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What does it take to start an international movement?
February 20, 2013
by Kim Sivick
Inspiration, Energy and Collaboration!
Extract: Kim Sivick – EdCamp Independent School is taking place at Wharton on Saturday March 2, 2013. Over 150 educators from across the country are expected to attend…
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Where did this all start?
Hadley Ferguson and I sat down last week to put this into words. In December of 2009, a group of educators met at a technology “unconference”, loved the energy and decided to organize one for educators. The goal was to create an “unconference” around teaching in the 21st century. During their first planning session, ten educators from ten different schools, both public and private, shared their passion to create exciting and engaging professional development. During this first planning session, “Edcamp” was born.
Edcamps are free, non-commercial, made up of sessions determined on the day of the event, anyone that attends can be a presenter and Edcamps are reliant on the “law of two feet” that encourages participants to find a session that meet their needs.
Since the first Edcamp on May 22, 2010, almost 200 Edcamps have been held around the world and many more are planned. These edcamps use the original founders wiki, a collaboration tool, to plan their events. The wiki is open and free.
After the rapid growth of interest in holding edcamps, the original founders of edcamp Philly saw the need for a foundation to support the growth of this form of professional development.
In 2011, the Edcamp Foundation became a reality. It offers practical support to teachers seeking to have an edcamp and mini-grants to offset the expenses that can be generated, such as rent, insurance and refreshments.
I’m proud to share I am one of the founders of Edcamp and sit on the Edcamp Foundation Board along with Dan Callahan (Chairman), Hadley Ferguson, Mary Beth Hertz (Treasurer), Kevin Jarrett (Vice Chairman), Ann Leaness, Christine Miles (Secretary), Mike Ritzius,Rob Rowe and Kristen Swanson.
Surrounding myself with passionate educators, both organizing and attending a number of edcamps, has greatly affected my teaching. Edcamps offer the opportunity to connect with like-minded educators and provide inspiration to take my practice to a higher level…
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6 Days Until Edcamp Chile! Faltan Solo 6 Diás Para Edcamp Chile!
Wy’east Middle School
3000 Wy’east Road
Hood River, OR 97031
(541) 354-1548
FAX – (541) 354-5120
Principal: Catherine Dalbey
Vice Principal: Patricia Cooper
See You At The Edcamp!
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