DIY Unconference: CPD with a twist

This interactive session aims to increase awareness of the possibilities for facilitating flexible professional learning through an unconference. This will outline the process and outcomes of an eportfolio unconference... [ view full abstract ]

This interactive session aims to increase awareness of the possibilities for facilitating flexible professional learning through an unconference. This will outline the process and outcomes of an eportfolio unconference recently hosted at Dublin City University. The aim of the unconference was to support and develop eportfolio practitioner professional learning in Irish higher education.

Traditionally conferences have been a mechanism for people to engage in focused professional learning within the confines of a pre-designed conference schedule. As explained by Budd et al (2015) the most meaningful professional learning at conferences tends to occur at the coffee breaks when delegates are free to engage in open dialogue. An unconference is a  dynamic participant-driven conference which features discussion and collaboration at its core to support professional learning.

The eportfolio unconference was enabled by a number of technological tools; Tricider, Zeetings, Padlet and Google Docs.  This session will outline and and provide first hand experience in the planning and technology which supported Ireland’s first eportfolio unconference and the first globally to be powered by technical tools.

Feedback and reflections from unconference participants and organisers will be presented highlighting the quality of the learning experience for participants compared to traditional approaches to conferences.