I had no idea what EdCamp was until a few months ago...now I will never forget.
A conference that has no scheduled sessions? A conference that's free? A conference that includes lots of conversation and collaboration? EDCAMP is it! You show up in the morning and you see a blank board (google doc) that is filled with session titles in just minutes. WOW!
So I led two "sessions" today...one on Twitter and Twitter Chats with my friend Rhonda and one on English Language Learning . It's great to have no plan...teaching on the whim. It's great to learn from others who are excited to share and have the open dialogue with everyone in the room. I was excited to see so many Hilliard teachers present but would love to have more Dublin teachers present next time.
I attended two great sessions as well...one on the website Kahoot and one that discussed iPad apps that help with creativity in the classroom. Kahoot is a website where you can create formative assessments that are similar to the Jeopardy game or other quiz shows. You have to set-up an account but its so simple. I can't wait to get in there and play around.
Some of the iPad apps mentioned were: EdCreation, ThingLink, PuppetPals, Popplet, and a few others. I'll add them to another blog post when I remember, he he. I can't wait to download some of these apps and begin using them with my students this school year.
Just like our students, we need to learn new things that keep us excited about teaching. Our students are changing by the minute and if we don't, we will be behind the eight ball. It's my responsibility to hone my skills and ask for help if I need it. Same for my students...I want them to ask for help...I want them to be excited about learning but I think the biggest thing I learned what that CHOICE is a must. We were all so excited to teach and learn from each other because we had CHOICE. We need to give our students choice too! They need to "own" their learning and have buy in. We can do it...have them choose and give up some of your control.
A conference that has no scheduled sessions? A conference that's free? A conference that includes lots of conversation and collaboration? EDCAMP is it! You show up in the morning and you see a blank board (google doc) that is filled with session titles in just minutes. WOW!
So I led two "sessions" today...one on Twitter and Twitter Chats with my friend Rhonda and one on English Language Learning . It's great to have no plan...teaching on the whim. It's great to learn from others who are excited to share and have the open dialogue with everyone in the room. I was excited to see so many Hilliard teachers present but would love to have more Dublin teachers present next time.
I attended two great sessions as well...one on the website Kahoot and one that discussed iPad apps that help with creativity in the classroom. Kahoot is a website where you can create formative assessments that are similar to the Jeopardy game or other quiz shows. You have to set-up an account but its so simple. I can't wait to get in there and play around.
Some of the iPad apps mentioned were: EdCreation, ThingLink, PuppetPals, Popplet, and a few others. I'll add them to another blog post when I remember, he he. I can't wait to download some of these apps and begin using them with my students this school year.
Just like our students, we need to learn new things that keep us excited about teaching. Our students are changing by the minute and if we don't, we will be behind the eight ball. It's my responsibility to hone my skills and ask for help if I need it. Same for my students...I want them to ask for help...I want them to be excited about learning but I think the biggest thing I learned what that CHOICE is a must. We were all so excited to teach and learn from each other because we had CHOICE. We need to give our students choice too! They need to "own" their learning and have buy in. We can do it...have them choose and give up some of your control.