Edcamps
EDcamps
Rationale: We started experimenting with the EdCamp concept during the 2014-2015 school year with our high school and middle school staff. We were looking to provide teachers with a different PD experience, which focused on choice.
Characteristics: An EdCamp or "unconference" is driven by the staff interest within a particular area. With the high school it was an "App Camp" where teachers decided on which apps they would like to learn about and worked together during the sessions. The EdCamp at the middle school focused on the 1:1 Chromebook implementation and focused on developing sessions to work out any concerns or issues the staff had about the initiative.
Pros: The teachers are more invested in the PD because they choose sessions which are more directly related to their needs or that address some of their concerns. In the sessions, the teachers have voice and choice.
Cons: The concept required a change in culture and thinking. It also required that teachers were comfortable with a completely different method of PD.
Struggles: Educating the staff about what an unconference was and working out the logistics.
Rewards: Most teachers liked the format and the survey results showed that the teachers liked having the ability to determine their personal learning outcomes.
Once we completed the smaller EdCamps, the district PD committee decided use the strategy during an all day District-wide professional development. In order for the district staff to understand the concept, the PD committee, in conjunction with the superintendent and assistant superintendent allocated a one hour PD, prior to the full day PD, to introduce the concept to the staff. The presentation below is the information provided to the staff, created by the PD committee.
What is an “edcamp” or “unconference”?
Edcamp is a model for PD delivery that maximizes:
learning, participation, collaboration, and classroom impact.
Educators control their own professional development by determining session topics
Educators organize and share responsibilities in each session to ensure a focus that is relevant and meaningful to their PD needs
Educators own their learning by finding sessions that meet their needs, and “vote with their feet” to successfully locate a session that‘s right for them
November 3, 2015 | District Wide Edcamp
After the October one hour PD, the PD committee embarked on formulating the structure of the November 3, 2015, full day PD. The PD committee determined that the focus of the full day PD was TECHNOLOGY AND STUDENT LEARNING . Staff members were instructed to bring their devices to the Middle School for the event. The committee determined that the first session would have a facilitator to get the day started, so we asked specific people to lead the first sessions. Results from a staff survey were used to determine the topics and populate the first sessions, with rooms and facilitators assigned prior to the event. After the first session, participants were asked to put sticky notes on the wall to determine what the next sessions would be. The PD committee members worked to develop the second and third sessions. Below is the agenda, the schedule, the "how to," and the session notes.
DPSEdCamp Overview
Dedham Public Schools hosted a full day "unconference", at Dedham Middle School, 70 Whiting Avenue, on November 3, 2015. Our DPSedCamp was a day of staff-driven professional development preK-12 with the theme of technology and student learning. At the beginning of the day, participants determined the content of sessions 2 and 3. Session 1 has already been predetermined with staff survey feedback. Over 400 staff members attended the DPSEdCamp day of professional development.
The agenda for the day:
8:00- 8:30 Donuts and do now
8:30- 9:15 Welcome and introductory remarks
9:30-10:15 Session 1
10:30-11:15 Session 2
11:15-11:45 Input for afternoon sessions
11:30-12:30 Lunch
12:35- 1:20 Session 3
1:35- 2:30 Job alike sharing/planning and exit survey
YouTube video about the Edcamp model of professional development
Keynotes, Michael Welch, Cindy Kelly and Wendy Garland
DPSEdCamp Mike and CindyAn Artifact from the Day!
DPSEdCamp iMovieNovember 8, 2016 | District Wide Edcamp
In 2016, the district decided to do another full day EdCamp. The survey results from the previous EdCamp were mostly positive, so we determined that we would try the format again. This time the EdCamp was focused on student engagement. Below is the schedule, the planning and logistics, and the session notes from the day.
