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What is a Barcamp? |
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If you have never experienced a Barcamp, then Barcamp needs a little explaining.
Barcamp is an educational event that does not fit any traditional molds. But it's more than an educational event, it's a way for people with similar interests and passions to meet and share knowledge and experiences.
Let's start by defining what a Barcamp is not. It's NOT a lecture. It's NOT a presentation. It's NOT a conference. In fact, it’s often called an “un-conference.”
Barcamp is not about "Experts" educating non-experts. Barcamp assumes that everybody has some expertise, some knowledge or ideas that are worth sharing. It turns the educational model upside-down. Or sideways. Or something like that.
Barcamp is a conversation. The whole idea is to get smart people that are passionate about technology (or any topic) together to start talking... and see where the conversation goes. |
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Barcamp is about participation. There are no spectators, only participants. Everybody is urged to come prepared to present something, assist in a presentation or at the very minimum actively participate in the conversations that take place.
It’s about taking an active role in sharing knowledge and building community--instead of being a passive spectator.
Barcamp is open. Anybody can attend as long as they come with the intent to participate. The more people we have the more ideas, the more topics, the more perspectives, the more participation, the more energy. The more people, the better Barcamp is for everyone.
Barcamp starts out unstructured and in the process, the participants choose the agenda and create the structure. We provide facilities, infrastructure and time slots but set no agenda. Once the attendees have assembled, they post the topics they want to present on a board and then the group chooses the topics by voting for the ones they are interested in.
Don’t mistake unstructured for unplanned. Lots of preparation goes into creating an environment where communication can take place on many levels. Participants are encouraged to prepare their presentations in advance but should be prepared to improvise the plan if the conversation takes them in a new direction.
Barcamps are about communication. Barcamp is massively networked. Everybody comes ready to jack into the network and share what they are experiencing. Laptops, smart phones, routers, hubs and access points abound. The participants are blogging about their experiences in real time. They are posting presentations to the web. They are chatting via IM and IRC. They are streaming video. They are podcasting. They are broadcasting. They are sharing. The boundaries of the Barcamp extend beyond it’s physical location
Most importantly, Barcamp is about people. People connect to new people. People connect to new ideas. People with ideas connect to other people with ideas and magic happens.
And the connections extend across borders. Relationships are formed that will grow into business opportunities, tech transfers and long-term friendships.
If you know a lot, a little, or nothing about the topics--it does not matter. All that matters is that you are interested and that you want to participate. Even if you know nothing, you participation is important; asking questions is participation!
We are trying to stretch the learning paradigm here. We want to move from the traditional paradigm of an expert imparting his wisdom, to a group sharing knowledge.
But most of all, Barcamp is FUN! Real fun.
Come check it out! |
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