UnConference-Open+Space

=UnConference/Open Space=

What is an UnConference?
An **Unconference or** **Open-space technology** (**OST**) is an approach for hosting meetings, conferences, corporate-style retreats, and community summit events, focused on a specific and important purpose or task—but //beginning// without any formal agenda, beyond the overall purpose or theme.

Why?
Open Space opens up the agenda creation process so that all those gathered can propose sessions. This ‘day-of’ agenda creation ensures that there is direct relevance to those gathered for the meeting.

How does it work?
Typically, an open-space meeting will begin with short introductions by the sponsor. The sponsor introduces the purpose-the purpose of T4 is technology integration in the classroom. The facilitator explains the "self-organizing" process called "open space." Then the group creates the working agenda, as individuals post their issues in bulletin board style. Each individual "convener" of a breakout session takes responsibility for naming the issue, posting it on the bulletin board, assigning it a space and time to meet, and then later showing up at that space and time, kicking off the conversation, and taking notes. These notes are usually compiled into a proceedings document that is distributed physically or electronically to all participants-we will be using this wiki to share session notes.

**//Types of sessions//**//…// > 5-15 minutes of prepared material/comments by the session leader followed by an interactive discussion > Someone identifies a topic they are interested in, others come to join the conversation and an interesting discussion happens > You have a question you want to know the answer to, and you think others in the group could help you answer it. This format could also just be the seed of a conversation. > You have a cool project, a demo, or just something to show and let people play with that is the springboard for all the conversation in the session. Alternatively, you can invite others to bring their own items to show and tell (perhaps with a theme), and everyone takes a turn sharing. > If you’re inclined to teach, this can be simple and effective. Bring the equipment that you need, and have a plan that will let you teach five, ten, or 15 people how to do something all at the same time.
 * **The longer formal presentation**
 * This is tricky, because it’s difficult to make a formal presentation interactive. But if you have a big, well-developed idea you can pull it off.
 * **A short presentation to get things started**
 * **Group discussion**
 * **My Big (or Little) Question**
 * **Show and tell**
 * **Learn how to do X**

The Rules of Open Space
Like all 'laws' or 'principles' at an Unconference, participants should feel free to break any or all of these rules if they feel that they are not contributing to the intellectual rigor or content of the event.
 * 1. Whoever comes are the right people**
 * 2. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have**
 * 3. Whenever it starts is the right time**
 * 4. When it's over, it's over**
 * 5. The Law of Two Feet ("If you are not learning or contributing to a talk or presentation or discussion it is your responsibility to find somewhere where you can contribute or learn").**

**//Advice for everyone at unconference…//**

**Go with the flow** – This event is intended to help you and all the other attendees find the time and space to talk with and learn from each other. **Follow your passion** – Go to the sessions that interest you. **Take responsibility for your own learning** – If there are topics you are really interested in that don’t appear on the agenda at first, you need to put them on there.

**//Advice about leading a session…//** From the [|__UnConference 'Rules' via Scratchpad__]
 * If you convene a session, it is your responsibility to “hold the space” for your session. You hold the space by leading a discussion, by posting a “first question,” or by sharing information about your program. Be the shepherd – stay visible, be as involved as necessary, be a beacon of sanity that guides the group.
 * Ask for help holding the space if you need it. You might, for example, put a session on the board and know that you are so passionate about the topic that it would be better if someone else, someone more objective, facilitates the discussion. Choose someone from your team, or another participant who is interested in the topic.
 * Don’t assume people in the room know more, or less, than you do. You never know who is going to be interested in your session. You might want to start by asking people to hold up their hands if they’ve been involved with the topic for more than five years, for one to five years, or for one year or less.
 * Don’t be upset if only two people show up to your session. Those two people are the ones who share your interest.
 * Don’t feel that you have to “fill” up an hour of time. If what you have to say only takes 15 min and the group has finished interacting–then the session can end. At the start of the conference, we will discuss guidelines for how this can happen.
 * Don’t feel pressure to have everything take “only” an hour. If you start with a short presentation, and then a group conversation gets going, and your discussion needs to continue past an hour – find a way to make this happen. You might be able to keep talking for awhile in the room you are in, or move to another part of the conference area, or post “Part 2” on the agenda At the start of the conference, we will discuss guidelines for how this can happen.
 * Be Brave! Others are interested in making your session work!
 * Do think about the ideas that you want to cover in your session, and how you want to cover them. But don’t feel as though you need to prepare a great deal. (If you’re over-prepared, your session might lose energy.)
 * Experiment with the kind of sessions you lead. There is no such thing as “failure” an an unconference.