCampBarCamp is an international network of user-generated conferences . They are open, participatory workshop-events, the content of which is provided by participants. The first BarCamps focused on early-stage web applications, and were related to open source technologies, social protocols, and open...
- Birds of a FeatherBirds of a Feather (computing)In computing, BoF can refer to:* An informal discussion group. Unlike special interest groups or working groups, BoFs are informal and often formed in an ad-hoc manner...
- Fishbowl (conversation)Fishbowl (conversation)A fishbowl conversation is a form of dialog that can be used when discussing topics within large groups. Fishbowl conversations are usually used in participatory events like Open Space Technology and Unconferences. The advantage of Fishbowl is that it allows the entire group to participate in a...
- Knowledge CafeKnowledge CafeA knowledge café or World Café is a type of business meeting or organisational workshop which aims to provide an open and creative conversation on a topic of mutual interest to surface their collective knowledge, share ideas and insights, and gain a deeper understanding of the subject and the...
- Lightning TalkLightning TalkA Lightning Talk is a short presentation given at a conference or similar forum. Unlike other presentations, lightning talks last only a few minutes and several will usually be delivered in a single period by different speakers.-History and format:...
s - Open Space TechnologyOpen Space TechnologyOpen-space technology is 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.- Law of two feet :If at any time you find...
- Pecha KuchaPecha KuchaPecha Kucha is a presentation methodology in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each, usually seen in a multiple-speaker event called a Pecha Kucha Night ....
- Speed GeekingSpeed geekingSpeed geeking is a participation process used to quickly view a number of presentations within a fixed period of time. Speed geeking gets its name from speed dating, since they both employ similar techniques.- Method :...
- TeachMeetTeachMeetA TeachMeet is an organised but informal meeting for teachers to share good practice, practical innovations and personal insights in teaching with technology...
- World Café