NYSAIS EdTech Conference Planning Page
From Isenet
Here we go!
"A conference is a gathering of important people who singly can do nothing, but together can decide that nothing can be done." -Fred Allen
One problem with the wiki is that if we organize links, it can be hard at quick glance to see what's new. So maybe things should go by date like a blog, then get filed? Anyone have any ideas for managing this? Let's try:
Contents |
By date
Feb 26, 2007
Dave Winer answers What is an Unconference in an easy to read piece. He also links to an article for newbies attending BloggerCon which explains how to be an active participant.
The fundamental law for an unconference in his article:
The sum of the expertise of the people in the audience is greater than the sum of expertise of the people on stage
Feb 3, 2007
Mega-blogger Stephen Downes writes how he would organize a conference
Planning the UNConference
the unconference invite possibilities
The Unconference invite....here is what the committee has gathered...who wants to take the first stab...
Here is a really good link showing how the BarcampNYC was structured. You can see pictures of the planning board for each day as well as the schedule with room assignments: http://barcamp.org/BarCampNYC2Sessions
by Arvind
The definition of unconference on Wikipedia is quite good:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference
The methods of Open Space Technology is also quite good (pasted below): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Space_Technology Methods
In Open Space, a facilitator explains the process and then participants are invited to co-create the agenda and host their own discussion groups. Discussions are held in designated areas or separate rooms known as 'breakout spaces' and participants are free to move amongst the discussion groups. Each group records the conversations in a form which can be used to distribute or broadcast the proceedings of the meeting (in hard copy, blog, podcast, video, etc). Online networking can occur both before and following the actual face-to-face meetings so discussions can continue seamlessly. In a multi-day Open Space, participants have the opportunity to announce new discussion topics / late-breaking sessions each new morning. At the end of the day (or 2 days or 2.5 days) the full group reconvenes for comments and reflection. This helps participants to re-engage in the full group over the duration of the meeting.
While the mechanics of Open Space provide a simple means to self-organize, it is the underlying principles that make it effective both for meetings and as a guidepost for individual and collective effectiveness. The Law of Two Feet (also known as the Law of Mobility in settings where participants don't necessarily have the use of both feet) -- a foot of passion and a foot of responsibility -- expresses the core idea of taking responsibility for what you love. In practical terms, the law says that if you're neither contributing nor getting value where you are, use your two feet (or available form of mobility) and go somewhere where you can. It is also a reminder to stand up for your passion. From the law, flow four principles:
* 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
The organizing theme of an Open Space meeting is that people who care about the subject will come together. The initial meeting notice takes the form of an invitation, thus the people who have attended have chosen to be there and are willing to contribute. The objectives for the meeting and the time available affect design decisions such as whether action planning is included in the Open Space or not.
by Arvind
For all it's worth, here is some language from which we may pilfer. See text below. I just got this in an email about an American Library Association(ALA) conference I'm planning to attend later this week. I'll definitely have to check it out.
Kathleen
Excerpt from an email I received yesterday:
Do you find that the most useful and energizing session you attend is the ad hoc meeting in the hallway or on break? Do you yearn for a chance to expand on those conversations with colleagues who share your passion for ideas and concepts not necessarily on the formal program? If so, ALA offers Taking Chances: Our Future or Our Demise, a unique Open Space Technology conference within the conference. Come prepared to be surprised as participants organize the agenda, convene the discussion groups, and come away amazed at how intellectually rich and energizing self-organized groups truly can be.
This is not like any session you've seen at... Come and be part of this unique experience. Everyone will be talking about it after the conference. Be part of it. It will be a great learning experience and fun... Put it on your planner today!!!
by Kathleen Ellis
Q for kaliya hamlin
Q When should the keynotes/subkeynotes (Lehman and or Jenkins) speak..ie. what time slots? Q. About the first day should you (Kaliya) have the first session? and should we start the open space session that day...or should we start it the next day..what do you think is better? Q. Does the whole group reconvene every morning to re address the agenda or will all of this happen on the opening day of the conference? Q. Have a look at our timeblocks (2 sessions on day 1, 3 sessions on day2 and 2 sessions on day 3) what might be the best way to proceed with open space looking at these timeblocks? Q. When do we get feedback from people about the sessions that are offered? Q. Should we pole people before the actual conference about what topics they would like to hear about or do a session on....? Q. can you send me a few examples of unconference invites.
Possible conference schedule by kaliya hamlin
Day 1 1pm Welcome by the chairs 5min Opening Keynote 30min + questions?
Introduction of Open Space Facilitator (kaliya).
2pm - who is here some sort of community appropriate introductions and surfacing of information.
2:30 what is open space and making the agenda.
3 - 4pm first session of open space
4-4:30 break
4:30 - 5:30 2nd Open Space Session
5:30-6:00 Break
6-7 3rd Open space session
7pm reception and dinner
An alternative would be to have 15 min breaks and a 30 min space between the last session and dinner.
Day 2
Opening at 9am - (this is best done in a circle).
What happened in the open space sessions yesturday....what new sessions do people want to add?
9:30 - 10:15 first session (sat) 10:30 -11:30 second session (sat) 11:45 - 12:45 third session (sat) 1 - lunch 2- 5 or big break? (is this just totally open? - are you going to have ways for people to sign up for different activities?
Bring people back with the keynote #2 (people won't want to miss this hopefully)
We could after this surface some of what people have learned in the day perhaps
.... move into the mixing with the vendors.
Then to dinner.
This is all just thoughts - we can talk more about what will work for the group and to meet your goals.
Day 3
Opening 9am
What happened yesturday - what do people want to cover / learn today. 9:30 - 10:30 session one (sun) 10:45 - 11:45 session two (sun) 12 - 12:30 closing - what did we learn highlights next steps.
What I put forward - gives you 3 open space sessions the first day. 3 the second day and 2 the last day.
This is 8 over all. A good number.
With open space it is good to have hour long sessions .. if there is more energy behind something people can continue their session into the next time slot. They can also put a part 2 on the agenda.
The next step should be a phone conversation. Monday would work really well for me. I can do basically any time before 5pm your time.
Let me know Warm Regards, =kaliya
Keynote Possibilities
Chris Lehmann - not available...will maybe skype in
danah boyd - not available
Henry Jenkins - his blog, his MIT website - not available
Ken Perlin - http://mrl.nyu.edu/~perlin/
Ken Jordan - http://www.kenjordan.tv/
Jefff Lebow - http://jefflebow.com/- is available
Unconference Links:
Games
Games that we could play at the conference
Barcamp-related
Check out Barcamp for Unconference ideas.
An Open-Source Conference: BarCamp - article discussing how a BarCamp works and how the workshops are run by those who attend
Organizing a BarCamp in Your City - Amit Ranjan's blog post describing the history, context and execution of BarCamp]
The official guide to organizing your own BarCamp
The Rules of BarCamp - "BarCamp is an ad-hoc unconference born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos and interaction from attendees. Anyone with something to contribute or with the desire to learn is welcome and invited to join. When you come, be prepared to share with barcampers. When you leave, be prepared to share it with the world."
Other Links
CNN Money article on how unconferences are shaking up the conference world
kaliyasblogs.net/unconference/
and Dr. Lawrence Lessig’s “Read/Write Society” presentation at Wizards of OS4
What is an Unconference: Find out here http://scripting.wordpress.com/2006/03/05/what-is-an-unconference/
The Life Cyle of Engagement
Pre-Conference: Supporting conference goal development. Development of conference structure and process. Supporting the invitation development for participants and messaging to attendees. Sharing knowledge about social media practices for use before the conference.
At the Conference:
Holding of Space - creating the context for Peer to Peer Learning and the development of shared understanding and meaning.
Facilitation of Open Space Agenda Creation, and Closing circles along with other processes both convergent (like fishbowls and divergent like spectrograms) depending on what is needed to support the community gathered.
Knowledge sharing on social media practices during the event for knowledge capture.
Post-Conference:
A follow up with you the organizers to review the event.
Thinking ahead to the next event.
