Tag: unconference

archaeogaming unconference – logistics

Posted on by Shawn
Madness
Madness

The #archaeogaming unconference will take place here: https://unhangout.media.mit.edu/event/archaeogaming at 11 am, EST, June 1st; y’all are welcome to throw together other spaces (hangouts, skype, collaborative docs, etherpads, what have you) to extend or push the idea further. Ideas that have come in so far can be found/voted on here: http://www.allourideas.org/archaeogaming/.

In terms of how the day will unravel (unroll? play out?) I’m imagining say 3 sessions with 3 breakout rooms, at 45 minutes each, 10 minutes between for refreshment. Unlike in-person unconferences, I think trying to agree a schedule on the morning might be too difficult, so I’d take the top voted topics, slot them into a google spreadsheet-schedule template, say next monday – and then people can leave comments on the the desired layout. I’d leave that open for the week, then adjust/publish the schedule that weekend, according to what seems like the majority will.

Then, morning of, I’ll remind/repost the URL to the unhangout, and we’d be off to the races. The unhangout can be broadcast via Youtube too (though I’m not entirely sure how that happens or what the channel will be – guess I should go and see which of my many accounts is plumbed into what service).

Sound good?

Update May 25th: proposed schedule may be commented on here.

The Classroom Unconference

Posted on by Shawn
Open Space Session Scheduling, Wikipedia, ‘Unconference’

I teach HIST2809A, The Historian’s Craft. Each week we have 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of tutorial with a TA. This term, I have 102 students in the class. Over 12 weeks, I try to instill a measure of reflexivity in my students, in their approach to primary documents. In my assignments, I have them transcribe primary documents, analyze visual evidence (photos, paintings, etc) and even some material culture. As a final assignment, I do a variation of the Forgery Game and we try to approach the same problems from 180 degrees the other direction.

At the midway point, I like to stop and ask for feedback on my teaching, and the course. I hand out 3×5 index cards, and have students write on one side the things that are working for them, and on the other, the things that’d be even better if…

That exercise takes about 20 minutes. What do I do with the other 100 minutes? Given the theme of reflexivity and community, I think an unconference is appropriate. Watch for #hist2809 on your twitter stream tomorrow. So here’s what I’m going to do.

8.35- 8.55 – mid-term feedback on my teaching.

8.55-9.15 – unconference explanation & scheduling. They already know what an unconference is, as I’m hosting THATCamp Accessibility on Saturday. Some of them are even coming! I’ll ask for suggestions, and put them up on the board. I’ll direct them to think about the things we’ve already covered.

9.15-9.20- voting. Simple show of hands. We’ll have four breakout areas, in the different corners of the room, in 15-20 minute ish sessions.

9.25-9.45. Session 1.

9.45-10.10. Session 2.

10.10-10.25. My concluding remarks. Class over.

I’ll encourage students to tweet while this is all going on. A handful are already on twitter; I’ll have a live stream displaying on the classroom projector. Maybe some of you will buzz in with comments on how you approach The Historian’s Craft. #hist2809, October 26th, 9 til 10 ish.

See you there!