The day isn't over, but our first ever EdcampBranford is done. I wanted to take a few moments to reflect on what I experienced.
This morning I woke up at my normal time. But instead of taking time to get ready, I quickly gathered all that I needed and got on the road. Today was Edcamp Day and I was the lead facilitator. There was lots to do. I had a great team helping me get it all together. I wanted to be there when they arrived.
As the team started assembling, the energy in the room began to rise. Everyone was excited to see what the day would bring. You see, I was the only one on campus that had ever been to an Edcamp. They jumped on board when I pitched the idea. Their support meant more than I can explain.
As participants started arriving, the real fun began. Watching people that didn't know each other begin to discover that they had many things in common was electrifying. Quickly the ideas for our sessions begin to arrive. Our day practically created itself.
As the sessions started, the real magic began. Educators from every level (paraprofessionals to principals) shared what was working for them. The value of the professional learning network (PLN) was evident in every conversation. When we got to lunch, the conversations were so powerful we didn't even get to the App Smackdown.
The sessions after lunch were just as powerful as the ones from the morning. The breakthroughs and insights shared were passionate and student focused. The Student Voice session was very important on so many levels.
As we gathered back together for the door prizes, it was clear that there would be another Edcamp Branford. Once our school schedule is posted for next year, we will pick our day and begin this adventure again. I wouldn't have it any other way.
-- Tammy Neil
If you are interested in seeing the tweets around #EdcampBranford, I've archived them for you. Here is the link...
https://storify.com/MathNeil/edcamp-branford
This morning I woke up at my normal time. But instead of taking time to get ready, I quickly gathered all that I needed and got on the road. Today was Edcamp Day and I was the lead facilitator. There was lots to do. I had a great team helping me get it all together. I wanted to be there when they arrived.
As the team started assembling, the energy in the room began to rise. Everyone was excited to see what the day would bring. You see, I was the only one on campus that had ever been to an Edcamp. They jumped on board when I pitched the idea. Their support meant more than I can explain.
As participants started arriving, the real fun began. Watching people that didn't know each other begin to discover that they had many things in common was electrifying. Quickly the ideas for our sessions begin to arrive. Our day practically created itself.
As the sessions started, the real magic began. Educators from every level (paraprofessionals to principals) shared what was working for them. The value of the professional learning network (PLN) was evident in every conversation. When we got to lunch, the conversations were so powerful we didn't even get to the App Smackdown.
The sessions after lunch were just as powerful as the ones from the morning. The breakthroughs and insights shared were passionate and student focused. The Student Voice session was very important on so many levels.
As we gathered back together for the door prizes, it was clear that there would be another Edcamp Branford. Once our school schedule is posted for next year, we will pick our day and begin this adventure again. I wouldn't have it any other way.
-- Tammy Neil
If you are interested in seeing the tweets around #EdcampBranford, I've archived them for you. Here is the link...
https://storify.com/MathNeil/edcamp-branford