Edcamp, also known as an unconference, started with a small group of educators in Philadelphia in 2010. According to the Edcamp Foundation, over 700 Edcamps have been hosted across the United States and in twenty-five countries. Traditional conferences for educators typically have a registration fee and keynote speakers, and may be located on the other side of the country. While you won’t roast marshmallows at Edcamp, you will find your voice and you will learn from other educators who share your passion for supporting teaching and learning.

Why Edcamp?

Several educators have told me that their school or school district cannot afford to provide registration and travel expenses for multi-day conferences. Or, a principal may be able to send three teachers to a state conference, but not the entire staff. Edcamp offers free professional development to educators. You can even host an Edcamp in your school district to make it easier for educators to attend.

Unlike traditional conferences, which have a meeting agenda months in advance, the conference agenda for Edcamp is determined by the participants on the day of the event. Instead of having a keynote speaker, breakout sessions are led by multiple educators who share their ideas, experiences, and resources. “Death by PowerPoint” is discouraged and educators quickly discover that there are multiple experts on a given topic. Imagine sitting in a room with a librarian, teacher, assistant principal, curriculum director, and a superintendent. Typically, educators attend specific conferences for their area, such as math or literacy, but at Edcamp, the topics cross disciplines.

After attending my first Edcamp, I was hooked! The relationships fostered at Edcamp support further growth as professional educators. Voxer, an app that allows educators to communicate with voice or text, is a favorite for staying connected after an Edcamp. Once educators connect, they continue to share instructional strategies and serve as thought partners for colleagues across the state or region. In a field where we are focused on continuous improvement, Edcamp provides educators with a mountaintop experience, one where you share Twitter handles, encourage each other, share instructional strategies, learn tech tools, and engage in deep conversations about your craft.

Leave Your Title at the Door

When you enter Edcamp, you leave your title at the door. You never know which person will be the expert in the room. In traditional meetings, there is a hierarchy and one person is usually leading. At Edcamp, the goal is lifelong learning, with questions and inspiration shared by all participants. If you seek to surround yourself with learners and people who are striving to grow, you will enjoy the Edcamp experience!

Building the Meeting Agenda

Participating in developing the meeting agenda can be overwhelming for first time Edcampers. At traditional conferences, attendees access a conference app or use a book outlining breakout sessions. At Edcamp, sessions are created by suggestions from those in attendance. Topics may include Google Classroom, Becoming a Connected Educator, Learning Space, or Writing across the Curriculum. After sessions are recommended by participants at the start of an Edcamp day, the whole group votes on the session board. The session board is posted online and Edcamp begins. Participants can usually choose two morning sessions and two afternoon sessions, but there can be variations to the schedule.

Learning at Lunch

Lunch is normally catered by the host site, but I have also been to Edcamps with food truck lunches. During lunch, attendees get to meet diverse educators. You may meet a teacher or administrator who is new, the state teacher of the year, or a superintendent. You never know who you will meet, so take advantage during lunch to try to meet new people.

Growing Your Professional Learning Network

The term Professional Learning Network (PLN) is often associated with Edcamp. A PLN supports professional growth through shared resources, questions, and communication after Edcamp. A PLN will help you reflect on current trends in education and will challenge you to do more for students. If you can’t name five educators outside your school who are part of your PLN, then you need to find an Edcamp near you!

How Do I Become an Edcamper?

1. Visit the official Edcamp website to find an Edcamp near you. http://www.edcamp.org/attend

2. Find a friend or a team to drive together. More learning takes place in the car and your team will bond!

3. Following Edcamp, write a blog or find a way to organize the things you learned.

4. After you experience Edcamp, consider hosting one in your school or school district!

In my role as a K-12 curriculum leader, it is often difficult to keep up with emerging trends in each content area, not to mention blended learning, education policy, and innovative practices. Edcampers have introduced me to best practices and new forms of instruction, as well as researched-based techniques. The best Edcamp sessions often begin with a question. Once someone asks a question, then the conversations allow participants to learn from leaders in small and large schools. If I could encourage you to do one thing to invest in your professional development, I would urge you to find an Edcamp. Edcamp is a way for educators to connect, share, and learn. Don’t take my word for it: Attend an Edcamp in your state and you will see how professional development is changing. Better yet, take a team from your school district and share the experience!