The most obvious choice is a conference. Nowadays it's probably the most popular way to meet a large number of people who are interested in some topic and willing to share their knowledge. To enter a conference you often need to pay ($100-...) but you get at least one day of lectures, dinner and a chance to meet people from the industry or even talk with that famous speaker you listened to. Most likely you will also receive a cool T-shirt with the conference logo and a lot of leaflets from sponsors... Conferences tend to be held at business venues - and it's something that attracts professionals - you can expect air conditioning, excellent service and an easy way to find the place.
The photo below was taken during a TED conference - as you can see - a lot of people and a well equipped indoor. [1]
Of course as long as there are conferences, there will be events created as something completely opposite. That's how barcamps were born. Barcamps, sometimes called “unconferences” are held in many crazy places, pubs, clubs, open-air - it doesn't really matter where they take place. The most important things are: sharing and interaction. During a conference it's rare to see somebody arguing with a speaker, it's quite common during a barcamp - people are encouraged to disagree, talk and learn through that something new. It's one of the most important rules of barcamp - there is no invisible wall between the audience and the speaker - they are on the same level, but the speaker just leads the discussion and moderates it if necessary. Comparing to conferences, barcamps' talks tend to be shorter (~30mins) and you shouldn't be surprised that it may be quite loud during the talk because people talk between themselves, drink beer and network.
Below: typical a barcamp - beer, a bit of chaos and people tweeting about the event. [2]
For some people a barcamp is still too long form of presentation and they think that speakers should be limited in a very specific way. A couple of different formats emerged by following this idea. Pecha Kucha, Ignite or Lighting Talks are the names of some of the events which limit the number of slides and time for every single slide during the talk. Good example is Pecha Kucha where speakers need to give a talk having only 20 slides which are static images and after every 20 seconds, a slide changes into the next one. As you can easily calculate - every topic is presented in less than 7 minutes, but don't even think that these constraints make your presentation easier to prepare. In fact, it's much more difficult. As Mark Twain once said: “I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.”
The picture below depicts a speaker during his Pecha Kucha presentation. [3]
[1] [ All rights reserved by TED Conference
[2] http://www.flickr.com/photos/_teecee/4378523984/sizes/m/in/photostream/
[3] http://www.flickr.com/photos/pechakuchabarcelona/6169735228/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Questions.
Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
Have you ever attended a conference?
ReplyDeleteI think I never took a part in professional conference, but I have seen several conference in the internet and I have to admit that my master of conference was Steve Jobs. He has a great charisma and he had a gift for speaking. I had opportunities to watch some conferences with his participation and honesty I was/am very impressed by this man. In my opinion the best Steve Jobs’ speech was at Stanford University. It was incredible and moving.
The second and the third questions are a little difficult and I cannot answer professionally :) Why it is difficult? Honesty because I can’t read any other comments, that could help me answer on that questions. My answers must be very short but I don’t want that :).
I don’t know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge, but maybe I will can change my mind if I read comments other users. I have an idea. Singing conference it can be interesting.
I have to admit I never thought about organizing any event by me, but may be in the future I will have to think about it. It can be very interesting experience.
Thanks Michal, I agree, Steve Jobs was a real showman :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, I could not stand, I had to point out all your questions :)
ReplyDelete1. Have you ever attended a conference?
Unfortunately not personally, but I watch a lot of conferences from the: http://www.ted.com/talks
2. What was it about? Did you enjoy it?
Usually I watching conferences about new inventions and technologies, so I like it.
3. How about different events?
Different events? Like what? I have been a few times at Sunrise Festival :), but I guess it was not for this topic :)
4. Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
I do not like the company of other people, I ma a geek and I prefer on-line meetings :P
5. Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge?
No, but I would gladly watched a video from the event ;)
6. What is it about?
To this question I have no answer :)
7. What kind of presentations are shown there?
For that too..
8. Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself?
Sometimes I organize my birthday party and meeting with beer and my friends ...
9. What's the topic you were interested in?
They have wide range of topics. We scrolling about topics on important existential problems, they usually ending with the phrase "no to polej" :):)
10. Were you successful?
Usually do not remember;)
11. If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
I'm learning with well known method the "copy-paste" method.
Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
ReplyDeleteYes, I have attended a conference, it was about a robot which looks like seal. It was held in PJWSTK, and was quite interesting. UnfortunatelyI haven't attended to different events.
Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
I don't know any other kind of such event. As Michał L said I can't read any other usefull comments, which would help me :)
Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
I don't like to organize such events, so let me tell you the best way of learnig for me. I learn realy quick if i have many examples or exercises. I "learn by example"
1 Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I haven't. But I really would like to because it is an wonderful opportunity to acquire very interesting and rear knowledge.
2 Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
Game Developer Conference for example. It is an commercial event where developers from all over the world share their experience or show their achievements in the field of wide area of game programming. Presentations include such interesting topics as engine design, graphics programming or artificial intelligence. It is also a great place to meet famous people from the industry and have talk with them. It is also a place where you can search for particular middleware technologies which you can incorporate to your existing applications.
3 Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
Samples samples and once again samples. A sample is worth a thousand words. A presentation without a working sample is almost always worthless. It doesn't need to be a complete solution but a clue of what can be done with a particular technique – something like samples from many SDKs you can use in your applications ( Nvidia Graphics Samples or Samples provided with Microsoft DirectX for example).
Have you ever attended a conference?
ReplyDeleteI worked on some ones. So, if I may say yes, I say yes.
What was it about?
The firs was about machines for making cigarettes. Another about cosmetics, banking also Autodesk etc.
Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
I attended to DJ workshop and I remember it was very nice. I met some interesting people and improved my skills.
Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
Maybe internet forums :)
Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself?
Once I organized one. It was in a small disco nearby Warsaw. The attendance was pretty good. I hope they have enjoyed it.
What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
First you may know the target of audience. Second is good advertising. My friends have organized an event in Lucid and the ad was on music website. I think it was very bad idea, because the people who likes places like this usually have no idea about music etc. The presence was pretty small.
Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
ReplyDeleteDo you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
No, no, no, no, no and no :)
Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
I'm very good in organizing partys, never thought of organizing a conference of something like that.
Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
ReplyDeleteI have never been on a conference, because I don't have so much time to visit them, but I think it is very interesting idea. We can learn something new and moreover meet new interesting people :))
Sometimes I watch conferences via Internet ;)
Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
I don't know such events, but I know other way of sharing knowledge. It is blogging :) Many technical blogs are very professional, helpful and interesting.
Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
I haven't thinking about organizing one. I thing I am not the organize-type person ;)
1. Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
ReplyDeleteSo many times participated in a conference as a listener. These were mainly conferences on new products, software, and technological innovations.
The referring always been very well prepared and comprehensive information.
The organizers always prepare for the time such a conference or normal buffet meals for participants, because many people come from afar for the event.
My favorite conference at which I am every year, the Culture 2.0, this is an amazing event where technology meets art, creating niezykłe work. Several times, I attended this conference as a person presents his project as I really imparted.
Definitely along for the konferecję also in this year :)
2. Do you know any other kind of event where people share Their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
Yes of course. The organizers of the conference very often spend the topic of typography. This is a very broad topic which makes it a very interesting conference, and news that you know that such a conference is very valuable.
Recently held a conference on new Adobe products, and new solutions that the manufacturer has submitted to this conference, meant that many artists have discovered a new design perspective.
The other is Dr. Olesya lectures, dealing with wide-ranging typography, who introduced another novelty in the field, improving the composition and legibility of text.
3. Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you not are a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
Is definitely yes, if my knowledge would be enough to share it with others :)
I do not like to appear before a larger audience, but I could prepare something like that and just ask for the person reporting to a better feel about that :)
I like organize various events, mainly in the field of technological novelty.
Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a pleasure to attend any big conference I'm afraid. Although I was able to see a few presentations in our university and I had a pleasure to attend few presentation in my high school.
In the university there where mostly about design and computer graphic. In my high school there where about poetry, film and music.
Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
Unfortunately not. However as few of other people said the bloggs and forums can be very useful.
Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
Well, not in the field of sharing knowledge. I must say it's a very hard work and it requires a lot of time and others people help. Most of the people said I was, so I didn't argue. However I would not want to do that again.
Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
ReplyDeleteAccording to the photos from TED, I had an opportunity to participate in the independent TED Warsaw (TEDx). International TEDx events bring charisma and revolution, while Polish (sadly) was definitely less innovative. I'm still a little disappointed.
Barcamp - after two beers a completely new quality of learning starts.
Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
Nowadays, almost every business has its own conference - even auto dealers or the building industry.
Its always about food and showing their companies.
Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in?
Yes - for interactive professionals (mostly everything that is related to the Internet).
Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
Almost always - some fun facts from my experience:
- all attendees register 1 hour before registration is close,
- there is always a group of people who did not register - begging for adding to the list,
- amount of food is always insufficient,
- if the first presentation is weak - half of the participants will come out,
- if you can have a technical issues - you'll have them (Rule #1).
I definitely agree that forms of acquiring knowledge other than books are interesting and are worthy to try out, even if just to see whether it is something for you or not. I would call TED talks in particular something more than just a conference – I had a chance to attend two TEDx events in Warsaw and they are like an inspirational hub. If you haven’t heard about TED yet I recommend TED talks online while we’re at it - for example: http://readwrite.com/2011/12/13/the_best_10_ted_talks_of_2011.
ReplyDeleteI’ve never come across the barcamps concept so that was an interesting read. What I discovered lately on the other hand, was webinars. A good friend of mine is interested in Social Intelligence and wrote to me on Facebook inviting me to participate in a webinar that she was doing for her friends in different countries in Europe. She presented a PPT on the subject with live audio commentary and we interacted through replying on the chat on the website Wiziq. It was a really interesting way to share information, get people from different countries together to learn something on a subject that interests them. Slideshare also comes to my mind when considering online learning tools – definitely worth a try.
Have you ever attended a conference?
ReplyDeleteYes, I have.
What was it about?
The most conferences, which I attended, showed new technologies for programming computers (I am a computer programmer).
Did you enjoy it?
Because my experiences are connected with a few conferences I answer - It depends.
About 10 years ago I was on conference in Warsaw which Microsoft presented his .NET technology on. It was 2-days conference. Second day we listened to special guest from U.S. He was an excellent speaker and I was very happy that I visited our capitol these days. Additionally I met my good colleague from previous job :-).
But I also attended in conferences which simply wasted my time and didn’t teach me anything new.
How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
I like workshops because I like to feel knowledge from practical side - during conferences we can mainly listen others. I know that many conferences are connected with workshops – so they may be an answer for my needs.
Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge?
Generally I don’t look for “events” too much because word event is rather connected with concrete time and place (including places with computer infrastructure for web events) and I like to feel some freedom and gather knowledge in time defined only by me . But I am planning to take a part in webinarium at the end of month.
I also heard about something similar to Barcamp but more connected with healthy lifestyle – different ways of walking (slow, fast, in mountains) with talks on concrete subject. But during such outdoor events it is difficult to use laptop with presentations. Once I took a part in something joining conference whith such walking – presentation had been done in youth hostel and next we walked and talked.
What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
Generally I am interested in participating in events showing 2 areas – connected with my work and showing “how to live”.
Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
Once I organized workshops for my company clients – they learnt using one tool for data reporting. I was responsible for preparing technical infrastructure, preparing some exercises and assistance during their realization. But I felt successful only from preparing technical infrastructure because I am not a good teacher.
1- Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
ReplyDeleteNot yet but I want too I think it’s goog opportunity to develop yourself.
2- Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
Unfortunately not.
3- Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
No but I could organize st about landscaping or any other topic.
Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
ReplyDeleteA few workshops, and actually this is the kind I enjoy most, in general events where apart from listening you can do something and benefit someone knowledge.
Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
hmm I dont think so..
Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
I tak the second option :) generaly learning throught practice as mentioned before
I have attended several conferences and workshops and I think it is an interesting way of exchanging ideas. It is also a great opportunity to find out, what others are working on. However I am not sure if it can be a replacement for spending time in front of books. A great amount of presentations require some basic knowlege of the subject to really benefit from it (and to ask questions). I have never thought about organizing such event by myself and, to be honest, I don't think I ever will. I definitely prefer to be a participant :)
ReplyDeleteHehe, I commented on this post before...
ReplyDeletehttp://konwersatorium2-ms-pjwstk.blogspot.com/2012/04/if-you-want-to-learn-something-new-and.html?showComment=1334520697970#c7478177420874160192
I have not changed my opinion in this topic, but more often I take part in various seminars, meetings, etc. I think that this type of meeting are very creative and have a high "productivity". They provide many interesting ideas "necessary" to show to other people.
The TED Talks are great, though some are better than others and after a few, your expectations rise quickly for what you're going to see next, so it does get disappointing after a while (and to be fair it could be argued that the content is actually degrading). I've watched many of them online. As for attending, I've heard the costs associated with attending the proper TED conferences are quite high (several thousand US dollars) and you may still end up in a separate room watching the presentation on screen. So that does not seem worth it, unless you really want to meet some well known people in person (such as Al Gore the former vice-president of the US). It is a bit over-hyped.
ReplyDeleteThe other types of events mentioned seem more down-to-earth and as much about making conferences more interesting (some would say bearable) as about limited resources. I haven't attended anything like that myself.
Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
ReplyDeleteI've been to some conferences. I've already posted my opinion.
Conferences are by design forcing you into the direction of some product or a company.
Barcamp - might be a nice way of spending spare time.
Workshops seem to be the most effective. They usually concentrate on some real topics.
If open source stands behind then in most cases you will uncover something worth your time.
Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
You do not need events to share knowledge. Simple meeting can bring many new ideas that can be worked over during future workshops.
I think that best ideas / products are developed when you have a chance to iterate over the topic several times. It's hard to see all aspects at once, that is why iterations are necessary.
Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
I think we can face the "organizing an event" subject quite often at our day to day work.
Most of us meet some people at work that you need to cooperate with.
The more you work with someone the more you know what works best in terms of synergy and what does not work at all.
I have attended a number of conferences in my life but unfortunately most of them had this inevitable mood of marketing which annoyed me the most. Beside, the mentioned point of a free dinner in the company of people of same interest was usually brought down to quick standing lunch of doubtful quality and food-fights in the buffet ;)
ReplyDeleteCan't say much about the other forms of events presented above cause I was never engaged into communities and professional circles of interests enough. However I would like to add another way of knowledge sharing which is currently gaining popularity in my workplace: e-workshops - hosted online via corporate videoconferencing systems to all the interested parties in branch offices around the world. Every department is obliged to organize such an event from time to time, sharing best practices, announcing new services and so on. And every employee is welcome if interested. Brilliant!
Have you ever attended a conference? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How about different events? Maybe a Barcamp or workshop?
ReplyDeleteI attended in workshops. It was workshop where I and peopel from other company try to figure out how to integret our system with system which belong to company where I work..
I like that kind of workshop becous I have oportunity to learn other compnay the way how the work and they procedurs.
Do you know any other kind of event where people share their knowledge? What is it about? What kind of presentations are shown there?
No
Have you ever thought about organizing an event by yourself? What's the topic you were interested in? Were you successful? If you aren't a type of person who enjoys organizing stuff, tell us what's the best way of learning for you?
Some times I organize workshops witch our partners I wrote about this before.