Open Education 2016

Virtually Connecting is a guerrilla movement led by volunteers who seek to enliven virtual participation in academic conferences.

We received survey feedback that Virtually Connecting is an open practice that is valued for creating space for connection and conversation at conferences while expanding access to the more valuable aspects of conferences to those who cannot attend (e.g. adjuncts, graduate students, international scholars and parents of young children). We also received feedback that one of the key barriers to participating in this otherwise largely inclusive practice is that many people do not know what it is or cannot imagine it before participating in it. Therefore we propose a session in which participants can observe a Virtually Connecting session in progress while Virtually Connecting team members talk them through the process and reflect as a group afterwards on the potential of this open practice and possible ways of enhancing the experience and expanding it. 

The session format borrows from the "Fish Bowl" teaching strategy, such that participants will be observe a live Virtually Connecting session. The "inner circle" of the fishbowl will consist of those participating in the live streamed Virtually Connecting session from onsite, and those participating in the Virtually Connecting session through the Google Hangout. The session audience and those choosing to view the live stream on YouTube will make up the outer circle of the fish bowl. This allows those who may not be comfortable with actively participating in a session to see how the sessions work, and glean a deeper understanding about how one might be able to participate in this type of hybrid conference experience. Throughout this, there will be a meta conversation on the process and opportunities to discuss the experience afterwards, focusing on how it relates to open pedagogical practice and how it can be enhanced.

The topic of the virtually connecting session will be drawn from the conference themes.