What is BarCamp

BarCamp is a world wide movement of unconferences that are self-organized and driven by the interests of the participants. All involved are required to contribute, be it starting a discussion, demonstrating an idea, facilitating a session or blogging to "open source" the event and make it publicly available. Many of the the BarCamp series are focused on social media and open technologies, although this model of self-organizing, emergent unconferencing has many offshoots.(ie DemoCamp, iPhoneCamp, RadioCamp, LibraryCamp)

Who uses BarCamp?

Anyone can attend (no admission cost) or organize a BarCamp event, although there is a rule set.(ie.When you come, be prepared to share with barcampers.When you leave, be prepared to share it with the world)

Advantages:

• Little cost to participate/ organize, therefore less barriers to participation
• Open sourcing of proceedings (wikis, blogs, photos) externalizes unconference activities for those not able to attend
• Allows for emergence of content based on participant's interests; flexible, diverse, personal, current(mostly)

Disadvantages

• BarCamp sessions can be too divergent; cohesion and continuity lacking
• Informality can foster a loose and peripheral atmosphere; no problem solving or focus on advancing ideas