BarCampSaskatoon blog | BarCampSaskatoon email

What is BarCamp ?

BarCampSaskatoon is an ad-hoc un-conference born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos and interaction from attendees. It is based on Foo Camp.

It is an informal gathering of people from technical and business backgrounds, where information and experiences are exchanged. The event is geared towards sharing knowledge and learning from others and there is a policy of encouraging active participation in all discussions.

Anyone with something to contribute or with the desire to learn is welcome and invited to join.

When you come, be prepared to share with barcampers.

When you leave, be prepared to share it with the world.

Attendees must give a demo, a session, or help with one, or otherwise volunteer / contribute in some way to support the event. All presentations are scheduled the day they happen. Prepare in advance, but come early to get a slot on the wall. The people present at the event will select the demos or presentations they want to see.

Presenters are responsible for making sure that notes/slides/audio/video of their presentations are published on the web for the benefit of all and those who can’t be present.

Each attendee should bring whatever gadget they have: laptop, cell phone, blackberry, camera, laser pointer, whatever.

When and Where is it on ?

BarCampSaskatoon will take place on Saturday, October 28, 2006 at The Cellar. The Cellar is an ultra-hip conference room in the basement of the Senator Hotel (243 21st Street East). There are two small conference rooms (one holds about 35 people and one about 25 people), a learning lounge, the pool table room and a “beverage station.” If you haven’t been to The Cellar, you will be really surprised at how cool it is. Internet access is available. We will need a few wireless routers. Screens and projectors have been donated.

The first draft of the schedule is below. It would allow for 5 concurrent sessions 40 minutes in length. There is enough room to hold three sessions at one time; if there is demand we will do that (although one room will be smaller than the other two). If not, we will do two concurrent sessions. Of course, there is time for a half hour break and some munchies and refreshments. When it is all over, everyone is invited to stick around for a drink or two. For diehards, the evening could continue at Winston’s.

It is proposed that at 12:30 we get a general feeling for what the attendees want to hear about and set the speaking order and speakers then.

Events:

11:00 Volunteers and set-up

12:00 Registration

12:30 Schedule presentations

12:45 Concurrent sessions

1:30 Concurrent sessions

2:15 Concurrent sessions

3:00 Break

3:30 Concurrent sessions

4:15 Concurrent sessions

5:00 Refreshments

6:30 Move upstairs to Winston’s for those who want to stay

Supporters

1. Industry Canada
2. SaskInteractive
3. Sharps Audio Visual
4. SIAST Virtual Campus
5. Telefilm Canada
6. zu.com
7. I would like to Sponsor Barcamp...

How Much does it cost ?

BarCampSaskatoon is free. However, if you plan to attend Barcamp you are strongly encouraged to sign up so we can gauge how many will attend. Everyone who attends will get a free BarCampSaskatoon tshirt. We will also ask for a small donation, for those who can afford it, to cover some expenses (probably $5-$10). More on this soon.

How do I stay up to date with news about the event ?

BarCamp Saskatoon has a blog. Check it out at barcampsaskatoon.org. Subscribe to the RSS feed on that page, and keep checking the blog and this wiki for updates. You can email us and we will send you a few reminders. If you have a blog, please link to the BarCampSaskatoon blog.

How do I sign up ?

Let us know what topics you are interested in hearing or talking about by emailing us.

Alternatively, if you are comfortable using Wiki software, you can sign up by editing this page.

Can I help in some other way?

Sure! We have a couple of posters (small) (large). If you want to put those up, that would be great! Also, you can help by telling everyone and their dog about BarCamp.

BarCamp Ideas - What folks want to hear about or talk about.

Barcamp is a conference with a difference.

At Barcamp, anyone can present. In fact, presenting is actively encouraged. Talks can be as short or as long as you like. You can use Powerpoint slides, a web connection, or forego slides altogether. Talks can be technical or non-technical.

The Barcamp ethos is about sharing information. There is no overriding theme to the conference. If you would like to talk at Barcamp you can either sign-up beforehand or sign-up on the day.

Format: Name, Topic

The password is c4mp.

Talk:

1. Ryan Lejbak - Talk, Developing web-based content for mobile devices. How peeps in Saskatchewan can make more money by developing for mobi. Are you with me?
2. Ginger Koolick - Talk, I'm already doing a presentation for UofS on web standards - so... web standards
3. Francis Chary - Talk, We're going to check out Open Source Flash. Mainly for developers, although designers can probably learn a thing or two about how Flash is REALLY done ;-) Don't forget about OpenLaszlo!
4. David Francis - Talk, I have spent a grueling year finishing a M.Ed. thesis on how Instructional Designers conceptualize digital learning objects. My sexy results will be shared for all.
5. Heather M. Ross - Talk, I'm going to talk about education and training at a distance for all those who don't actually live in one of the two big cities in this vast province.
6. Allan Dowdeswell - Talk, I'm going to talk about Joomla!, the open-source content management system and do an installation and customization demo.
7. Albert Jame and Ginger Koolick, Talk, this is an interactive session to discuss the direction of the Internet. Considering Google, blogs, MySpace, Flickr and YouTube, what else is out there and where are we going.
8. Mike Lavender - Talk, I'll tell you what I know about DotNetNuke, another open-source content management system based on Microsoft's .NET. I'll cover setup and basic usage and share my experience with developing custom modules.
9. Grace Stad (TeleFilm) - If there is a call for it I would be happy to do a presentation on TeleFilm's New Media Fund or alternatively, an informal Q&A. I will be available to meet with people individually throughout the day.
10. Add your Name

Hear:

Is there something in particular you would like to hear about at BarCampSaskatoon ? - Make it known here...

1. Billy Johnson - Hear, Ruby on Rails. Drupal. Pros and cons. Does anyone in town use these tools?
2. Could someone talk about browser detection in mobile devices?
3. Hear, are there any video game developers out there that want to get together to make a kick-ass game? Or just shoot the S#&!? Or do a presentation?
4. Lennie Budgell re: videogames@#5-I've recently been learning how to create maps for half life 2 / counter strike source. If i had a laptop with the tools installed i could give a short presentation on this or something but i don't so no dice. Lennie: email barcamp (link at top) and tell us what you need. Maybe we can find something - Ryan
5. Hongxing Geng - I want to hear about VoIP related technologies
6. Michael Lulchak - Looking for bluetooth ad-hoc setup, small development system to allow bluetooth headsets to work on motorolla radios for fire dept, hazmat suits
7. Can someone talk about ajax? I am a beginner and have been hearing a lot about this.
8. Web 2.0, just a marketing buzzword - any opinions?
9. Add your Name

Planners, Volunteers and Attendees

Planner

If you would like to help organize BarCampSaskatoon, please let us know by emailing us.

If you are comfortable using Wiki software, you can sign up by editing this page. We need planners, designers, sponsors, programmers, photographers, etc. Please send an email too, so we can keep in touch.

1. Ryan Lejbak, zu.com communications and Saskatchewan Interactive Media Association
2. Ginger Koolick, Division of Media & Technology U of S
3. Francis Chary, zu.com communications
4. Michael Lulchak, Potashcorp
5. Add your Name

Volunteer

Volunteer bloggers and Flickr peeps wanted! We need people to blog and photograph the sessions they are attending as they happen. eed a few people to work the registration table and set up and tear down. Free BarCampSaskatoon t-shirts to all volunteers. Well, everyone will get a free t-shirt but volunteers get dibs! Email us.

1. Chelsea Fleischhacker, zu.com. I will help set-up
2. Chris Hallberg, making the logo
3. Bart Nikota, Nikad Interactive & Saskatchewan Interactive Media Association -- I have a spare router to offer
4. Hongxing Geng, Department of Computer Science, UoS.
5. Michael Lulchak, Potashcorp, I have a 802.11bg router, could photograph sessions/blog
6. Justin Swedberg, I will bring my camera, photograph and upload to Flickr
7. Lennie Budgell, If i am free this day (will find out soon) I can work reg. table or set up.
8. Name, company
9. Add your Name

Attendees

If you are attending BarcampSaskatoon, please add your name to the list.

format: name, company/url

1. Ryan Lejbak
2. Albert Jame
3. Francis Chary
4. Ginger Koolick
5. Billy Johnson
6. Chelsea Fleischhacker
7. Alex Osei-Gyau
8. David Francis
9. Heather M. Ross
10. Bart Nikota
11. Hongxing Geng
12. Michael Lulchak
13. Greg Sutton
14. Steve Dawe
15. Tom Ross
16. Fred Amaya
17. Kevin Bryant
18. Justin Swedberg
19. Allan Dowdeswell
20. Mike Lavender
21. Lennie Budgell (tentative)
22. Grace Stad

BeerCamp

Anyone fancy a wee tipple afterwards?

Other Canadian BarCamps

• BarCampQuebec
• TorCamp aka BarCampToronto
• BarCampOttawa
• BarCampHalifax
• MooseCamp aka BarCampVancouver
• BarCampSaskatoon
• BarCampWaterloo
• BarCampMontreal
• (Did we miss one? Please add a link to your Canadian BarCamp here!)