Sprint4:Barcamp
“an unconference is a participant-oriented meeting where the attendees decide on the agenda, discussion topics, workshops, and, often, even the time and venues.” (Budd et al. 2015: 2)
I chose the What? So what? Now what? model to reflect on my sprint4.
WHAT
My Basho group and I were asked to organise a public event where we would present our ‘open-toolkit’ and it was to be held in an ‘unconference’ format. Each of us had to have a proposal of our own but present it in a Basho format to all the peers who came to participate. It was clear that Barcamp was related to the toolkit project we had completed in Sprint 3, so how could we connect our project to each member of the Basho group and make this ‘unconference’ event work? I was a bit confused because we all had different ideas.
SO WHAT
We had a seminar to try and run everyone’s open-toolkit, and each Basho member shared, and this sharing made me feel that our Barcamp was on the right track. Tianxin chose to teach languages and experience different cultures by learning the languages of different countries. Each of us actively shared our open toolkit and each of us made some suggestions on how we could improve each other’s projects. More notably, I read the Ten Rules of Barcamp and it was certainly constructive, especially in guiding the ‘unconference’ format, where our Barcamp operated under the Ten Rules and was able to teach very well! And we get good feedback.
I took inspiration from this and became more certain that what we need is participation, participation, and participation!
NOW WHAT
Now I can address the question of how to define an ‘unconference’ format, or how to run an ‘unconference’ event, and it is clear that Barcamp is an ‘unconference’ format. “It is informal and flexible, with participants presenting their open-toolkit and participants being free to participate as they choose. Before we can run a Barcamp, it is important that each member of the Basho group has a clear understanding of the format and agrees on it in order for it to continue. It is necessary to define what the Barcamp can bring to the learners (making some artwork or art experience, etc.) and to set a learning objective; all the elements of the Barcamp operation should be understood by each member of the group, not lectured, but shared.
Each member of the Basho team needs logistical support, attention to the hardware and software equipment needed. Security and dissemination of all information about Barcamp (where, when, where, etc.).
“The ‘unconference’ format requires intimate groups, the number of open-toolkit people in each of us is limited and it is vital to make it easy for others to participate, the ‘unconference’ format requires good communication and each participant must trust the other participants.
Finally, the ‘unconference’ format needs to be documented, and a good way of recording the participants’ progress, such as video or photos, and message boards are a reasonable way to do this (I don’t recommend miro because when participating in some open-toolkit, participants may not have enough time or means to miro recording), it is definitely better to have pictures and sound, which will be of great use when giving feedback. Of course, it is also a good idea to have a questionnaire afterwards, to create a questionnaire about the ‘unconference’ format and have the participants fill it in, so that you can see if the ‘unconference’ had the desired effect, which is also useful when giving feedback. This is also valid for feedback.
Last but not least, no voice should be ignored, as everyone is a planner as well as a participant. Everyone should be encouraged to give input and timely feedback, whether before, during or even after the “unconference”. This is the best way for the unconference to be continuously improved.
reference:
Ma contemporary art theory (no date) Ten Rules for your Basho’s Barcamp – MA Contemporary Art Theory. Available at: https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/macat/openlearninghandbook/sprint4/tenrules/ (Accessed: November 20, 2022).
The term Barcamp derives from the field of web technology, and the name is an interesting allusion to the event’s origins, referencing the programmer slang foobar: BarCamp emerged as an open-to-the-public alternative to Foo Camp, the annual invitation-only participant-driven conference held by Tim O’ Reilly. a concept that has gradually extended to the arts as well, conveying more information through the art of unconference dialogue.
The blogger’s focus on group barcamps rather than individual workshops is something I should reflect on. I think more thought should be given to what themes are reflected in the group’s barcamp. Previously I had been thinking about how to run my own workshop and had neglected what the group needed to do. It is important to lay more attention to how to connect the workshops of each person in the group.