So I attended an un-conference for the first time in my life. I’ve always been intriged about the concept, both because it seems odd that it should work (no agendas! Can academics really do that?!), and because I would like the concept to work.

I’m pretty sure now that the concept of un-conferences can work. It certainly did for us. We had a very free flow of interesting ideas and discussion of them in the two small groups (at least in ours, and from the sound of it also in the other) I think the reason it did work are manyfold, but especially because we were all interested in the same area of digital identity, and reasonably open in sharing experiences. I liked that the fast exchange and flow almost made it into a brainstorm session.

This fast pace was hampered a bit in the afternoon, because we decided to go with only one group. It did work, however I found it a bit frustrating at times, because it was difficult to air one’s own opinions and ideas. Some of the intimacy of a small group was gone too. For instance when sharing something personal (and we did, afterall we were using examples from our own identities) in a small group, it feels easier to do, because you have more time to elaborate and discuss it, whereas in the bigger group it seemed “digested” faster, thus perhaps scewed a little bit from the intention of the “sharer”.

My brain was full after the day was over, which is a very good sign, and I want to have more of these kind of sessions!