are (unconferences) where educators come together to connect, discuss, and share ideas about what they're doing in their classrooms. There's no set schedule, no list of presenters, and no PowerPoint presentations. There is, however, a communal spirit and a focus on and collaboration.
On March 1, 2014, Mississippi hosted its first Edcamp in Jackson, MS. This was my first unconference, and I was excited to learn with such a group of forward-thinking educators. Though we didn't get the turnout we expected, the experiences we had couldn't have been scripted any better in a movie.
What I enjoyed most about was the feeling of being part of something bigger. All of us were there because we believe in the power of connected learning and the possibilities that exist in using technology to transform education.
I must thank the sponsors and all of the companies who donated door prizes and swag. We cannot thank you enough for your contributions. The list of sponsors are as follows:
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Dave Burgess
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SimpleK12.com
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CSpire Wireless
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Atomic Learning
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ASCD
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Flocabulary
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Edmodo
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ClassDojo
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WriteAboutThis and TellAboutThis
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LessonPix
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PLP Network
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Techsmith
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Krystle Rowry (krissdidit.com)
- Lemuria Bookstore
Special shout out to Applebee's and Chick-Fil-A for providing us with nourishment.
Check out the digital scrapbook from Edcampjxnms.
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About the author: Dr. Will is an instructional technologist for Hattiesburg Public School District in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He graduated from Capella University, and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management where he specialized in digital leadership and using social media to individualize the professional learning needs of teachers. Prior to becoming an instructional technologist, Dr. Will worked as a social media strategist. His expertise is in using social and digital tools to facilitate an array of connected learning experiences. This blog, Peoplegogy, was born out of his mission to explore and share the educational applications of web 2.0 tools.
Dr. Deyamport, being new to education I had never heard of an unconference before. This seems like an awesome way to share ideas with fellow teachers about applying technology in the classroom. Judging from the slideshow, it seems like it was not only informative but also a lot of fun! I followed up with your link to The Edcamp Foundation's website and I am very impressed. Hopefully, when I begin teaching I can attend one of their unconferences. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyLarry,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment on my blog. Starting on Saturday I am launching Dr. Will, a weekly talk show where I will interview educators about an array of topics related to education.
Dr. Will, my name is Savannah Price, and I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading your post about edcamps. This sounds like a great opportunity for teachers to discuss different ways they are teaching in the classroom. I think I will definitely try to attend one of these events if I am able to when I become a teacher. I enjoyed your blog, and thank you for working towards the technological opportunities for education.
ReplySavannah,
Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you leaving a comment and your compliment.
I enjoy what I do as an instructional technologist, and geeked about sharing what I have learned. Be on the lookout for screencast tutorials in the future.