#EdCampUSA
The morning began like most EdCamps, networking and building the schedule. Kristen Swanson and Hadley Ferguson kicked things off with a great introduction and a few updates on the EdCamp Foundation.
See the #EdCampUSA Schedule and Collaborative Notes here.
I learned so much and left with so many new ideas that my head has been spinning for the past few days. One thing was definitely clear. There were some common threads that were consistent in all of the sessions I attended.
Relationships Are Key to Success
There is a gap between K-12 and higher education. Please don't mistake this as a blanket statement about every pre-service program, but there are many institutions that are still delivering lots of lecture and powerpoint, and totally missing the boat on both student-centered learning for pre-service teachers and modeling digital learning strategies. I don't have any answers, but I know there is work to be done to bridge this gap.
How great would it be to get pre-service teachers attending EdCamps? I've had a few a the EdCamps I have been involved with, and it is a great opportunity for future teachers that is easily overlooked.
Every Voice Matters
After experiencing the power of a student panel in professional learning first-hand (during my day job), I want more! It's so important to consider what our students believe and experience as learners. Have you stopped to ask your students what they think are the characteristics of a successful learner? Or what their most powerful learning experience entailed? The answers might surprise you!
Digital Leadership
Speaking of digital leadership...While waiting for Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, to arrive on Friday, we were tasked with tweeting Arne about our day. So happy to see digital leadership in our U.S. Department of Education! Below is a storify of some of the tweets from the day.
(Be sure you scroll past the tweets to learn more about EdCamps!)
GET YOURSELF TO AN EDCAMP!
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EdCamp 101
TEDxPhiladelphiaED by Kristen Swanson on EdCamp
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Kasey Bell will be presenting at the following upcoming events:
- TCEA Area 16 Conference Jamboree, June 4 (Amarillo, TX)
- #ProsperTrendingNow Conference, June 10 (Prosper, TX)
- Speed 21 Conference (Keynote), June 11 (Wylie, TX)
- Texas ASCD Ignite, June 15-17 (Irving, TX)
- iPadpalooza, June 23-25 (Austin, TX)
- ISTE, June 28-July 1 (Philadelphia, PA)
- Missouri Google Summit, July 11-12 (Kansas City, MO)
- TIA 2015, July 21-22 (Denton, TX)
- Texserve's 2nd Annual "Bridging the Gap: Technology & Instruction" Symposium (Keynote), July 30 (Dallas, TX)
- Hunt County Tech Camp, Aug. 4 (Commerce, TX)
- Revolutionize Learning Conference, Aug. 5 (Royse City, TX)