What is a Barcamp? Understanding Unconferences and Open Space

What is a Barcamp?

A barcamp is a participant-driven unconference where the agenda is created by the attendees at the beginning of the event. Unlike traditional conferences with pre-planned speaker lineups, barcamps embrace the spontaneity and collective knowledge of everyone present.

The name "barcamp" originated as a playful reference to "foobar" in programming, signifying an open, experimental approach to knowledge sharing. Since the first BarCamp in 2005, the format has spread worldwide, covering topics from technology and design to education and social innovation.

The Unconference Philosophy

Unconferences are built on the principle that the best learning happens through open dialogue and shared experiences. Key characteristics include:

• No spectators, only participants - Everyone is encouraged to contribute, whether leading a session or actively engaging in discussions.
• Passion-driven topics - Sessions emerge from what attendees genuinely want to discuss, not what a program committee selected months ago.
• Flexible scheduling - The agenda is built collaboratively on-site, allowing for real-time adjustments based on participant interests.
• Informal atmosphere - Conversations flow naturally without rigid presentation formats, encouraging authentic knowledge exchange.

Open Space Technology Explained

Open Space Technology (OST) is the methodology that powers most barcamps and unconferences. Created by Harrison Owen in the 1980s, it follows four simple principles and one law:

The Four Principles

1. Whoever comes are the right people - The participants who show up are exactly who should be there, regardless of title or expertise.
2. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have - Focus on what is happening rather than what should be happening.
3. Whenever it starts is the right time - Creativity and insight do not follow a schedule.
4. When it is over, it is over - Be productive; do not extend discussions artificially, and do not cut them short.

The Law of Two Feet

If at any time you find yourself in a situation where you are neither learning nor contributing, use your two feet to go somewhere else. This empowers participants to optimize their own experience and ensures engaged audiences for session hosts.

How to Run a Successful Barcamp

Organizing a barcamp requires less content planning and more logistics preparation. Here is what successful barcamp organizers focus on:

• Venue with flexible spaces - Multiple rooms of varying sizes accommodate different session types and group sizes.
• Session grid visibility - Participants need to see the schedule easily. This is where Session Planner excels with its display mode and real-time updates.
• Opening circle - Start with a session pitch process where anyone can propose a topic, explain it briefly, and claim a slot.
• Time management - Clear time slots with breaks help participants navigate between sessions using the Law of Two Feet.
• Documentation - Encourage session hosts and participants to share notes and outcomes for those who could not attend.

Why Use Session Planner for Your Barcamp?

Traditional barcamps use sticky notes on whiteboards for session scheduling. While charming, this approach has limitations: it is hard to read from a distance, changes require everyone to gather at the board, and it is difficult to archive.

Session Planner brings the spirit of open space technology into the digital age while respecting unconference principles:

• Instant visibility - Everyone sees the current schedule on their device or venue displays.
• Easy session proposals - Participants submit sessions through a simple form, reducing the bottleneck at the opening circle.
• Flexible scheduling - Drag-and-drop interface lets organizers quickly adjust the grid as the day unfolds.
• Accessible anywhere - Participants can check the schedule from their phones, tablets, or laptops.