what+is+an+unconference

=What is an unconference ?=

An **unconference** is a participant-driven meeting. The term "unconference" has been 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. { source wikipedia}

An Un conference is a “democratic” conference. It is not a normal / traditional conference.

**Anybody who’s been to a traditional conference will tell you that the tea-breaks and the corridor-conversations are the most interesting and important part of a conference. Think of an Unconference as an entire conference that consists only of tea-breaks and corridor-conversations**.

Anybody can speak on any topic that they are passionate about. A wiki or whiteboard is put up with the available rooms and timeslots. People can write down their name and the title of their talk in any available slot. Based on this, the others can decide which talks they want to attend. That’s it. Repeat all day. Democracy.

You’ll wonder, if anybody can speak, how do we ensure quality of speakers and presentations? By the “ [|law of two feet] “. The audience in an Unconference are encouraged to use their two feet and walk away from a talk if it turns out to be boring. People are encouraged to find and create subgroups interested in specific topics, find a room or a corridor, and start discussing – and they often do.

This ensures that everybody finds something interesting, and often something unexpected at an Unconference.

Similar terms for an unconference is Foo camp. Barcamp, Teachmeet, or Edcamp, -


 * Edcamp is an unconference focused on K-12 educators - Un-dayz is a very similar format.**

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=**Un-dayz** - is an unconference!=

As you can see in the previous video, unconferences can be a very powerful tool; experience ; or way of connecting.

What is fundamentally different is that the content of an unconference is participant driven. This is an unconference's greatest advantage but also it's greatest risk. If you come to an unconference thinking that you can be a passive observer you will be disappointed, but if you come to an unconference ready to be an active participant, you will be delighted!

=Lastly .....why? !!!!=

this next video explains that innovation and great ideas are usually the result of sharing openly

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