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MeeGo Conference 2010/Unconference

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== What is an Unconference and Why should I attend? ==
== What is an Unconference and Why should I attend? ==
-
We've been getting a lot of questions about the unconference day from people who aren't convinced that it is worth their time to attend. [[Users:Dawnfoster|I]] have attended many unconferences and organized several of them, and I can honestly say that I usually get as much, if not more, out of them than I do from traditional conferences.
+
We've been getting a lot of questions about the unconference day from people who aren't convinced that it is worth their time to attend. [[User:Dawnfoster|I (Dawn)]] have attended many unconferences and organized several of them, and I can honestly say that I usually get as much, if not more, out of them than I do from traditional conferences.
=== Brief Description ===
=== Brief Description ===
An unconference is an ad-hoc gathering organized by the attendees for the attendees. The concept originated out of a desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos and interaction from participants. You never quite know what to expect at an unconference, since each one is shaped by the attendees. When you arrive on Wednesday morning, there will be an agenda framework (times / rooms), but the content for the sessions will be decided by the participants.
An unconference is an ad-hoc gathering organized by the attendees for the attendees. The concept originated out of a desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos and interaction from participants. You never quite know what to expect at an unconference, since each one is shaped by the attendees. When you arrive on Wednesday morning, there will be an agenda framework (times / rooms), but the content for the sessions will be decided by the participants.
 +
 +
=== Why should I attend ===
 +
* Anyone can present or lead a discussion, so you can talk about any topic of interest to you.
 +
* If you submitted a session, and it wasn't approved for the main conference, but you still think it would be interesting, you can present it here.
 +
* It's a great opportunity to follow up on a topic presented in the first days.
 +
* Use the time to collaborate with people on an interesting MeeGo project.
 +
* We have a community of interesting smart people, so we should expect plenty of interesting sessions.
 +
* The flexible format allows for interesting out of the box ideas and ways to accommodate different formats.
 +
* You are encouraged to use the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Two_Feet#Law_of_Two_Feet Law of Two Feet] - if you go to a session and it isn't what you had hoped, you are encouraged to get up and move to another session.
=== More information ===
=== More information ===
-
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XlqEDIJzfw What is BarCamp? video]
+
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XlqEDIJzfw What is BarCamp? video] - short and worth your time to watch.
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcamp BarCamp Wikipedia entry] with some history and other information.
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcamp BarCamp Wikipedia entry] with some history and other information.
 +
== Session Ideas ==
 +
 +
'''IMPORTANT: Adding a session to the list below does not reserve a spot on the schedule board on Wednesday. The only way to guarantee a schedule slot is by showing up early and putting your session on the grid in person. See the schedule section below for more details.'''
 +
 +
=== Tips for Presenters ===
 +
 +
* Discussion formats work slightly better than standard conference presentations. Leading a group of people in a discussion is much more interactive and gives people a nice break from the past 2 days of presentations.
 +
* Prepare in advance - if you plan to lead a session, prepare as you would for any other conference.
 +
* Respect people's time and do not allow your session to run longer than scheduled. Other people will be waiting to get into the room to set up for the next session.
 +
 +
=== I plan to present ... ===
 +
 +
Leave a note with the topic you plan to present along with your name and a link to more information about yourself.
 +
 +
* The title of an example topic description --[[User:Dawnfoster|Dawnfoster]] 22:09, 21 September 2010 (UTC)
 +
 +
=== I would like to see someone talk about ... ===
 +
 +
Have something that you want to see someone else talk about? Feel free to use this space to brainstorm topics.
 +
 +
* Tips for contributing code to MeeGo and getting it accepted --[[User:Dawnfoster|Dawnfoster]] 22:09, 21 September 2010 (UTC)
 +
 +
== Schedule ==
 +
 +
=== Timing ===
 +
 +
* 9:00 - 9:15: Welcome - What is an unconference and how do I participate?
 +
* 9:15 - 9:45: Schedule board open - people post sessions on the grid.
 +
* 9:45 - 10:00: Adjustments (combine duplicates, adjust rooms, etc.)
 +
* 10:00 - 10:45: Session
 +
* 11:00 - 11:45: Session
 +
* 12:00 - 12:45: Session
 +
* 12:45 - 13:45: Lunch and networking
 +
* 13:45 - 14:30: Session
 +
* 14:45 - 15:30: Session
 +
* 15:30 - 16:00: We need to be out of Aviva no later than 16:00.
 +
* 17:45: Doors open for the Ireland / Norway Football game.
 +
 +
=== Schedule Grid and Process for Scheduling Sessions ===
 +
 +
We will have a big grid on the wall where people can post their session ideas on the morning of the event (no sessions reserved in advance). Make sure you arrive on time if you plan to lead a session!
 +
 +
To Schedule a Session:
 +
* The schedule board will open up after the welcome is completed.
 +
* Write your topic in big letters on your post it note.
 +
* Include your contact information in smaller letters (name and cell phone or email address)
 +
* Put your post it note on the board picking a room and time that looks good to you.
 +
* Make sure that big meaty topics are in large rooms with niche topics in small rooms.
-
I prefer to use a big grid on the wall where people can post their session ideas on the morning of the event (no sessions reserved in advance). This helps people arrive on time and avoids any last minute thrash when people submit something and then don't show up for the unconference day. I usually try to encourage people to think about topics that they plan to propose and to do some preparation work before arriving at the unconference day. I also encourage people to lead discussions rather that presentations, since the discussion format seems to work a little better for unconferences. We'll have projectors for people who do have some presentation materials or who want to do a demo, but we should encourage discussions as much as possible.
+
Things to keep in mind:
 +
* The schedule board is dynamic and may change at any time during the day.
 +
* The schedule board on the wall is always the master.
 +
* We may need to move sessions, so make sure you double check the board to make sure that you are going to the right room / time for the session you want to attend.
 +
* Sessions that seem very similar may be asked to combine.
 +
* We reserve the right to move things around to make sure that popular topics have large rooms.
-
Here's what I'm thinking (times are flexible - just an example):
 
-
Early am: we set up a big grid on the wall - I've typically used painters tape to make the grid & we use post it notes and sharpie pens for people to write their sessions down. Put a big sign on the board that people can start posting after the welcome (9:15am)
 
-
9:00am - 9:15am: Welcome - What is an unconference and how do I participate?
 
-
9:15am - 9:45am: People write sessions on post it's and put them on the board - these can be adjusted throughout the day
 
-
9:45am - 10:00am: We take a quick look at the board & make adjustments - work with people to combine duplicate talks and make sure that big meaty topics are in large rooms with niche topics in small rooms.
 
-
10:00am - 11:00am: Session
 
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11:00am - Noon: Session
 
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Noon - 1:00pm: Lunch
 
-
...
 
-
I prefer to do 45 minute sessions with a 15 minute break between sessions for conversations. Having unconference sessions packed together too closely doesn't tend to work as well in my experience.
+
== Requirements ==
-
We might also want to have people update a copy of the session board in a wiki or other online system; however, the paper board should always be the master, but an online copy makes it more convenient. If we do this, we should identify a couple of volunteers who make sure that the board / online version stay in sync.
+
* Rooms
 +
* A bunch of 4x6" post it notes
 +
* A schedule board pre-printed with times and rooms with spaces large enough to accommodate 4x6" post it notes (alternative is painter's tape & a wall)
 +
* Sharpie pens
== Organizing Team ==
== Organizing Team ==
-
* Lead: [[Users:Dawnfoster|Dawn Foster]]
+
* Lead: [[User:Dawnfoster|Dawn Foster]]
-
* Notes / wiki organizer - put a process in place to allow people to take notes and maintain a copy of the schedule in the wiki.
+
* Notes / wiki organizer - put a process in place to allow people to take notes and maintain a copy (physical board is the master) of the schedule in the wiki.
 +
* Schedule volunteers - 2 people (2 shifts - each working half the day) to help manage the schedule board, help people get things scheduled, update schedule changes in the wiki copy, etc.
 +
* Note taking volunteers - each session needs one or more people to take notes and put them in the wiki

Revision as of 22:09, 21 September 2010

Work in process - not anywhere close to done, but saving periodically to avoid rework

Day 3 of the MeeGo Conference will be primarily an unconference run in the BarCamp style. We will also have one room with scheduled activities running in parallel to the unconference for Birds of a Feather sessions, lightning talks and similar activities.

Contents

What is an Unconference and Why should I attend?

We've been getting a lot of questions about the unconference day from people who aren't convinced that it is worth their time to attend. I (Dawn) have attended many unconferences and organized several of them, and I can honestly say that I usually get as much, if not more, out of them than I do from traditional conferences.

Brief Description

An unconference is an ad-hoc gathering organized by the attendees for the attendees. The concept originated out of a desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos and interaction from participants. You never quite know what to expect at an unconference, since each one is shaped by the attendees. When you arrive on Wednesday morning, there will be an agenda framework (times / rooms), but the content for the sessions will be decided by the participants.

Why should I attend

  • Anyone can present or lead a discussion, so you can talk about any topic of interest to you.
  • If you submitted a session, and it wasn't approved for the main conference, but you still think it would be interesting, you can present it here.
  • It's a great opportunity to follow up on a topic presented in the first days.
  • Use the time to collaborate with people on an interesting MeeGo project.
  • We have a community of interesting smart people, so we should expect plenty of interesting sessions.
  • The flexible format allows for interesting out of the box ideas and ways to accommodate different formats.
  • You are encouraged to use the Law of Two Feet - if you go to a session and it isn't what you had hoped, you are encouraged to get up and move to another session.

More information

Session Ideas

IMPORTANT: Adding a session to the list below does not reserve a spot on the schedule board on Wednesday. The only way to guarantee a schedule slot is by showing up early and putting your session on the grid in person. See the schedule section below for more details.

Tips for Presenters

  • Discussion formats work slightly better than standard conference presentations. Leading a group of people in a discussion is much more interactive and gives people a nice break from the past 2 days of presentations.
  • Prepare in advance - if you plan to lead a session, prepare as you would for any other conference.
  • Respect people's time and do not allow your session to run longer than scheduled. Other people will be waiting to get into the room to set up for the next session.

I plan to present ...

Leave a note with the topic you plan to present along with your name and a link to more information about yourself.

  • The title of an example topic description --Dawnfoster 22:09, 21 September 2010 (UTC)

I would like to see someone talk about ...

Have something that you want to see someone else talk about? Feel free to use this space to brainstorm topics.

  • Tips for contributing code to MeeGo and getting it accepted --Dawnfoster 22:09, 21 September 2010 (UTC)

Schedule

Timing

  • 9:00 - 9:15: Welcome - What is an unconference and how do I participate?
  • 9:15 - 9:45: Schedule board open - people post sessions on the grid.
  • 9:45 - 10:00: Adjustments (combine duplicates, adjust rooms, etc.)
  • 10:00 - 10:45: Session
  • 11:00 - 11:45: Session
  • 12:00 - 12:45: Session
  • 12:45 - 13:45: Lunch and networking
  • 13:45 - 14:30: Session
  • 14:45 - 15:30: Session
  • 15:30 - 16:00: We need to be out of Aviva no later than 16:00.
  • 17:45: Doors open for the Ireland / Norway Football game.

Schedule Grid and Process for Scheduling Sessions

We will have a big grid on the wall where people can post their session ideas on the morning of the event (no sessions reserved in advance). Make sure you arrive on time if you plan to lead a session!

To Schedule a Session:

  • The schedule board will open up after the welcome is completed.
  • Write your topic in big letters on your post it note.
  • Include your contact information in smaller letters (name and cell phone or email address)
  • Put your post it note on the board picking a room and time that looks good to you.
  • Make sure that big meaty topics are in large rooms with niche topics in small rooms.

Things to keep in mind:

  • The schedule board is dynamic and may change at any time during the day.
  • The schedule board on the wall is always the master.
  • We may need to move sessions, so make sure you double check the board to make sure that you are going to the right room / time for the session you want to attend.
  • Sessions that seem very similar may be asked to combine.
  • We reserve the right to move things around to make sure that popular topics have large rooms.


Requirements

  • Rooms
  • A bunch of 4x6" post it notes
  • A schedule board pre-printed with times and rooms with spaces large enough to accommodate 4x6" post it notes (alternative is painter's tape & a wall)
  • Sharpie pens

Organizing Team

  • Lead: Dawn Foster
  • Notes / wiki organizer - put a process in place to allow people to take notes and maintain a copy (physical board is the master) of the schedule in the wiki.
  • Schedule volunteers - 2 people (2 shifts - each working half the day) to help manage the schedule board, help people get things scheduled, update schedule changes in the wiki copy, etc.
  • Note taking volunteers - each session needs one or more people to take notes and put them in the wiki
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