What to expect at the unconference

What should you expect when attending the 2010 SLRC Unconference?  Here are a few pointers.

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. 
• Suggest a session on the wiki and ask a question for the keynote speaker to answer during lunch. 
• We will provide a few laptops, wi-fi, projectors, and flip-charts. If you have something to present that requires different equipment, please bring what you need. If you want to use your Mac laptop, please bring an adapter to connect it to the projector.

At the event

• Be prepared to vote on which of the suggested sessions you would like to hear. 
• Participate in the conversation 
• Take notes and share them 
• Blog or Tweet about it (tag: slrcunconf) 
• Take photos/videos and share them (tag: slrcunconf) 
• Mingle with fellow unconferenceers and join us afterwards for a Happy Hour

The sessions

What should 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 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. 

Because this is our first Unconference, we’ve suggested formats for two of the sessions. Of course, this could all be changed in the morning! But if you’d like to prepare, the two session formats include: 

• Lightning Talks - Five minutes presentations. Powerpoint presentation not required! 
• Group Discussion - Someone identifies a topic they are interested in, others come to join the conversation and an interesting discussion happens. 

Other options for session formats include: 

• 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 - Five to 15 minutes of prepared material/comments by the session leader to get things started, followed by an interactive discussion. 
• My Big (or Little) Question - 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. 
• Show and tell - 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. 
• Learn how to do "X" - 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, 10, or 30 people how to do something all at the same time.

Advice for leading a session

If you lead 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 topic. Be the shepherd – stay visible, be as involved as necessary, be a beacon of sanity that guides the group. 
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. 

• 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 minutes and the group has finished interacting—then the session can end. 
• Don't feel pressure to have everything take "only" an hour. If you start with a short presentation, 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. 
• 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" at an unconference.

How do I secure a slot for my session?

You can put your session suggestions on the wiki prior to the conference.  During the agenda setting portion of the conference, conference attendees will have the oportunity to vote on which of the suggested sessions they would like to see presented.

Advice for everyone at the 2010 SLRC Unconference

• Go with the flow. This event is intended to help you 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 list of suggested sessions - make sure you put it on there.