OERcamp​.global 2021 – an Uncon­fe­rence on OER

I. PREFACE

This Code of Conduct sets the standard of conduct expected of parti­ci­pants in OERcamp​.global and its related online spaces. It sets the expec­tation that all parti­ci­pants will actively work to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment and strictly prohibits discri­mi­nation, harassment, and sexual harassment. Parti­ci­pation in OERcamp​.global activities is condi­tional upon accep­tance of the Code of Conduct.

If you experience or witness a violation of this Code of Conduct, please submit a report by email to info@​oercamp.​global.

II. SCOPE

This Code of Conduct applies to all aspects of OERcamp​.global activities where indivi­duals’ behaviour affects the ability of others to parti­cipate. This includes within the virtual confe­rence platform, barcamp sessions, planning meetings, informal side meetings associated with the barcamp, social platforms, email discussion lists, and other related inter­ac­tions. This Code of Conduct applies to all parti­ci­pants, including attendees, speakers, volun­teers, reviewers, barcamp staff, and vendors.  

III. STANDARD OF CONDUCT

The OERcamp​.global seeks to offer a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for learning and sharing, guided by the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. These values can only thrive in an environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, and discri­mi­natory behaviour. 

The standard of conduct at OERcamp​.global and related spaces is set forth below and is further defined in Section V. Anyone asked to cease behaviour in violation of this Code of Conduct is expected to comply immediately. Engaging in prohi­bited behaviour is subject to enforcement action, which may include being removed from the confe­rence or its online spaces. 

Behaviour that is expected and encou­raged:

• Be respectful, inclusive, and accepting of others. Actively seek to challenge your personal biases, assump­tions, and precon­ceived stereo­types, and approach diffe­rences with openness and curiosity.

• Be conscious of how your words and actions (including uninten­tional ones) might harm others. Take time to educate yourself on how to be more inclusive, and listen when someone takes the time to educate you.

• Be aware of privilege and power dynamics. If you find you are talking or commenting a lot, consider stepping back to leave more space for others. If you share the work or ideas of others, give credit where it is due.

• Be considerate of privacy and personal boundaries. Give others a chance to “opt-in” to personal inter­ac­tions, and respect limits when they are set.

• Be constructive in offering criticism, and be gracious in accepting it. Consider “calling in” rather than “calling out,” and direct critiques toward ideas rather than people.

Behaviour that is strictly prohi­bited:

• Discri­mi­nation, including unfavourable or disparate treatment to others because of any aspect of their identity, appearance, or protected class.

• Harassment and harassing behaviour, including use of epithets and slurs, derogatory or hostile comments, repeated attempts to make contact, or any behaviour that inter­feres with another person’s parti­ci­pation in the confe­rence.

• Sexual harassment, including use of sexual images, jokes of a sexual or gendered nature, or any unwelcome contact of a sexual nature in any medium. 

VI. ENFORCEMENT AND SANCTIONS

Engaging in harmful behaviour has conse­quences. The OERcamp​.global team may impose sanctions depending on the severity of a violation. 

Examples of potential actions by the OERcamp​.global team may include: 

• Issuing a written or verbal warning.

• Removing comments, materials, or recor­dings with harmful content.

• Ending a presen­tation early.

• Removing a person’s session respon­si­bi­lities.

• Expelling a person from a session.

• Expelling a person from the event.

• Blocking or reporting a person in online platforms (Twitter, Sched, Zoom, email lists, etc.)

• Imposing a ban on future parti­ci­pation.

• Reporting a person’s behaviour to the appro­priate autho­rities. 

A person sanctioned for violating the Code of Conduct is expected to comply with the terms of the sanctions, and non-compliance may be grounds for further sanctions.

V. DEFINI­TIONS OF PROHI­BITED BEHAVIOUR

This section provides further defini­tions for what consti­tutes prohi­bited behaviour under Section III.

1. Discri­mi­nation 

Discri­mi­nation occurs when a parti­cipant is denied equal oppor­tunity and suffers unfavourable or disparate treatment because of that individual’s identity, which may include their race, sex, sexual orien­tation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, disability, religion, veteran status, or other protected categories under the law.  

2. Harassment and Harassing Behaviour

Harassment is unwelcome conduct (whether physical, verbal, written, or via technology) that is based on a person’s identity or protected class, which may include their race, sex, sexual orien­tation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, disability, religion, veteran status, or other protected categories under the law. Moreover, harassing behaviour not based on any of the above discri­mi­natory factors that creates an intimi­dating, hostile, or offensive environment also is unaccep­table and subject to enforcement action under the Code of Conduct. Harassment and harassing behaviour has the purpose or potential effect of inter­fering with an individual’s ability to parti­cipate at OERcamp​.global.

Some examples of harassment include (but are not limited to):

• Offensive comments related to a person’s identity or protected class

• Using epithets, slurs or stereo­types

• Mocking, ridiculing, or mimicking another’s culture, accent, appearance, or custom

• Deliberate intimi­dation, threats of violence, or incitement of violence (including encou­raging self-harm)

• Stalking or following

• Harassing photo­graphy or recording, including logging online activity for harassment purposes

• Continued one-on-one commu­ni­cation after requests to cease

• Publi­cation of private infor­mation, including private commu­ni­ca­tions (unless publi­cation is necessary to protect oneself or others from inten­tional abuse) or deliberate “outing” of any aspect of a person’s identity without their consent

3. Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment encom­passes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical behaviour of a sexual or gendered nature that inter­feres with an individual’s ability to parti­cipate at OERcamp​.global activities or creates an intimi­dating, hostile, or offensive environment. Sexual harassment can include such behaviours as unwanted touching or unwelcome conduct (whether physical, verbal, written, or via technology) of a sexual or gendered nature.  

Some examples of sexual harassment include (but are not limited to):

• Unwelcome and repeated flirta­tions, propo­si­tions, advances, staring, or other sexual attention

• Unwelcome physical contact

• Use of sexually suggestive language, gestures, or sounds (including whistling)  

• Display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures

• Offensive, insulting, derogatory, or degrading remarks related to sex or gender

• Unwelcome comments about appearance

• Deliberate misgen­dering, including deadnaming (referring to someone who has changed their name by their previous name) and inten­tional use of pronouns that do not corre­spond to a person’s gender identity or specified prefe­rence

• Sexual jokes or use of sexually explicit or offensive language

• Gender- or sex-based pranks

• Demands for sexual favors in exchange for favourable or prefe­rential treatment

VI. ACKNOW­LEDGMENTS

Except where otherwise noted, this Code of Conduct was adapted by OERcamp​.global from the Open Education Confe­rence Code of Conduct, which is available under a Creative Commons Attri­bution 4.0 Inter­na­tional License.  

Sections V-VII of this Code of Conduct were adapted by the Open Education Confe­rence from the OpenCon Code of Conduct, which is available under a Creative Commons Attri­bution 4.0 Inter­na­tional License. OpenCon attri­butes the TODO Group’s Open Source Code of Conduct (which includes contri­bu­tions from Django, Python, Ubuntu, Contri­butor Covenant, Geek Feminism, Citizen Code of Conduct), Geek Feminism’s “Confe­rence Anti-Harass­men­t/­Re­sponding to Reports” page, the Confe­rence Code of Conduct, the New Venture Fund, and members of the OpenCon community.