Edcamp is touted as being the "un-conference" - whatever that means. Having attended a handful of EdTech GAFE conferences, I was interested in finding out what an "un-conference" was and if it was better/worse than the paid conferences I had already attended this year. (Another plus - the Edcamp was free!)
Coffee in hand, Angela and I showed up bright and early on Saturday morning to a middle school auditorium in Burbank. Freebies were laid out on tables (you better believe I stocked up on some more stickers for my laptop), along with a nice breakfast buffet of pastries, fruit and more magical elixir (read - COFFEE!)
We went into the auditorium and I waited for the seats to fill up...and waited. And waited. Ten or fifteen minutes after the "start time," the event presenters decided it was time to get started - with all 17 of us. Yes - 17 attendees! I was a bit surprised that not more teachers/educators/education professionals weren't up at 8am and joining us for some FREE professional development.
Now, on a side note - as a broke teacher half the time, I am ALL FOR professional development opportunities that don't cost me squat except for a little gas out of my tank. Conferences (or at least the bulk of ones I have been to) are expensive, rarely local, and at times - elitist.
So, here's what I learned about Edcamps:
- They are very informal. You show up, you mingle, and YOU get to create and generate "sessions" via a session board with post-its.
- You attend the sessions you're interested in, much like any other conference. You might have 10 or 12 educators in a room...or you might have two other people and yourself. And if you start the session then feel that it's not the right one for you, you're encouraged to get up, leave, and go find another session you're interested in. No harm, no foul.
- Edcamps are truly about the conversations, reflections, and connections. Not being from the local Edcamp district, it was a great opportunity to hear what other districts outside of my own were doing with technology, ELA, and flipped learning. Teachers, TOSAs, and even school counselors had the opportunity to talk and get real with what good things were happening in their classrooms and districts and what areas could be met with improvement.
And, as if the ideas and takeaways weren't great enough...everyone left with a raffle prize. Now, who doesn't like FREE swag!? (Especially a $50 STEM kit from Lakeshore!)
Angela and I left feeling inspired - and with a desire to host an Edcamp for our local area further south. Maybe another Edcamp is in the not-so-distant future for us...
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