For when you miss out

This weekend, #EdCampNJ went down in North Brunswick, NJ.

 If you don't know what an EdCamp is about, check out this fantastic review by +Jeffrey Bradbury on http://www.edcampnj.org/what-is-edcamp/


I went last year and it was such a great event. So much so, that it changed my perspective on learning, leading, and teaching. The people that I met there, some from the Social Media edu-space, became good friends and people who continually shape my existence!

So, when they announced the registration for  the 2014 version of EdCampNJ, I jumped at the chance to sign up. I was excited, especially since I had just changed just districts and jobs. There were so many questions I wanted to ask and a few sessions ideas I had kicking around in my head. If you think I am feigning my excitement, do yourself a favor and ask anyone of the over 400 educators who went this year how valuable that day was. The conversations alone (along with, "gasp" free swag and pizza) make this day one of the best of the year. 

Picture of last year with some of the great Edu-Peeps in attendance. 

Work up early on Saturday, got my coffee game going and then, I hear the dreaded cough from mountain tops. My kids, specifically the little one, has a HUGE cold. Goops, gabs, mucus, and snoogies all ruining up and down his little face (yes, those are medical terms). My life shifted to dad mode while trying to make the little guy feel better but when the SECOND kid also work up with those medical anomalies, I knew it was a sign. 

My hopes of going to the unconfernce were dashed. 

I knew it was going to be a great day but I needed to stay with the family. Thankfully, ever so thankfully, these types of events just don't happen in person. They also happen over the internet via Twitter, Google Drive, and Hangouts. 

I was able to watch along as the fellas from #satchat brought up great guest after guest during their show. I was able to follow the hashtag and see what people were talking about in the sessions and I was able to actually see the session materials thanks to Google Drive!

It stinks when you have to miss out on something, especially something you know will benefit you, your staff, and your school district in general. 

It stinks that you can't be a part of something greater than yourself BUT.. and there is always a but, the event is great because of the people who attend and their willingness to share of themselves. 

So even though I couldn't make it:

THANK YOU #edcampNJ organizers for all your hard work.

THANK YOU educators, teachers, administrators, and tech gurus who gave of their time and ideas. 

THANK YOU #NJED and NJ for being the BEST place to work in. YOU ALL ROCK. 

#edcampNJ: Why I love Education.

Education has a bright future.

If November 23rd, 2013 is any indication of the state of education, we are in excellent hands. It was a day I won't forget anytime soon. #edcampNJ rocked Central Jersey, with nearly 300 educators. I have been fortunate to attend a few edcamps before (#edcampSTEAM and #edcampLeadership being two of them) but yesterday was something special. Yesterday, I felt what I #Ehad known for quite some time, that there isn't something wrong with education and that there doesn't need to be major overhaul in what educators do. Yesterday, I felt PASSION. I felt it as soon as I walked in. 

Opening remarks of #edcampnj from Linwood MS in North Brunswick, New Jersey.

When I walked in, I was greeted by +Cassie Gorombey and a few others, who gave us some free swag and let us know how the day would go. Then it was over to the Big Board and the photobooth (yeah, they pulled out all the stops!) to see what sessions were coming and what I could look forward to. To be 100% honest, there could have been nothing put on that board and I would have been fine. Not to say the sessions were terrible but my primary goal yesterday was to meet and talk, face-to-face, with some people in my PLN who I had established these online relationships. It was a strange feeling, looking for people based on a 150x150 picture, but I was determined.

Learning about Standards Based Grading.

After the opening remarks, which were awesome and led by +Bill Krakower, +Scott Rocco, +Dana Sirotiak, +Jeffrey Bradbury and a few others, it was off to the first session. What is always great about the Edcamp model is that if the doesn't pertain to you or it wasn't what you thought, you can leave! (The rule of two feet, thank you very much!) I didn't find myself leaving because the sessions were not what I thought but I wanted to see SO MANY great educators that I found myself walking from session to session just to get a feel of what was going on.

The morning went by in a blur. By the time the second session had come to a close, my head was spinning (and that is a good thing.) Another great thing about #edcamp is that if you are sitting in on a session and the people in the room are on a device, that is a POSITIVE sign that they are engaged. Just like I was, there were many people who were tweeting, taking pictures, and writing down notes. Of course, I had my trusty analog tablet along for the ride (yellow legal pad, anyone?) but most participants had a digital device of choice. WiFi was free and abundant, as was the breakfast and coffee. As +Jay Eitner always says, if you feed them, they will come!

(Another thing I noticed? That some of the best conversations happened AFTER the sessions ended. After one session led by +Bruce Arcurio, a few of us stayed behind to talk about where education was going and the differences some states have. There was someone there all the way from Virginia. We continued the conversation right into the lunchroom!)

An emphatic Jay Eitner speaking passionately about education and new teachers.

After lunch, I have made sure to meet up with all of my fellow twitter tweeps that I had formed professional relationships with. Whether it was the #edtechchat crew of +Tom Murray, +Alex Podchaski, and +Sharon Plante, or it was finally talking to and meeting +Sandra Paul, I was happy to extend a hand, or outstretched arms, to these people I hold in such high regards.

I mean, I talk to these people a few times a week, lean on them for some advice and truly consider them colleagues. I think out of all of the things I will take from #edcampnj, it will be the impact that these people have on me and the continued relationships I will have with my #PLN. 

Overall, I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that yesterday was about the best professional development I have ever attended. And do you know what made it even better? That it was FREE and I got to choose what I did. I would gladly give up another Saturday every month if there was something like this. It was unlike any conference I have ever attended. It was authentic, passionate and organic.

When you hear people talk or write about the negative state of education and how we are lagging behind and blah, blah, blah... do yourself a favor and ask them come out to one of these unconferences. I KNOW that their tune will change and that they will see and feel exactly how I do:


Education has a bright, bright future.

Some of my fellow edheroes - Tom Murray and Sharon Plante, along with Alex Podchaski, make up some of the #edtechchat team. Alex and Sharon met Tom for the first time yesterday as well!