Jams

What is an OLPC Jam?

An OLPC Jam is a creative event designed to encourage (simultaneously) experimentation and innovation in the field participants are Jamming in and to produce open-license content for the OLPC project in a short amount of time. Experienced, prepared participants work in small teams to collaborate with domain and local experts and produce a concrete product to a pre-specified problem; the creative output of the event is deployed in the field directly after the Jam. It's high-intensity improvisational fun - some participants say they've never created in such a productive development environment before.

Upcoming Jams

• May 17-18 2008: Ceibal Jam! Uruguay
• March 2008 -- Help to plan it! Problems Jam
• April 17-19 2008: Game_Jam_Brasil/2008
• April 18-20 2008: Health Jam in Seattle
• April 26/27 2008: LinuxFest Northwest 2008 (TBA: possible host to Jam related session, possible overview of above)
• April-May 2008: Community Jam during the Cambridge Science Festival in Boston

Past OLPC Jams

• August 6, 2007: Curriculum Jam Nepal
• Curriculum Jam Taipei (also known as Free Content Jam Taipei) - right before Wikimania, in parallel with Hacking Days
• Game Jam Boston June 2007
• OLPC Game Jam Nepal December 15, 2007: External link: OLPC Game Jam in Nepal
• September 21-23, 2007: Journalism Jam New York
• February 9, 2008: 2nd OLPC Game Jam Nepal - External link: OLPC Game Jam Nepal
• February 15-16, 2008 : 12 hr University Chapter Jam Boston (6pm Fri - 6am Sat)
• February 23rd 2008 - 5hr NYU OLPC Jam

Stalled Jams

The status of these jams is uncertain.

• October 5-7, 2007: Curriculum Jam Fall 2007
• January 25-27, 2008: Activity Jam Melbourne - right before Linux.conf.au

Jam Resources

• How To Run A Jam - also known as the Jam Cookbook, this is a guide for how to set up and run a Jam in your area.
• Jam in a box - proposal in development which may or may not happen, but comments and ideas are welcome. Would this be helpful to have?

Barcamp Resources

This section is about organizing a barcamp, which may be similar to organizing a Jam.

• Ten Steps to Organizing a Barcamp. by Crystal Williams
• Barcamp checklist, Christiane Link's handy
• From, How To Get Started:
• Find a venue. Definitely the hardest part of the process. Venue donations are ideal!
• Pick a date. Once you've got a place picked out, figure out when you want your event to happen. We've tended to try to hold Barcamps simultaneous with other events to mix up the attendee pool -- since you'll draw from both local and out-of-towners. What's most important is that it's convenient for you and works for your community.
• Communicate. Blog, Email, IRC, wiki and document everything! Seriously, the more transparent and communicative you are about your Barcamp, the more successful you'll be.
• Say what you need. Participants can be helpful and giving -- but if they don't KNOW that you need a few extra dollars to cover catering lunch/breakfast, t-shirts, whatever, then they can't step up to the plate and help. Remember: everyone participates. So, give everyone the information they need to be able to participate!