By Dr. Will
Edcamps are (unconferences) where educators come together to connect, discuss, and share ideas about what they're doing in their classrooms. There's no set schedule, no list of presenters, and no PowerPoint presentations. There is, however, a communal spirit and a focus on learning and collaboration.
On March 1, 2014, Mississippi hosted its first Edcamp in Jackson, MS. This was my first unconference, and I was excited to learn with such a group of forward-thinking educators. Though we didn't get the turnout we expected, the experiences we had couldn't have been scripted any better in a movie.
What I enjoyed most about Edcampjxnms was the feeling of being part of something bigger. All of us were there because we believe in the power of connected learning and the possibilities that exist in using technology to transform education.
I must thank the sponsors and all of the companies who donated door prizes and swag. We cannot thank you enough for your contributions. The list of sponsors are as follows:
Special shout out to Applebee's and Chick-Fil-A for providing us with nourishment.
Check out the digital scrapbook from Edcampjxnms.
About the author: Dr. Will is an instructional technologist for Hattiesburg Public School District in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He graduated from Capella University, and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management where he specialized in digital leadership and using social media to individualize the professional learning needs of teachers. Prior to becoming an instructional technologist, Dr. Will worked as a social media strategist. His expertise is in using social and digital tools to facilitate an array of connected learning experiences. This blog, Peoplegogy, was born out of his mission to explore and share the educational applications of web 2.0 tools.
