Unconference Quotes

            Here are some of my favourite quotes about unconferencing. They offer insights into unconferencing as a way of encouraging self-organised conversations.   “The sum of the expertise of the people in the audience is greater than the sum of the expertise of the people on stage.” Dave Winer (source)…

The Real role of the Flip Chart in Unonferences and Workshops

Flip charts are powerful workshop tools. They don’t work well in a large room with a large group if they are being used by a presenter to present information to an audience. Just a few rows of seats back and people will struggle to see and read what is on them. I’ve sat in many…

Creating Your Own Unconference – A Viewpoint

Sadly unconferences have become a fixed model in the minds of some people, just as Open Space Technology has become fixed in the mind of some OST facilitators. Open Space Technology is a method often used under the title of an “unconference”. It is described in detail in this “users’ guide“.  There are less fixed…

Are you ready for an Unconference?

This is a short, direct and cheeky checklist to help you decide if you are ready to go for an unconference. If you tick most of the items, an unconference might well be your next step. Our conference last year was a day of boredom People left at lunchtime at our last conference because the…

Examples of Unconferences

There are many examples of unconferences. You can find stories of unconferences I have facilitated using Open Space as a method here. Here are links to unconferences that have taken place in different parts of the world… The Diabetes Unconference “At The Diabetes UnConference, every participant is an expert. All attendees can ask and answer…

What is an Unconference?

My Definition The word “conference” contains the smaller word “confer”. When we see pictures of a group who are “conferring”, they are in a circle, closely huddled around something. They might be conferring about a decision, or even sharing out something- some money or a cake! Conferring involves gathering together around something. We put that…

What happens when you bring a conference mindset to an unconference?

I’ve attended three unconferences in a row recently that all claimed to make use of open space technology. All three started very promisingly with some tea and coffee and a big circle of chairs, not to mention reassuringly blank walls and the smell of sticky tack. We settle to silence as a facilitator stands up…