#ebcamp22 – Is hybrid still wanted?

From hybrid to online - and back?

At the outset the following should be mentioned: With 40-50 participants on both days, #ebcamp22, a joint event of the Conference of Adult Education Austria (KEBÖ) and the Federal Institute for Adult Education (Bifeb), was once again a complete success. The need for exchange on the topic of "digitization in adult education" is unbroken. In a total of 17 sessions, discussions were held on topics such as "The worst experiences with online education", "Innovative methods in adult education with virtual and augmented reality" and "Promoting self-learning competencies of learners". 

The participants especially appreciate meeting international colleagues at the #ebcamp. The organizing team, consisting of Gaby Filzmoser and Bianca Baumgartner from ARGE Bildungshäuser Österreich and David Röthler from MiLeNu, welcomed about 50% German guests. A particularly nice sign of the popularity of the Barcamp was the large number of familiar faces from past #ebcamps who were also present again this year.

The #ebcamp owes its internationalization to the global situation of the past two years. While in 2018, the first time ever, it took place as a hybrid event with 50 participants present at Bifeb, the following editions in 2020 and 2021 had to take place purely online due to the situation. Especially in 2020, the #ebcamp became known beyond the borders of Austria. With a topic that could hardly have been more topical, almost 160 people from five countries registered for the online format - a record! At the time, it was still an experiment for everyone involved, including the organizing team. By 2021, it was already almost routine. It quickly became clear that barcamps also work well online. Very well, in fact. 

Nevertheless, the original concept of the hybrid event at Bifeb was to be pursued again in 2022. The thirst for participation in person, surrounded by the picturesque ambience of the Salzkammergut, must surely be great among those interested, so the assumption. This was not the case. With approx. 94% registrations for online participation, the #ebcamp team was proven wrong. The needs of the barcampers had obviously changed. At short notice, the #ebcamp was once again converted into a purely online format - after all, they had had practice in this by now.

But what had changed? Why did 50 people decide to attend the 2018 event and not anymore?

Possible reasons for the online preference

The advantage of a barcamp is its flexibility. Without further ado, team member David Röthler therefore decided to offer a session on "Attractive on-site events - what can be done?". This was a way to get to the bottom of the mystery of online preference. The findings were many and varied:

Probably the most decisive reason: barcamps work exceptionally well online. The focus of this format is clearly on the content. And it can be discussed at least as well online as in an analog seminar room. The so-called "fear of missing out", i.e. the fear of missing something if you are not there, does not seem to exist.

In addition, there has been a general increase in online literacy over the last two years, not only in the educational landscape, but in society itself. The learning curve here has been enormous across all professions and ages. What used to be a hurdle is now normal. Accordingly, the range of hybrid and online events on offer today is incomparably greater than it was before 2020, and it is now a standard feature of many educational institutions. This in turn allows participants to attend more events overall.

As a result of all these developments, the internationalization of the participants is also crucial. While there were only a few international guests in 2018, about half of the #ebcamp participants now come from other countries. For them, travel to and from the event involves a considerable amount of time and expense. The choice of online participation is therefore obvious. 

It was also mentioned that hybrid settings are sometimes perceived as unpleasant because they disrupt the group atmosphere. People want either a purely face-to-face format or a purely online format.

Ultimately, a certain lack of commitment that free online events bring with them may also play a role.