WordCamps are about WordPress which is the most recognisable representative of the Open Source, hacker ethic. However, the curation at WordCamps is a controlled and supervised activity. No matter how true to the cause and transparent the speaker selection is, it’ll always have an organiser bias.
So, as an experiment and a homage to BarCamps that originally inspired WordCamps, we’re bringing the spirit of openness to WordCamp Pune 2017 in a limited sense in the form of Open Conference Slots.
So, if you have applied as a speaker but didn’t make it into the official program, use this space. If you couldn’t think of a topic in time but think of something on the day of the event, maybe while attending someone else’s talk, use this space. If you don’t agree with a session and would like to present a counter-point, use this space. If you just want like minded people to discuss something together, use this space.
A lot of people have asked us what this means and honestly, not many know of Barcamps and open spaces, so a post explaining things was in order! 🙂
Basics
- Four rooms with four 20 minute slots each; total 16 slots.
- No pre-decided sessions or schedule.
- Anyone can walk in and pick any of the 16 slots on the day of the event.
- The slots will be allotted on “first-come-first-serve” basis.
- The topics will only be vetted for 100% GPL compliance. Other than that, they can be about anything.
For Potential Speakers
- You pick any available slot on the day of the event.
- There are only 16 slots. No one will regulate or control how spots are assigned and to who, so pick one before someone else does.
- You get total 20 minutes. A volunteer will be timing your session. No extra 5 minutes, not even one. If you don’t finish in 20 minutes, you are free to take the discussion forward anywhere on the premises.
- You can speak about anything as long as it is 100% GPL compatible.
- In principle, you could even speak about non-WordPress related things but do remember that the audience is here for and because of WordPress and speaking about other things may translate into an empty room and a wasted slot.
- There’s usually a lot of debate and disagreement on what is related to WordPress. That’s why we leave this decision to you instead of deciding if the topic is related to WordPress.
- You don’t have to lecture.
- Host a discussion on a topic that you care about.
- Demonstrate your product or website.
- Conduct a quick Workshop, DIY tutorial about a common WordPress thingy.
- Have a fiery debate on a topic of your choice.
- Conduct an AMA or a QnA around a topic where audience members throw questions at you and you answer them.
- Anything else you can think of.
- Read this for more clarity on how open spaces work, in general: http://www.mindviewinc.com/Conferences/OpenSpaces.html
For Audience Members
The talks will be added to the schedule at the event. This will be a massive flex print-out like the last time:
You pick and choose to attend any of the sessions available at any given time, just like the rest of the program.
Cover Photo Credit Linux User Group, Oregon State University