BartmasBlurb#35

EdCamp: Fire side with educators

As an educator of twenty-eight years I have had many bad experiences with professional developments and a few positives ones. The ones that were most enticing and usable were ones that I had a direct buy-in to utilize in my classroom. The ones that bothered me were ones in which I was being sold some new silver bullet that would solve all my classroom needs at the low, low cost of…you name the price! Others that were negative in experience were ones that the state or local school entity was telling me I needed to use. Teachers are professionals, and need to be able to take ownership in changing the face of education. They are on the forefront of the problem solving that takes place in the classroom, and affects students directly. EdCamp is a game changer in this edupreneurial movement. We in the Madison County EdCamp have decided to capitalize both the E and the C in edcamp to denote the importance of both words. If you Google or Bing edcamp you will see it written multiple ways.

When you say the word EdCamp it brings to mind summer camp or camping. Some of the best conversations you have or will have, happen around a campfire. You stoke up the fire, grab the lawn chairs, and start having conversation that people take turns in leading. You communicate with other people, build relationships, and exchange viewpoints on varying topics. Teachers need a place to be able to do this, and EdCamp presents a platform to be able to collaborate as like-minded professionals. Presenters to teachers will tell you, if the teachers are not engaged, they will start their own edcamp at their table!

EdCamp is a free-flowing unconference professional development that is FREE to the participants. It is a platform where the participants drive the agenda that is carried throughout the day. Professionals, the educators, teach or lead the sessions to other professionals. There is no grade level limit or classification. If an educator feels that they have a great idea that will help other teachers in their classrooms they share it. Likewise other professionals may want to learn from others, and this free-flow agenda gives them the flexibility to choose from the camp’s menu or playbook. There are normally four breakout sessions in a day with multiple offerings for each session. Technology is now being utilized more and more, so that teachers can keep track of other sessions via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and other social and meeting sites. The morning starts with finalizing an agenda, getting the sessions set, and then heading to the first two breakout sessions. Lunch is usually brought in to the participants, following lunch there are two sessions, and a closing wrap up meeting complete with door prizes.

How is this free to educators? EdCamp relies on the investment of corporate and local donors. If you have the opportunity to invest in EdCampMadisonCounty, think about where your money will ultimately end up paying dividends. Our society talks all the time about how education is so important. If we invest in our professional teachers being able to collaborate, build their professional learning community, and problem solve it will have nothing but positive outcomes in our local schools. Please think about investing in our Madison County students by investing in our Madison County Teachers. You can find EdCamp Madison County by connecting with us at one of these sites.

Website: http://edcampmadisonco.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/edcampmadisonco

Twitter: http://twitter.com/edcampmadisonco #educatorstrong