The top 5 questions about the Barcamp
An unconference that anyone can attend
People keep asking me: What is a barcamp? How does it work? Can it work, a whole weekend without a predetermined program? Yes, it works - at least I haven't yet experienced a single barcamp where the session planner remained empty. The range of topics is very broad and the time flies by. Today I would like to ask you the top 5 questions about the Barcamp on April 25/26, 2015.
1) What is a Barcamp?
Many people find it difficult to understand a barcamp until they have experienced it for themselves. Barcamps are for open-minded people who want to learn and share knowledge in a creative environment. Lots of people get together on a weekend with good food and Wi-Fi, briefly introduce themselves to each other and then it's time to plan the sessions. Every participant can and should contribute something to the weekend. Be it through a presentation, workshop, question and answer session or simply by participating intensively in the events.
In any case, barcamps are intensive and exciting events that you simply have to experience. And once you've been there, you're sure to come back!
2) What is a session?
A session is usually a 30-60 minute period at a Barcamp, which is organized by the participants themselves. A session is usually not a one-sided presentation, but rather a discussion round. However, the specific structure of a session depends on the session host and, very importantly, on the participants.
3) What types of sessions are there?
A session can really be anything and is not restricted to IT or professional topics. Here are a few examples:
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A short talk or presentation that can then be discussed
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A round of questions: What you have always wanted to discuss with others or simply wanted to know
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Present / look at / try out technology, digital tools etc. together
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Present your own or an interesting project / initiative / plan and get the opinion of others
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Working together to find a solution to a problem or issue
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Present / exchange / discuss new ideas of all kinds
What a session is not: A classic frontal presentation without discussion.
4) Should I prepare for a barcamp or a session?
Just think about what you could personally contribute to a barcamp in advance. Are you professionally involved with certain topics / methods / technologies that could also be of interest to others? Do you have any gadgets or tech toys that you would like to bring along and present? Do you know any great "life hacks" (tips and tricks) to manage your business or private life well? Do you have any hobbies you would like to talk about? You can also simply think of questions that you would like to discuss and have answered in a session.
If you want, you can prepare a digital or analog presentation if it suits your topic - but you don't have to! Presentations are a bit of work, but they also give you confidence in your presentation because you can follow a structure. So if you are unsure, it is best to make a few notes in advance and summarize them for yourself, then you can speak more freely. You can also prepare and conduct sessions in a small group.
Important:
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You don't have to be a professional in the topic you are presenting. You don't have to be perfectly prepared either. A barcamp is all about sharing ideas and learning from each other
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Organizers provide projectors, flipcharts, etc. Laptops are usually brought along - if you don't have your own, it's best to clarify this beforehand and bring your presentation on a flash drive
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WLAN is of course available at every Barcamp. However, depending on the number of participants, it may not be available (as well). It is best to bring an offline version as a fallback (presentations, videos, documents, etc.)
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Prepare well so that you are safe - but also leave enough room for spontaneity - barcamps are relaxed, you can also take it totally easy 😉
5) How does it work on site if I want to offer a session?
At the beginning of each Barcamp day, everyone who wants to hold a session writes their topic on a card and briefly introduces it. Depending on interest and room requirements (projector, outdoor, lounge, etc.), the card is then assigned to a specific time and room on the pinboard. As many sessions can take place in parallel as there are rooms. In this way, the session schedule fills up very quickly and a colorful, exciting program is created.
Further information
Do you have any questions? Leave a comment and I'll be happy to answer them.
This article was inspired by the article "Session preparation for a Barcamp",
by Birte Frische, Daniel Seitz, published under the license: CC-BY-SA.
