This program was presented by staff from the Brooklyn Public Library and Darien Library. After a rocky start (the speakers didn't know how to use a mic or at least speak into it and the powerpoint slides only showed the background of the slides - no content and the speakers blamed the computer for their problems), the program got considerably worse. I wish they had comment cards because I would have commented on the irony of three people who have zero presentation skills and presenting at conference were giving a presentation about conferences!
Anyway - whereas there wasn't much to this, I did get this:
- Unconferences are structed/unstructured conferences that are planned from the bottom up versus top down.
- A Wiki (or some kind of similar communication tool) is set up to ask for session ideas for the unconference. People are also asked to include the topics on which they are capable of speaking/facilitating.
- The organizers to through the suggestions and create a conference schedule based on the most popular session topics (voted on by staff). They assign a facilitator to each session based on what expertise people said they had.
- Logistics are set up to accomodate several programs.
- People can go to whatever program they choose and if *they* are not contributing to the program they should go to something else.
- No PPTs, no agenda, you show up at the topic of your choice and talk with whomever is there about that topic.
Sounds interesting actually.
Michelle
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Hmmmm. I don't like the idea of attending a conference where I'm not sure what will be presented and if I'm not "contributing" I should be somewhere else. Did I read that right?
ReplyDeleteI like contributing! I'm just saying, if I don't have something to contribute, I still want to stay and learn.
I feel like it sends the message of being unprepared (no topics) and makes it difficult to encourage individuals to want to attend the training (since a "Value" of learning can't be determined wihtout subject matter).
I prefer having people prepared with valuable info. and sharing what they have. If there's time I like to hear what other attendees can contribute (but I've paid to hear the presenter).
Just my two cents - maybe because it's late on desk and I haven't let their ideas have time to percolate.
That's so funny - having so many problems with communication when they didn't have their presentation in order!
ReplyDeleteSounds very organic - unmeetings...unconferences...