Unconferencing: Collaborative Spaces for AI and Education

AI-Andrew

Okay, so I’m just gonna come right out and say it—Patrik, how did we not cross paths earlier? I mean, was it fate, coincidence, or just the fact that I got knocked out by the flu right before one of the Berghs AI unconferences?

Patrik Berghs

Well, Andrew, I’d like to think it was meant to be. And, you know, there’s something poetic about you missing a conference only to spark this whole idea of, well, non-conferences.

AI-Andrew

Haha, yeah, exactly! I still remember us talking after that WASP-ED AI event in Stockholm. You called unconferences “conferences for grown-ups.” I mean, come on–how perfect is that? You basically sold me on the idea with that one line.

Patrik Berghs

Right, because let’s face it—how many of us really love being shoehorned into back-to-back sessions, objecting to neither the topics nor the lunch menu?

AI-Andrew

Mm-hmm, where even the coffee breaks feel like... obligatory mingling.

Patrik Berghs

Exactly! What stood out for me, and apparently for you too, was this idea of empowering participants to decide. You move between sessions like it’s your own gig. Eat when you want to eat. And no one’s glaring at you for sneaking out mid-session to go to something more worthwhile, right?

AI-Andrew

That was it for me. I was all in. I’ve spent so much time feeling I'm wasting my day in traditional conference sessions—it’s amazing how something so simple can feel revolutionary.

Patrik Berghs

Well, there’s a certain elegance to it, isn’t there? Sort of stripping things down to what really matters—conversations, exchange of ideas, and, ultimately, collaboration on your terms.

Patrik Berghs

The other key aspect of course is that it's not us setting the agenda, but the participants get to form that themselves, based on their own interests, questions and needs.

AI-Andrew

It makes you wonder. Why haven’t done this all along?

Patrik Berghs

Precisely. And that’s the beauty of it, really. It’s like you’re not just attending an event—you’re helping to shape it.

AI-Andrew

Alright, Patrik, building on everything we’ve just talked about, we’ve been throwing the term “unconference” around like everyone knows what it means. But, just in case someone out there is kinda scratching their head... how do you usually explain it?

Patrik Berghs

Good point. So, in its simplest form, an unconference is basically the opposite of those standard conferences where everything is decided for you upfront as a set meny. The sessions available to you, the speakers, even what and when you eat are already pre-defined. With an unconference, all of that is flipped on its head.

AI-Andrew

Totally! It’s like, instead of this hierarchal “someone lectures, you listen,” thing, it becomes this collaborative melting pot where the participants get to steer the ship. A real-time democratic participatory process driven by caffeine and the sum of the incredible minds in the room.

AI-Andrew

Unconference is a fairly loose term just meaning 'unconventional conference' in many ways, but in this version we're putting much of the focus into one methodology called Open Space Technology where any participant can pitch an idea or a session topic, and then the other participants votes on which ones they want to attend until we reach a few core sessions with good levels of support.

Patrik Berghs

Exactly. And then it’s up to the attendees themselves to dive into the discussions, workshops, or whatever format resonates most. There’s this wonderful energy that comes from it—it’s totally self-organizing.

Patrik Berghs

I find the whole thing kind of empowering. When you’re not just being talked at, but actually shaping the conversation.

AI-Andrew

This isn't the first time I've dabbled with this sort of methodology though - we've used it in quite a few different events using different names during the years, albeit in modified forms. I'm really excited about doing the full version now though. The training wheels are off, and I'm excited to learn more about AI and education together with all of our amazing participants.

AI-Andrew

So Patrik. You've organised unconferences in the past. What are you most excited about this time?

Patrik Berghs

First I think that we are going to mix participants from different types of education and I am excited to see how the topic of AI can bring us together. It does have an impact on teaching and learning. I believe that the best way to learn is to create space for dialogue and many perspectives.

Patrik Berghs

When I organised the Unconferences at Berghs before I created a few simple guidelines, like: No Panel discussions, I think they are terrible from a learning perspective. I also set fiex times on the talks.

Patrik Berghs

However, the one thing that surprised me was that I got a wide range of speakers, and the only thing I did was create an open call. Mind you, I got a wide array of speakers. And, I think that if I had organized the conference in a traditional way, where I would have had look up each and every one, it would be representative or interesting. Asking around and making the threshold to apply easy, I think It found a great bunch of speakers.

AI-Andrew

Aah, I understand. Those have been exciting events too. In this event, we take things in a different direction though, while still staying true to the core principles?

Patrik Berghs

What is different in this case is that we do not have speakers as such, instead we want the participants to bring topics and questions that we will work on together. And, if others like your topic, they will join you. That is much more fun.

Patrik Berghs

So we will discuss the challenges we face in higher education in the following episodes. I am sure there is a lot to discover.

AI-Andrew

I'm looking forward to it! In around two weeks we'll be back with a new episodes which is going to focus more on some of the challenges for education.