Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending my 3rd
edcamp; this one in Baltimore. Approximately, 70 educators from as far south as
Virginia and as far north as New York (maybe even New Hampshire) attended the
unconference at Digital Harbor High School. As with all edcamps, the passion
and energy were high—as one would expected when 70 committed educators come
together on a Saturday.
Of the attendees, several I regularly communicate with on twitter. Despite being limited to 140 characters, I felt
as if I knew these people already, but I relished the opportunity to have in-person conversations with them.
Conversation and ideas flowed from the initial gathering
through the morning sessions, through lunch and until I left for the trip back to Virginia.
I attended 4 great sessions.
1.
Flipped classrooms. Flipping is about much more
than just providing direct instruction through video. For a flipped classroom
to be effective, what occurs in class is even more important.
2.
The power of collaboration. Most educators that
attend edcamps are pretty connected and see the value of twitter and other
means of being connected. We must do more to bring more teachers onboard to
increase their PLNs.
3.
Social media in the classroom. As teachers, we
have a responsibility to model safe use of social media to our students. Doing
so, however, requires that students, parents, administrators, trust teachers to
do what’s right.
4.
PD and meet. Seeing the power of edcamps, each
participant in this session agreed that we must continue our learning and
participation by involving more teachers and administrators in the edcamp
philosophy.
Despite the nearly 2:30 hour trip home (Washington even has
rush hour on Saturday afternoons), I returned home energized and wanting more.
The committed and passionate professionals I met today inspired me and
represent some of the best-and-brightest in education.
A special shout out to the great organizers and sponsors of
Edcamp Baltimore.
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