Me and My edCampMKE 2014

Milwaukee: Home of the Brewers, Bucks, B__r (family friendly blog), and a great edCamp.

Saturday found four teachers from Pulaski attending a very well run edCamp.  I attended three group learning sessions and one individual learning session.

Prior to the edCamp Milwaukee beginning, connecting and reconnecting with extraordinary educators is the name of the game.  I talked with people I knew

@g5changeagent21 @MrsGeeLMS  @amyuelmen

@sjgorman

and people I had never met before.

These people were just some of the people added to my PLN.  

Before an edCamp starts, sessions of learning need to be suggested.  A 2014 schedule needs to be built! I suggested "This Works For Me!" A #friendlysmackdown among technology integrators and tech coaches as to what awesome strategies are used to move the first year or 35th year teacher forward in effeciently integrating technology in the classroom.

My Session 1: Curriculum Development - Move Over Businesses
My #MVP - Most Valuable Point
The content you create on school time and or with school equipment is the property of the school district.

My Session 2: "This Works For Me!" Tech Integrators Friendly Smackdown
My #MVP - Most Valuable Point
I want to create professional development through a Google Hangout at least twice during the summer!  I would also like to have Patio PD, a time where educators travel to someone's house to to enjoy burgers and dogs while the sun is setting and a fire pit is stirring.  Throw in new tech tools for engaging learning and teachers walk away with a new sense of energy and enthusiasm for learning!

The Smackdowns Idea Wall

My Session 3:  Google Apps - Streamline Workflow

My #MVP - Most Valuable Point

I really liked the Google Scrips that these two teachers created to improve classroom management.  I am going to share "Big Brother" with our staff at the beginning of next year as a way to manage student assignments.  The color coding and multiple sheets of data can help with student accountability.

www.edbean.com

My Session 4:  Individual Learning Opportunity

My #MVP - Most Valuable Point

During my session 2, I met Tim Morten, tech integrator in the Sun Prairie School District.  Session 2 created a positive experience for him as he wears many hats in his district.  I really enjoyed talking with him and discovered that he could use my Top Tech Tool infographic.  Once I shared that with him, he shared a Google form that he is using when designing lessons with teachers.  He made the Google form create a Google Document that is complete with information that allows for easy understanding of the lesson and its objectives.  (I will let Tim share it out when he is ready)  I will use it as it is awesome!

edCampMKE was a fantastic day of learning for me!  I loved learning something new and immersing myself with powerful educators who are chaning the world!

raidercamp Pulaski School District's First edCamp

Friday, November 16, 2012 brought a historic event to our school district.

One week prior to Friday, our staff were informed of our plans to have a #raidercamp.  A website was created complete with a short video to explain everything.  We also asked staff to create a Twitter account so that additional information can be learned while not in a session.  Having Twitter accounts for our staff will now lead to more opportunities to explain to staff how powerful Twitter can be for a Personal Learning Network.

For one half of a day, our teachers experienced an #edCamp.  We called it #raidercamp.  Two sessions with 24 different topics suggested by our staff.

There were no keynote speakers, no teachers in charge.  Individual learning by teachers based on topics suggested by teachers.

The entire district staff gathered in the high school auditorium to accomplish three things.

• Quick description of an #edcamp
• Suggesting topics
• Building a schedule

Our specific schedule looked like this...
     PHS Auditorium
     1:00-1:30     Info and Session Planning
     1:40-2:20     Session 1 (rooms throughout high school)
     2:30-3:10     Session 2
     3:15-3:30     Raffles and Reflection, PHS Auditorium

Of course, we had prizes at the end.  There were the traditional prizes of a shirt or iPad stylus, but the real coveted prizes were the gift of time.

All administrators awarded one free hour of subbing for the winners.  Administrators will be in kindergarten, health, high school math, and other classes.  This was well received by our staff!

Lastly, we had staff reflect on the day using a Google Form.

View the actual day below!

Huge "thank you" to our technology department.  We had over 300 educators on our wireless network without one trouble!

Improvements:

1. Map of high school either on edCamp site or through email prior to camp.
2. Talk about and emphasize "independent learning". Let me explain, as educators we ask students to be independent learners.  In fact, we encourage it!  However, some teachers were adamant about how they wished there was an "expert" in the sessions.  There isn't always going to be an expert present when learning.  Having the discussion with staff about how this is an "independent learning' situation may be helpful to understanding the format of the sessions.