Unconference

Schedule

OVERVIEW

Unconference, an unconventional conference, is a participant-driven and interaction-focused format developed by the technology and IT scene. Focus of the unconference is having interactions and conversations rather than presentations. Correspondingly, session hosts act more as facilitators than speakers. The agenda of the unconference afternoon at ENCODS2018 will be created by the participants during marketplace, where every participant can propose a session topic.

Unconference Marketplace

We all gather to create the agenda for the Open Space. Everyone is invited to announce a topic they want to talk about and offer a session. The sessions will be collected in a schedule for the afternoon.

Unconference Open Space

All afternoon full of your sessions. Choose your favourite ones, discuss, learn and document the outcomes in our wiki (photos, texts, poems).

POSSIBLE SESSION FORMATS

Session subjects could be anything you want to talk about, from exchanging lab experiences, communal literature reviews, PI interviews, mini hackathons, and hand-on tutorials on cool tools. Unconference sessions usually have some of the following formats:

Short presentation - in the first 5-10 minutes you present your idea to get the session started, after that - interactive discussion.
Group discussion - you identify the topic people are interested in and open the floor for participants to join and share opinions.
Question - you have a question and think people at the conference may be able to help you find or at least discuss the answers.
Show and tell - if you have a cool project or something people can play with.
Learn how to do something - if you want to teach people new skill.
Be active - invite others to join you in an interesting activity.

TIPS FOR HOSTING AN UNCONFERENCE SESSION

Give a specific name - Instead of naming your session e.g. fMRI, say fMRI data processing: the good and the ugly. There is no way you will cover all of fMRI in 30min session. Clarifying what you really want to talk about calls people to action, fosters thinking and increase the odds of interested participants.
Don´t be afraid no one will attend your session - Take a chance to discuss topics you always wished, aim at a few not 20 people. If only two people show up - great ! those are the right people for you.
Don't feel the pressure to fill up all the time - if your session is over after 15 - 20 min - just as fine.
Make it interactive - This is a really unique opportunity to learn from the experience and opinion of your fellow participants. Engage your audience, ask questions, learn.
Co-host a session - If you are shy/better work in team/found someone passionate about your topic - team up!
Have fun - the most important. This is an informal session, not an exam. Relax, show up with a smile and be open-minded.

UNCONFERENCE PRINCIPLES

The Law of Two Feet

If you become uninterested at any moment, you are free to leave and join another session. Also, you are invited to take breaks at the time you want.

Conversations are more valuable than lectures

Better way to learn - Studies show that we learn mostly through recall and social interactions. In formal lectures 80% of the time is spent on speaker talking to the audience and 20% of conversation through questions. Unconference is the opposite - 20% telling and 80% discussion. Some sessions are even 100% discussions.

Better way to meet people - While lecture can deliver great material, conversations give you the way to build meaningful relationships through insightful discussions.

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