I'm so excited to announce that edcamp Detroit is back for its 5th year and we couldn't be happier. Now is the time to snag your tickets for the best PD you can get your hands on in Metro Detroit. If you have any questions, feel free to email edcampDetroit@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!
Showing posts with label edcamp Detroit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label edcamp Detroit. Show all posts
Monday, February 23, 2015
Sunday, May 6, 2012
From The Mouth of Babes #edcampDetroit
This is what I called the student panel session at #EdcampDetroit. A few weeks ago students at my school asked me about edcamp Detroit and asked if they could go. I wasn't sure at first, but then I thought a student panel could be interesting. I told them to come down and we would see what happens. I couldn't have been happier with the decision. (Note: I have not actually taught any of the students on the panel and nobody from my school was in the audience. This led to a very open and honest discussion about what the students like and did not like.)
There were some great things discussed during the 1 hour session:
I asked the panel what they expect from a teacher when they walk into class on the first day and the overwhelming response was making connections. The kids wanted their teachers to be human and just talk to them. One of the said, "We have the whole year to learn, tell me about your summer." This stood out to me. It is something that I strive very hard to do and I was glad to hear that students value that in a class. They want to see that teachers are human and that they value what happens to their students outside of the classroom.
Kids have an assumption that a teacher will know how to use the technology in their classroom. They said, "If it is standard in every room, the teacher should know how to use it. There is nothing worse than watching a teacher struggle with technology." This says something about teachers and the professional development in my district. I'm sure it is the same in many other districts across the country though. Teachers need to embrace the technology in the classroom. Students have come to expect a certain level of competence and it is our duty to meet that level.
Students love Project Based Learning and what to know how the skills they are learning apply to real life. "Just tell me why I will need Geometry. When will I need it? Give me real life problems." The students were very passionate about this topic. They do not want to sit in class and just take notes day after day. They want a dynamic class that allows them to explore the content area with a purpose. They found value in Project Based Learning.
"I don't learn the same way you learn." Kids were adamant about having teachers try to teach them the way that they learn. They acknowledged that it would be tough to do with every student, but it would mean so much to them if they felt they could learn at their pace or in a style that allowed them keep up and understand the material.
The final question of the session was, "What is the one thing you wish teachers knew about you as a student?" I loved the answers that the kids gave for this one.
"I want to come to school. I want to learn. I want them to engage me." I smiled big time when I heard this. It is the simplest thing a teacher can do. Engage your students. They really do want to be there. They want to learn. The only thing we have to do is engage them. How many students are written off as lazy or problems by some teachers when it really is the teacher to blame for not engaging the students? Our kids are looking to us and we cannot let them down.
"Teach me more than just lessons, I want life lessons." Just another fabulous answer from my fabulous students. They recognize that the role of the teacher is so much more than just getting through the curriculum. They seem to get this better than some teachers. Reach out to the students and be part of their lives. Let them know that you care and it can make a difference. They are expecting it.
I loved this session and the kids were excited afterwards. They asked if they could come back next year and do another session. One student asked if it could be called, "Return of the Babes". :-)
I would like to thank Sam, Megan, Annabel and Tori for giving up part of the Saturday afternoon to take part in edcamp Detroit. They were everything I expect from Grosse Pointe South students. I am very proud of them and can't wait to have them back next year.
There were some great things discussed during the 1 hour session:
I asked the panel what they expect from a teacher when they walk into class on the first day and the overwhelming response was making connections. The kids wanted their teachers to be human and just talk to them. One of the said, "We have the whole year to learn, tell me about your summer." This stood out to me. It is something that I strive very hard to do and I was glad to hear that students value that in a class. They want to see that teachers are human and that they value what happens to their students outside of the classroom.
Kids have an assumption that a teacher will know how to use the technology in their classroom. They said, "If it is standard in every room, the teacher should know how to use it. There is nothing worse than watching a teacher struggle with technology." This says something about teachers and the professional development in my district. I'm sure it is the same in many other districts across the country though. Teachers need to embrace the technology in the classroom. Students have come to expect a certain level of competence and it is our duty to meet that level.
Students love Project Based Learning and what to know how the skills they are learning apply to real life. "Just tell me why I will need Geometry. When will I need it? Give me real life problems." The students were very passionate about this topic. They do not want to sit in class and just take notes day after day. They want a dynamic class that allows them to explore the content area with a purpose. They found value in Project Based Learning.
"I don't learn the same way you learn." Kids were adamant about having teachers try to teach them the way that they learn. They acknowledged that it would be tough to do with every student, but it would mean so much to them if they felt they could learn at their pace or in a style that allowed them keep up and understand the material.
The final question of the session was, "What is the one thing you wish teachers knew about you as a student?" I loved the answers that the kids gave for this one.
"I want to come to school. I want to learn. I want them to engage me." I smiled big time when I heard this. It is the simplest thing a teacher can do. Engage your students. They really do want to be there. They want to learn. The only thing we have to do is engage them. How many students are written off as lazy or problems by some teachers when it really is the teacher to blame for not engaging the students? Our kids are looking to us and we cannot let them down.
"Teach me more than just lessons, I want life lessons." Just another fabulous answer from my fabulous students. They recognize that the role of the teacher is so much more than just getting through the curriculum. They seem to get this better than some teachers. Reach out to the students and be part of their lives. Let them know that you care and it can make a difference. They are expecting it.
I loved this session and the kids were excited afterwards. They asked if they could come back next year and do another session. One student asked if it could be called, "Return of the Babes". :-)
I would like to thank Sam, Megan, Annabel and Tori for giving up part of the Saturday afternoon to take part in edcamp Detroit. They were everything I expect from Grosse Pointe South students. I am very proud of them and can't wait to have them back next year.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Why should @MACUL support @EdcampDetroit?
I was excited about #MACUL11 because I wad finally getting a chance to meet up with many of the organizers of #edcampDetroit. We had been communicating all year via Twitter, email, GoogleDocs and Skype. We are spread out across the state and this was a great chance to get together and chat. I was also able to talk to others about edcamp as well.
It was nice to talk to others about edcamp and see them excited. Teachers were interested in a conference that was all about sharing. Being surrounded by other passionate educators appealed to them. MACUL is a great place for teachers to come together and share. Edcamps can be the same thing on a smaller scale.
MACUL is all about sharing. Edcamps are all about sharing. These are not competing entities. They should embrace each other as they strive to make education better for students across this state. Edcamps are not tech conferences, but they use tech to spread the word and connect teachers. The edcamp format is something that should be embraced by MACUL and other state organizations that are looking to engage in social media and reach passionate educators.
Edcamps are great because they are attended by some of the most passionate educators. These are educators that have decided to give up their Saturday to come together and share. People attend to grow. When I talked to people at #MACUL11, they all said the same thing. “I love meeting new people”, “The sessions were amazing”, “I’m so energized to start working” and many other similar feelings. Edcamps are designed to focus on those specific feelings. We want educators to attend, engage and collaborate.
By supporting #edcampDetroit, MACUL will be supporting teachers that are looking to connect and share. In this troubled economic educational world Michigan is dealing with, groups need to stand together and help those teachers that want to share. Edcamps are proof that teachers care and want to be better. How could MACUL not want to be part of this movement?
For more information on #edcampDetroit, check out our site EdcampDetroit.org or send us a tweet @EdcampDetroit
Monday, February 7, 2011
#MadeInDetroit
I've been thinking about writing this post since the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl yesterday. Below is the Chrysler ad featuring Eminem and the city I love.
I felt chills when I saw the commercial. I was filled with pride as my city was shown to the world the way I, and many other Detroiters, see it.
This summer, I spent some time looking for venues to hold edcamp Detroit. I had the chance to have it at a couple of places outside the city limits in some very nice suburbs of Detroit. However, I couldn't bring myself to commit to anywhere else but The D. Edcamp Detroit needed to be in the city. If change is going to happen, it needs to start there.
This city has gone through so much over the past few decades and this post is not about placing blame on politicians, city councils or school boards. This post is about hope. That commercial was about hope. Edcamp Detroit is about hope. Hope in changing the educational system that is letting too many children down.
Eminem's song, "Lose Yourself" was the perfect song to choose for the video and the city. I think it is the perfect song for edcamp Detroit as well. Education is about the moment. The moment we have as teachers to connect with a student. The moment educators have to change the way we think to impact the lives of children in school districts across the country. As teachers, we need to seize these moments and make a difference. We have to start sometime. Why not now?
In May, teachers from all over the area are going to meet in the city that revolutionized transportation and try to revolutionize education. Is it a lofty goal? Yes, but I can think of no better place than Detroit to start. I was #MadeInDetroit.
- @TheNerdyTeacher
Thursday, January 20, 2011
#edcampDetroit!
Edcamp Detroit
Last May, a bunch of teachers organized an event called #edcampPhilly. The event was an unconference. The cool thing about an unconference is that all of the sessions are run by the people who show up. The schedule is loose to allow people to talk about whatever they want. #edcampPhilly was a huge success and edcamps started to appear all over the country. I attended one in New York City and Kansas City to see how they worked and meet some friends that I've been working with online for a few months. After seeing how they operated, I'm proud to announce that #edcampDetroit is open for registration! After tons of planning and organziation, we have a location (Wayne State University's College of Education), a date (Saturday May 7), Sponsors (Click the link to see. More are being added every day) and a price (Free!).
I have spent a ton of time this past year attending conferences and learning many great things. Despite some of the awesome sessions I attended, I always seemed to learn the most from talking and sharing with other teachers around me. The purpose of an edcampis to connect the teachers directly. Teachers have so many great ideas and practices, but they are not often given a chance to share them with others in their own school. Edcamp is a way to bring these teachers with great ideas together from all over to help the students in the classroom.
I would love to see a strong showing from my District at this event. I think I teach in one of the best districts in the country and would love to show everyone the amazign things that our teachers do each and every day. This conference is not a tech conference! This conference is about sharing ideas that work. Best practices for teaching various subject matter. Administrations isues could be addressed. There are countless topics and many conversations that can be had because we all work so hard at our jobs and it would be just greedy not to share with other teachers eager to learn.
We are limited in space (250 Max), so please click here to register. Space is filling up and will get jammed after we spread the word in March at MACUL, so sign up sooner than later. Maybe our district would even give us conference or workshop hours for attending (cough cough hint hint). Please pass this conferecne along to any other teachers you might now. A ton of work goes into putting on a free conference and I would love to share it with some of the best teachers I know. Thanks in advance.
Here is a video #edcampPhilly put together that does a nice job explaining #edcamp.
Last May, a bunch of teachers organized an event called #edcampPhilly. The event was an unconference. The cool thing about an unconference is that all of the sessions are run by the people who show up. The schedule is loose to allow people to talk about whatever they want. #edcampPhilly was a huge success and edcamps started to appear all over the country. I attended one in New York City and Kansas City to see how they worked and meet some friends that I've been working with online for a few months. After seeing how they operated, I'm proud to announce that #edcampDetroit is open for registration! After tons of planning and organziation, we have a location (Wayne State University's College of Education), a date (Saturday May 7), Sponsors (Click the link to see. More are being added every day) and a price (Free!).
I have spent a ton of time this past year attending conferences and learning many great things. Despite some of the awesome sessions I attended, I always seemed to learn the most from talking and sharing with other teachers around me. The purpose of an edcampis to connect the teachers directly. Teachers have so many great ideas and practices, but they are not often given a chance to share them with others in their own school. Edcamp is a way to bring these teachers with great ideas together from all over to help the students in the classroom.
I would love to see a strong showing from my District at this event. I think I teach in one of the best districts in the country and would love to show everyone the amazign things that our teachers do each and every day. This conference is not a tech conference! This conference is about sharing ideas that work. Best practices for teaching various subject matter. Administrations isues could be addressed. There are countless topics and many conversations that can be had because we all work so hard at our jobs and it would be just greedy not to share with other teachers eager to learn.
We are limited in space (250 Max), so please click here to register. Space is filling up and will get jammed after we spread the word in March at MACUL, so sign up sooner than later. Maybe our district would even give us conference or workshop hours for attending (cough cough hint hint). Please pass this conferecne along to any other teachers you might now. A ton of work goes into putting on a free conference and I would love to share it with some of the best teachers I know. Thanks in advance.
Here is a video #edcampPhilly put together that does a nice job explaining #edcamp.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
#edcampDetroit Registration is Open!
You read that right, #edcampDetroit registration is open. Like all edcamps, attending this amazing conference on Saturday May 7th at Wayne State University is free! Click here to go directly to the registration page! We are very excited about bringing #edcamp to Detroit because we know there are many educators in the area that are dying to get together and share the wonderful things they are doing in the classroom.
Don't know what #edcamp is all about? That's ok. Here is a great video put together by our friends in Philly. They were the first to start edcamp and now there are #edcamps across the country and Canada.
Ed Camp from True Life Media on Vimeo.
As you can see, there is so much that can happen at an #edcamp. It all starts with you. Please sign up and come ready to share with the great educators from all over the area. We are also planning some exciting joint sessions with #edcampBoston, so stayed tuned for more info.
If you are interested in sponsoring #edcampDetroit, please contact us at edcampDetroit@gmail.com or send us a tweet @edcampDetroit.
Please check out www.edcampDetroit.org for more details on the event.
Don't know what #edcamp is all about? That's ok. Here is a great video put together by our friends in Philly. They were the first to start edcamp and now there are #edcamps across the country and Canada.
Ed Camp from True Life Media on Vimeo.
As you can see, there is so much that can happen at an #edcamp. It all starts with you. Please sign up and come ready to share with the great educators from all over the area. We are also planning some exciting joint sessions with #edcampBoston, so stayed tuned for more info.
If you are interested in sponsoring #edcampDetroit, please contact us at edcampDetroit@gmail.com or send us a tweet @edcampDetroit.
Please check out www.edcampDetroit.org for more details on the event.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
#edcampDetroit
EdcampNYC has shown me, much like edcampKC did, that Michigan is in desperate need for an event like this. There are so many great teachers out there that want to improve education in their schools and classroom, but there isn't a venue available to them. Edcamps are spreading across the country because educators are realizing that it is important to get together and improve education. Education is not perfect and teachers know it. However, many of us are tired of sitting back waiting for someone to fix it for us. No longer are teachers content with just making their classroom great. Teachers now want to spread the greatness around. Now is the time to act.
I'm organizing edcampDetroit, and I'm excited about the progress I have made so far. We have an excellent venue at Wayne State University and the sponsorship of SimpleK12 and TechSmith. If you are interested in joining the team or being a sponsor, please send an email to edcampDetroit@gmail.com. I feel edcampDetroit can be an amazing event that can ignite the passion that is laying dormant in some teachers because of the lackluster job school districts have done providing meaningful professional development.
We will have registration up soon, but if you are interested in being part of this great event, please feel free to contact me @TheNerdyTeacher or @edcampDetroit. We want to change education in this country, but we need to start at home.
I'm organizing edcampDetroit, and I'm excited about the progress I have made so far. We have an excellent venue at Wayne State University and the sponsorship of SimpleK12 and TechSmith. If you are interested in joining the team or being a sponsor, please send an email to edcampDetroit@gmail.com. I feel edcampDetroit can be an amazing event that can ignite the passion that is laying dormant in some teachers because of the lackluster job school districts have done providing meaningful professional development.
We will have registration up soon, but if you are interested in being part of this great event, please feel free to contact me @TheNerdyTeacher or @edcampDetroit. We want to change education in this country, but we need to start at home.
Friday, May 28, 2010
edcamp Detroit is a Go!
After a few days of sending out Tweets, DMing people from around the state and having great friends spread the edcamp Detroit idea around, I feel like there are enough people interested to get this thing off the ground. For starters, check out http://edcamp.wikispaces.com/edcamp+Detroit to join the wiki and add your thoughts, ideas, information to the edcamp Detroit page. The more that want to help, the better.
I'm excited and scared to move forward now. I have never run a conference. I'm just a nerdy teacher, what do I know about conferences, especially "unconferences"? However, I know that I'm surrounded by amazing people and that together we can pull off a heck of an unconference and edcamp Detroit will be the envy of the edutech community.
Please stop by the wiki and offer any ideas or thoughts that you might have. You don't have to volunteer for anything or even live in the area to help out. Let's make edcamp Detroit an event to remember!
- @TheNerdyTeacher
I'm excited and scared to move forward now. I have never run a conference. I'm just a nerdy teacher, what do I know about conferences, especially "unconferences"? However, I know that I'm surrounded by amazing people and that together we can pull off a heck of an unconference and edcamp Detroit will be the envy of the edutech community.
Please stop by the wiki and offer any ideas or thoughts that you might have. You don't have to volunteer for anything or even live in the area to help out. Let's make edcamp Detroit an event to remember!
- @TheNerdyTeacher
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