6/25: Thanks to everyone who came – it was a great success! We’re posting pictures of the event on Facebook.
Sat., June 23
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CoCo Minneapolis
We’re kicking off the Skillshare School at CoCo with an all-day knowledge fest! What interests you? Tech? Business? Startups? Design? History? Home brewing? At this event, you can bring your passions and share them with others. In true unconference style, the day doesn’t have an set agenda, but has lots of time slots that can be filled with classes, presentations, workshops, demos, panels, conversations — or whatever! There are at least three ways you can participate:
- Volunteer ahead of time to lead a discussion session or give a presentation.
- Just show up and post your topics of interest to the big board. We’ll group similar topics and look for someone to host the conversation.
- Hang out in the commons and spend the day in conversation to other smart people.
Lunch: We’ll either order in food or arrange for a food truck to pay us a visit!
Parking: We offer $5 all-day validated parking at the Gateway Ramp [new window].
Beer: At 4:00, we’ll ring the bell and bring out beers!
Proposed sessions
Schedule - click to enlarge
There’s still room to add sessions, especially sessions that don’t require a projector! You can suggest a session in the comments below or by pinging us on the Twitters!
- How to Make More $$ as a Freelancer – Don Ball & Dave Allen
- Startup Anxiety – Solome Tibebu, Cognific
- GIStravaganza (title TBD) – Paul Wickman, Flat Rock Geographics
- Hardcore Local SEO – Dave Allen, SEO Practice!
- Search Inside Yourself – Leila Tite
- The Economics of Disruption - Phil Pogge, Deal Pen
- Sustainability (People, Planet, Profit) in Business – Stephen Yogi Rueff
- What’s Your Why? – Dan Wallace and Jeff Brown, Catalytic Innovation
- Open Badges – an overview – Chris Carlson, NarrativePros
- Storytelling Mechanics – Ed Reilly
- Secrets of Retail: What I Learned from Seven Years with Apple – Matt Woestehoff, The Foundation
- Care & Feeding of an Online Community – Peter Fleck
- How to Get Started in Android Development (a newbie tells all) – Jason Hsu
- 200 Proof: A Craft-Distilled Snapshot of Biomass-based Manufacturing – Rachel Mann
- Engagement Marketing – How small business can win in a social connected world – Jeff Ferrazzo
- Power of Email Marketing in a down economy - Jeff Ferrazzo
- Public Working Public Data – Vic Ward
- Information Safety Basics – John Benninghoff
- 3D modeling and printing (featuring a live MakerBot) - Joseph Rueter
- I don’t blog and here is why you should Rif too – Joseph Rueter
I’ll kick this sucker off… Dave Allen and I have been talking about a team-taught session: “How to make more money as a freelancer.” We’re concerned that too many freelancers are making marginal incomes and really need some coaching on pricing, billing, cash flow, etc. Tons to talk about here!
I am looking forward to spending the day with folks to discuss the joy and power of business to create change.
My subject matter expertise is around Sustainability (people, planet, profit) in business, developing sustainability strategies and values propositions, and finally communicating that to stakeholders, customers and clients.
I’d love to lead a session on the Mechanics of Storytelling.
Inspired by the Google book Search Inside Yourself. Looking to gather a group of business leaders who would like to come together to share practices, resources and support each other in being more mindful and happier at work. We embody wisdom, passion, creativity and presence. We care about creating a better world by who we are being and the work that we do.
Possible topics include reading and discussing the book, watching videos from the site, practicing mindfulness exercises described in the book, inviting experts in emotional intelligence or neuroscience to come speak, sharing mindful business practices over coffee, or other topics related to the principles of Search Inside Yourself.
Yogi, Leila, Ed: thank you for your ideas. We’ll have a spot for you. Your talk doesn’t have to be fancy – it’ll work just as well to kick things off with some provocative words or slides…and then attendees jump into the discussion.
Hello! This sounds AMAZING! Just went through the Skillshare website and it is such an awesome concept. Would LOVE to offer up the expertise of Jeff Ferrazo, Regional Director for Constant Contact as one of the proposed sessions. He could speak about social media marketing, engagement marketing, event management, email marketing… the list goes on. Please reach out to me if you are interested. Thank you!
I have a conflict for this date, but I’m excited about the format and hope this is the first of more opportunities. Stephen, I work with biofuel producers — let’s connect on sustainability? I’m @biofille on Twitter.
Care & Feeding of an Online Community
I would like to lead a discussion about managing (or not) intentional online communities such as ones rooted in a local place (town, neighborhood, etc.) or in a collaborative project. These are communities that go beyond our loosely bound Twitter/Facebook lives in order to get something done or benefit a locality. I’ve managed a neighborhood forum in Minneapolis for 5 years and have worked (or tried to work) in several online collaborative efforts and would love the chance to share management methods.
Getting Started in Android development
I have recently learned how to develop Android apps, so the difficult process of getting up to speed is still fresh in my mind. The books don’t cover this very well, and good tutorial are scarce. I will show Android development newbies how to get started and to develop basic Android apps. I will also demonstrate my own app Upgrade Your Cereal (available FREE on Google Play).
SIDE NOTE: I am seeking a position as a software development engineer in downtown Minneapolis or within a few miles of downtown Minneapolis. In addition to Android, I have experience with Python, Drupal, and C. I am also the founder and lead developer of Swift Linux (http://www.swiftlinux.org), a lightweight Linux distro now based on Linux Mint Debian Edition.
Thanks, Jason. Way to work it!
Schedule changed so I will be able to attend SkillShare – woo! Any interest in something like “200 Proof: A Craft-Distilled Snapshot of Biomass-based Manufacturing”?
Rachel, let’s give it a shot! The beauty of an uncoference-style conference is that even if only 2 people show up to a session, it’s ok! Not saying that you’ll get only 2 people, but you know what I mean.
Would love to attend this but unfortunately won’t be able to.
Are any of the presentations going to be video’d and posted online? I’m really interested in “How to make more money as a freelancer” and “Startup Anxiety”. “Search inside yourself” sounds interesting too!
Thought I’d throw another session option out there. “Maneuverability as Marketing Strategy”
Although going old school is tempting, I’d appreciate a projector if at all possible. Thanks!
If it’s not too late, I’d like to volunteer to teach a class on “Information Safety Basics” -
I’ll talk a bit about my idea of Information Safety, how it differs from Information Security, and cover the top 4 things all individuals and small businesses can do to keep their computers safe and secure, with specific recommendations that will reduce your risk exposure.