What's the Deal with EdCamps?

I really enjoy attending educational conferences. There are always great keynotes and session speakers. But, many times I’ve been looking at session schedules and have chosen the least objectionable option.  Those times when nothing was related to my content area or professional goals. In these cases, I end up sitting in on a session that may not be applicable to my situation. No matter how engaging, it’s a hourlong experience that will not inform my practice.

When I went to my first EdCamp in 2013, I didn’t know what to expect.  I had heard it called an UnConference, but that did not prepare me for the unique experience I had there. It was held on a Saturday in May at an area high school. I was amazed to see how many energized educators were present.  So often, I am used to people checking their email or doing work on laptops during the opening of a convention with a passing glance to what is going on up front. The opening of an EdCamp is energizing.  It is a model of how we can break the conference model to make it more relevant for all. It requires action not passive interest.

At an EdCamp, we have a schedule of the day. But, it is a blank slate.  It is up to the attendees to propose topics for the day. This occurs during the pitch session. Where attendees, not the organizers, decide what will be covered that day. The organizers take the topics and fit them into the schedule for the day, but attendees have final say about when sessions should occur to avoid that situation where the 2 sessions you really want to attend have conflicting times.

The sessions themselves are not presentations. They are conversations. It is not about a presenter sharing his or her solutions to an audience. EdCamp goes wrong when someone believes he has the answer that will solve everyone’s problems. EdCamp goes right when everyone brings their experiences.  Everyone has the opportunity to share their experience and learn from others. In a good session, members will be wearing multiple hats: sharing, listening, asking questions, taking notes on a shared digital doc, and building a PLN.

The fact that so many educators are willing to take time out of their weekends to attend EdCamps, speaks to the power of EdCamps to fill a vacuum in PD. I find it interesting that groups of educators with such disparate roles and backgrounds would all participate in the same session. The power of hearing another person’s perspective. Taking the time to listen to a person who is not in your building or in your district. It requires the willingness to share not simply what is working but what has been tried and failed. The EdCamp model recognizes that while we may compete in athletics or standardized test scores numbers, area schools have reason share and grow together. We are part of a bigger movement than just our classroom, our building, or our district.

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This March, I was lucky enough to be a part of a team of educators in my district who planned and led our first EdCamp.  We are excited to host our 2nd Annual EdCamp Elmbrook this March 3rd in Brookfield, WI. Registration will open on New Year’s Day on Eventbrite.

If you are anywhere in the area, we want you there! We would love to learn from you! Find out more at our website.

EdCamps are free to attendees and run thanks to the support of great sponsors. We have a bunch of great sponsors lined up for 2018 who are providing food, prizes, and supplies needed to run our EdCamp.

If you would be interested in helping support EdCamp Elmbrook, please reach out to us at edcampelmbrook@gmail.com.