Category: Edcamp

#EdcampRL Reflection

4/29/2020

ᖴᒪIᑭGᖇIᗪ #Eᗪᑕᗩᗰᑭ

I love going to Edcamps, but that's not an option right now since we are currently still dealing with the CVD-19 quarantine. At the beginning of April, a Twitter colleague, Kyle Hamstra, started a conversation about how we could do a remote learning Edcamp so educators can use this time to keep learning and get inspired by other educators.

ᗷᖇIᒪᒪIᗩᑎT IᗪEᗩ!

That's when it started! The planning process started the next day through Google Meet (I'm super thankful for technology now more than ever). We immediately started a Twitter message group with anyone who expressed interest and invited them to join the conversation. Before we knew it, we were getting the ball rolling to start #EdcampRL (Remote Learning) through FlipGrid on 19 topics! It was a lot, but it worked out well for the first go-around (meaning, we will do this again)! You can still access all the grids if you sign up here. You will get the password and the link to our Flipgrid in the Google Form response message.

GOOGᒪE TIᑭs & TᖇIᑕKs ᐯIᗪEOs

I was the moderator on the Google Tips and Tricks grid. In this grid alone, there are 32 responses, 42 replies, 2517 views, and 50.0 hours of shared learning!
Here are a few ideas including videos from Pam Hubler (me), Greg Jung, Jared Johnson, and Alex Milton

TᕼE ᑭOᗯEᖇ Oᖴ ᐯIᗪEO

I know some of us are hesitant to record ourselves with a video platform for a lot of reasons. Maybe you are afraid of judgement from others, afraid of the reactions or comments from others, you don't feel like you are "camera ready" in that moment that you'd like to respond... the reasons go on and on. As I reflect on the event, I am reminded how important it is to share our ideas (no matter how small or simple it seams to you) in spite of the fear we may feel. We have to think like our kids sometimes, they don't think twice before picking up a device to record themselves sharing their ideas. For this reason, I always use two hashtags in my social media posts and I really mean it!

#sharingiscaring #bettertogether

I hope you'll do a few things after you read this.
1. Sign up for the #EdcampRL Flipgrid to at least check out the topics that catch your eye.
2. Add to a grid if the conversation reminds you of something that you find helpful.
3. Remember this quote... "Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't."
That means you always have something valuable to share!

Image credit (linked)

6 Comments

Edcamp Style PD at School! *Free Templates

2/7/2020

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#EdCampPD

Have you ever been to an Edcamp? If you haven't, you must check one out in your area! Yes, it's usually on a Saturday, but it's FREE! Not only is it free, you also get to meet other teachers with a growth mindset just like you! What do you have to lose?
You can find more information here and find an Edcamp in your area here.

Now... the reason I'm writing this post is because I've had quite a few people ask me about how we use an "Edcamp" model for our Early Release Days at our school. Our district has an "Early Release Day" scheduled on Wednesdays, almost every month, during the school year for our Elementary and Middle Schools (High School does a "late in" instead). Our kids leave early so we have over 3 hours of embedded time for professional development. It's so nice having this time built into our day so teachers don't have to make alternate arrangements for after-school kid pickups or just try to get home in heavier than usual traffic. We are a town of bridges, so it gets really bad!

Last year, I started using this model so we could add choice to our professional development and really try to encourage teacher leaders. Afterall, you know how enjoyable "mandatory" professional development can be! Yes, we still have to have those sometimes, but we try to mix it up a bit so teachers have some choice to make the day worth while. My favorite part is seeing how much other teachers enjoy learning from each other! I know that's how I was when I was in the classroom and I refuse to forget that! That's also what makes Edcamps so successful, so why not use the same method in our schools? Of course, I did not invent this model of Professional Development, this is just how we fit it into our set schedule.

Creating a Schedule

I start creating a schedule by asking teachers to present on something they would love to share. I may have to encourage some based on something I've seen while walking through classrooms. Once they agree to present, I add them to a Google Sheet (just a list) so I can use it for the schedule as well as a resource list

just for suggestions to give to teachers when they want to observe other classrooms. After I get my list of presenters, I block out our required sessions first, then plug our teacher presenters into the Choice Board template you see above (template below). I always add Google sessions that I teach myself to help keep up with my 12 required sessions a year as a Google Certified Trainer.
If you can't travel a lot to present, it's a great way to get some sessions in! When thinking about time, I wouldn't go shorter than 45 minutes per window. Another option I add is a "planning" time so teachers have some flexibility to do anything they need to. Sometimes you just need a minute to grade papers, make a phone call, or just breathe at your desk (and that is okay)!
You'll also notice a Twitter challenge on the right to encourage sharing and just to add some fun. Don't forget your #hashtag! I think I need to add a Goosechase option next time we do this for the competitive teachers! Check it out if you've never seen the app before!

Teacher Sign-Ups

Once I have my template filled out of all the sessions, I create a Google Form with multiple choice options of all the sessions so they can sign up for the ones they want to go to.

I do this especially for the teachers presenting so they know how many teachers to expect. This is also helpful if your administration needs some kind of accountability for teachers. When you make your form, make sure to have it set to recurve a copy of the answers automatically. It keeps you from having to tell them what they signed up for on the day of.
A sign-in sheet is also provided for each session so it can be turned in for PD credit hours. Click the image for a copy of the template!

Schedule printed for sessions!

EdCamp Kick-off!

After the schedule has been made and teachers have signed up, we chat about what the day will look like during a group lunch time. We do this for a couple reasons... It's really hard to get out of the building and back in an hour, and it's a great time for teachers to talk to their coworkers. We have a big building, so our

elementary and middle school teachers don't see each other much. It's an upstairs and downstairs neighborhood feel, so every once in a while we have to have a block party!

EdCamp Follow-up

After the sessions, we ask teachers to give feedback to our presenters. The teachers answer the following questions on a Google Form:

1. What is one thing you learned during this session?
2. What is one thing you will try in your class as soon as possible?
3. What is one question you still have?
4. Any additional feedback (praise, constructive criticism to improve the session, etc.)?

I get this form anonymously (to make sure the feedback is constructive), then pass the information along to the presenters . The feedback I've been given has been very positive!
We encourage choice with our students, it only makes sense to give our teachers choice to "model the model". Download the template to try your own PD Choice Board (created in Google Sheets) below and please share how it goes! ~Pam @specialtechie

#EdCampPD Choice Board

More Creative PD Ideas!

Do you have a creative way to provide professional development at your school? I'd love to hear about it!
Need more?
Check out some of these resources for creative PD options!

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#EdcampRL Reflection

ᖴᒪIᑭGᖇIᗪ #Eᗪᑕᗩᗰᑭ

ᗷᖇIᒪᒪIᗩᑎT IᗪEᗩ!

GOOGᒪE TIᑭs & TᖇIᑕKs ᐯIᗪEOs

TᕼE ᑭOᗯEᖇ Oᖴ ᐯIᗪEO

#sharingiscaring #bettertogether

Edcamp Style PD at School! *Free Templates

#EdCampPD

Creating a Schedule

Teacher Sign-Ups

EdCamp Kick-off!

EdCamp Follow-up

More Creative PD Ideas!

Author

Archives

Short Cuts

#EdcampRL Reflection

ᖴᒪIᑭGᖇIᗪ #Eᗪᑕᗩᗰᑭ

ᗷᖇIᒪᒪIᗩᑎT IᗪEᗩ!​

GOOGᒪE TIᑭs & TᖇIᑕKs ᐯIᗪEOs

​TᕼE ᑭOᗯEᖇ Oᖴ ᐯIᗪEO​​

#sharingiscaring #bettertogether

Edcamp Style PD at School! *Free Templates

#EdCampPD

Creating a Schedule

Teacher Sign-Ups

EdCamp Kick-off!

EdCamp Follow-up

More Creative PD Ideas!

Author

Archives

Short Cuts

ᗷᖇIᒪᒪIᗩᑎT IᗪEᗩ!

TᕼE ᑭOᗯEᖇ Oᖴ ᐯIᗪEO