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Book Review: Mob Rule Learning | Ariadne
Please enter the message. Please verify that you are not a robot. Would you also like to submit a review for this item? You already recently rated this item. Your rating has been recorded. The unconference phenomenon is something that I have heard lots about and have previously tried to read information about; however what this basic research has never been able to do is convince me of the necessity for the unconference or camp environment.
Michelle Boule in this concise and easy-to-read book has managed to go at least part way to achieving this. Through use of case study, interview and example, the book provides an overview of the history of the unconference alongside the benefits it may represent to individuals and organisations.
Boule illustrates the benefits of traditional conferences whilst also identifying their limitations, and therefore demonstrates where the unconference fits in. The twelve chapters of the book are divided into two sections, and they proceed in what to my mind is a logical order. The chapters follow an identical format in each of the two sections, starting with a look at the traditional aspect, and then defining what the author perceives as different in the new movement.
Mob rule learning : camps, unconferences, and trashing the talking head
The middle two chapters of each section then highlight possible ways for readers to set up aspects of the unconference approach for themselves. The final two chapters look at real examples and the future. More details for each of the sections are shown in the next two paragraphs. The first part of the book covers the unconference movement and what it actually means. The chapters in this part cover information such as where the unconference idea originated and why the author and other cited experts felt it was a necessary development.
There is also a useful chapter on how to plan a camp or unconference which can act as a checklist as well as giving more details on the various aspects on the list.
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The penultimate chapter of this part covers case studies of seven different unconferences which give a great real-life look at how an unconference can develop and operate at a practical level. The first part of the book ends with a look at how the unconference concept can be applied in the future.
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I found it useful and interesting to learn the history of the unconference and have the rules and guidelines explained whilst also being encouraged to look forward and identify ways the elements of the unconference could be applied in my own organisation. The second part of the book looks at how unconferences change the manner in which we learn and interact with learning. It focuses more on the education and learning gained rather than the unconference event itself.
Boule starts the second part with a look at traditional learning events and conferences, and discusses the aspects of those events which may fail to benefit learners to any great degree. A further chapter covers how to get the most out of the people involved in the unconference or camp by looking at the obstacles that might crop up and how to overcome them.
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There is also a section on how to encourage the individuals who take part in such an event. The penultimate chapter of this section again offers case studies, in this case four separate ones that focus on the application of the unconference and mob learning in education. Again, repeating the format of the first section, the final chapter is looking forward to the future of allowing groups of people to educate themselves rather than relying solely on a single figurehead speaker or even multiple figureheads in the more conventional didactic conferences.
I feel that this second section, whilst restricting itself to the educational aspects of unconferences, may be the most influential in terms of demonstrating opportunities to apply the idea to every-day work or learning opportunities.
The book also includes a twitter hashtag to promote discussion of the book, however there appears to be no discussion undertaken recently, perhaps an inclusion of a twitter archive on the Web site could improve the facilitation of discussion as twitter searches only bring back tweets from the previous week [ 3 ]. So, whilst I understand and notionally welcome the addition of a Web resource page, in this particular case I feel the execution may need some improvement before I would consider it relevant enough to be of real use. This book proved useful to me since, having never attended an unconference or camp, I now feel I have a better understanding of the phenomenon and would be able to make an informed decision as to participation in such an event in the future.
I would however also say that I imagine the book may not be as useful for readers who have experienced an unconference themselves, although I feel they would still appreciate the background historical information and some of the theoretical applications.
In various places throughout the book Boule does acknowledge the fact that unconferences are not right for every setting; nor does she belittle the traditional conference setting, which I welcomed.