Planning EdCampSTL

One of the responsibilities of any educator is to get involved in professional development. We need PD in order to improve our craft and learn about new ideas and resources. For many, we have experienced "okay" PD through district channels, conferences we attend, or inservice hours. Most of those opportunities are top-down opportunities that assume the PD needs of teachers. One PD opportunity that is hands-down superior to traditional PD is EdCamp. EdCamp is an "unconference" meaning that sessions are not pre-planned to deliver a learning package to teachers. EdCamp is a conference that is "by teachers, for teachers".

The day is planned out but no sessions are pre-planned. As the educators arrive at the venue, they see large papers with blank schedules on them. Each educator can sign up to present about anything they want for any time they want. Attendance at these sessions is determined by the "two-feet rule" - you keep your audience as long as they are engaged and if they are not engaged, they use their "two-feet" to leave and attend another session. It is the ultimate in democratizing professional development.

Last year, I attended my first EdCamp, EdCampSTL. It was an amazing experience, so much so that this year I wanted to be on the planning committee to help out. I want to pitch in and help make this day as good as it was last year, if not better. I am working with an incredibly motivated band of teachers who are equally dedicated to making this a memorable experience for everyone who attends.

The EdCamp revolution is happening all over the world. There are EdCamps in many cities around the United States and in other countries as well. The real benefit of the EdCamp model is that it is directly relevant to what the educators need; if a session is not, then the teaches leave and find one that is. The PD that teachers receive on this day is the ultimate in personalized learning with innovative educational leaders. EdCamp is, simply, the best PD available for educators.