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What to Expect at the Unconference
What should expect when attending the Oracle Unconference. Here are a few pointers.
How do I secure a slot for my session?
You can put your session proposals on the wiki prior to the conference. In order to secure your slot, however, please show up Monday morning (or any other morning) and put your session on the grid for any day of the week.
Preparation
- Be ready to participate - come with an idea for a session you can lead. You don't have to be an expert at your topic; as long as it's not too specific, there'll probably be someone else present who can help you out. You can also contribute to the conversation during a session. This is a great way to participate, since it spreads knowledge from everyone, instead of just the leader.
- Reserve a slot on the Unconference Agenda Board in front of the OTN Lounge (Moscone West 3rd Floor) with a post-it.
- If you have something to present that requires the use of a computer, please bring your own laptop. We will provide you with a projector and whiteboard.
At the event
- Find the unconference near the OTN Lounge (for directions, see ...)
- Check out the grid for what sessions are already planned and when
- Suggest your your own topic/session
- Participate in the conversation
- Take notes and share them on the wiki
- Blog about it (tag: openworld07)
- Take photos/video and share it (tag: openworld07)
- Mingle with fellow unconferenceers
FAQ
What is an unconference?
An unconference is a conference where the content of the sessions is driven and created by the participants, generally day-by-day during the course of the event, rather than by a single organizer, or small group of organizers, in advance (Source: Wikipedia). Unconferences came from the realization that "the sum of the expertise of the people in the audience is greater than the sum of expertise of the people on stage" (Source: Dave Winer). At the Oracle Unconference, we invite anyone who has something to contribute or who wants to learn.What should the session formats look like?
We highly encourage interactive formats that engage the audience in fun and creative ways, rather than the same old, same old (read "death by PowerPoint") that we often find at traditional top-down conferences. However, participants are free to choose whichever format works best for them. In the end, the audience will decide whether or not they find it compelling.What is the "Law of Two Feet"?
The Law of Two Feet expresses the core idea of taking responsibility for what you want to get out of an event such as an unconference. In practical terms, the law says that if you're neither contributing nor getting value where you are, use your two feet (or available form of mobility) and go somewhere where you can. (Source: Wikipedia)How do I secure a slot for my session?
You can put your session proposals on the wiki prior to the conference. In order to secure your slot, however, please show up Monday morning (or any other morning) and put your session on the grid for any day of the week.How to deal with scheduling conflicts?
If the day of the unconference more sessions are assigned to a certain time slot than there are rooms available, we kindly ask our participants to figure out ways to swap things around. It is not uncommon that sessions can be combined, too, if they cover related topics. It all usually works out: We very much trust that you are smart enough to self-organize and collaboratively optimize the unconference schedule according to your needs and interests.How many sessions will there be?
We have 3 rooms available over the course of the unconference, and we plan to run sessions in parallel. Given the 15 hours total duration, this comes out to maximum of 45 session total. In case we find there is an overwhelming demand for sessions, we'll probably have to look into modifying the format a bit to make more room (e.g. offer "speed sessions" in one of the rooms). Again, please keep an eye on the grid during the week to make sure your session gets the space it deserves.How can I participate?
You can hold a session, or help with one (e.g. by taking notes and putting them on the wiki, by asking smart questions, by taking photos or video, or by blogging about it). You can also try to help organize a session by somebody else (e.g. on a topic you would like to learn more about).
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, Oct 25 2007, 4:45 PM EDT
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