Making an Unconference Work for You

How many times have you sat in a conference presentation or inservice feeling like you were not getting your needs met? How often have you wished during a presentation you could ask a question, get clarification, make a comment or get other expert feedback about the topic being discussed- but the format just didn't support that kind of interaction?

Well thanks to the visionary planning of the Learning 2.0 conference organizers, this conference is structured differently. Presenters will be using an unconference format that will personalize your experience. During our time together in Shanghai the presenters will be modeling both traditional and unconference style presentations. For the most part, my sessions will be very unconference in style.

What Does Unconference Mean?

Alvin Toffler said, "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." Unlearning is at the heart of unconferences. They are about pushing the boundaries, coming out of our comfort zones and getting use to the unexpected. Realizing it is not business as usual, but business as unusual and that it is O-K-.

Unconference is a term that basically means customizable or organic in design. It is emergent in design. The conversation is facilitated to go in the direction that participants feel it should go. Presenters and attendees share equal responsibility in making the session a success.

My Sessions

The Introduction to 21st Century Learning during Session 1 will be a bit more structured in that I will present for about 35 minutes looking at what, why, and trends shaping our changing learning landscape. Then, I will open up to 10 minutes of Q&A where I hope you will help push the discussion where it needs to go.

However, Overcoming Obtacles in a Web 2.0 World and Virtual Learning Communities of Change will both be designed around 15-20 minutes of concept building and an equal amount of time given to your questions, thoughts and comments. Come with questions and ideas to share.

The Congratulations! Your are Time Magazine "Person of the Year" session will be 10 minutes of presentation and then the rest of the session will be a panel discussion from presenters from around the world.

Finally, the Keeping Up with the Net Generation session will be all unconference. We can even change the topic when we meet if you choose.

Collaborating Together

Socrates said, “Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.” Boy will that be true for the content being produced in this conference!
In 21st Century terms that means bloggers! Those of you following this conference through Ning, Blogs, Twitter and other electronic communication tools are encouraged to weigh in on the conversation in each presentation in the forum section of Ning.

Just click on a session and then click on the presenter title of the topic you want to discuss. Ask questions, push back a little, or add your 2 cents. I look forward to collaborating with both f2f participants and those of you attending virtually from around the globe.

Click on the tag for the most up-to-date schedule for sessions and strands

Session 1 (9:00am) | Session 3 (11:15am) | Session 4 (1:15pm)
Session 6 (3:15pm) | Session 7 (9:00am) | Session 8 (10:15)

Comments

[Lisa Parisi]

Thank you so much, Sheryl, for helping to make this conference so accessible, even to those of us who aren't attending. Talk about an unconference!

[Karen Janowski]

Sheryl,
I look forward to participating from a distance (8,000 miles?)
Would love to hear the actual conversations as you push the conference boundaries in Shanghai.

(one question - what is the source of the cartoon at the top?)

[Ewan McIntosh]

If you're thinking of putting on an unconference yourself then you'll find these tips handy:
http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/2007/08/10-top-tips-for.html

There's a good few years' worth of 'unorganising' experience in there ;-) Hope it's helpful.