This document discusses unconferences, which are conferences without a predefined schedule or agenda. Unconferences are attendee-driven and aim to incorporate the best aspects of conferences like hallway conversations while avoiding poorer qualities. Examples of unconferences discussed include ScienceOnline 2009, which developed its program collaboratively on a wiki, and involved public discussion of sessions. The document suggests discussing advantages and disadvantages of conferences/conversations in small groups to help design interactions that incorporate the helpful qualities.

1. Unconferences
Alice Pawley, David Radcliffe
School of Engineering Education
February 19, 2009
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2. Once upon a time...
...there was a conference...
...where there was enough time to talk....
...where the sessions were all interesting....
... where I learned many new things...
... where the hallway conversations were the
conference session...
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3. “What was this strange conference?”
you ask.
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4. It was an unconference.
What do you think that means?
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5. In small groups...
Worst things about conferences...
Best things about conferences....
Report out
Capture ideas online...
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6. In small groups...
When your time was wasted at conferences?
When your time was well spent at conferences?
Report out
Capture ideas online...
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7. In unconferences....
Presenter is facilitator
Attendees are presenters
Take as given that:
The sum of the expertise of the people in the
audience is greater than the sum of expertise of
the people on stage.
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8. Models:
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9. Models: ScienceOnline 2009
Conference program developed
transparently on wiki
Built collaboratively by attendees
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10. Models: ScienceOnline 2009
Conference sessions
involve public
discussion beforehand
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11. Models: ScienceOnline 2009
Conversations continue
after the conference is over
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12. Models: Postcards
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13. The real conference
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14. Conference Postcards
Same Time Different Time
What is being presented at the
Different Place
Different Place
conference?
I cannot attend the
conference because my What was that interesting
fish died …… paper at the conference?
Postcards
Communicate
with
Persistence
Same Place
Same Place
Few saw my
presentation
or poster Groovy Postcard dude
Different Time
Same Time
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15. 15

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17. Five Minutes of Fame
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18. Postcard Invitation
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19. How can we design interactions...
to incorporate the helpful qualities
and avoid the poorer qualities
of conferences/conversations?
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20. In small groups again...
Advantages Disadvantages
Report out
captured online
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21. More resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference
http://www.bloggercon.org/II/newbies
http://scripting.wordpress.com/2006/03/05/what-is-an-unconference/
http://scienceonline09.com
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22. Thanks for playing!
--Alice and David
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