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. 

NJASA Techspo 2014 - A look back and forwards

I had the upmost pleasure of presenting with Jay Eitner (@isupereit) and with OnCourse at this years annual Techspo! The #edtech convention was fantastic and I think that it truly helped to reshape some thinking of major stakeholders in our schools. 

The conference had its ups and downs, as all do, but it was fantastic to meet up with fellow like-minded educators. These folks are true #agentsofchange in education. 

While I was happy to present, I was unhappy to note that the organizers doubled booked me and I wasn't able to present again with Jay and Sandi Paul (@SPaul6414) about Bring Your Own Learning and devices. I heard it was a great session with questions flying back and forth. That is exactly what this sort of conference should have, CONVERSATIONS. Not just a few people talking at the front and other listening but active participants who want to make a difference in the lives of our students and how our schools are run. 

This was my second year going to this conference. Since last year, I have been to about five "unconferences" and EdCamps and I have to say, it is a world of difference. Not that this type of conference isn't worth your time. It is. But there is a time and place for both. No matter what though, as long as you come out of these with some great connections and deeper thinking about what you are doing, then they had done their jobs. 


Here is the presentation that Jay and I gave:

Breaking Down Barriers 


Here is the one Jay and Sandi gave:

BYO Learning 


For more pictures and testimonials, check out my Twitter page and the hash tag #techspo14.
Also check out the session page! 

The Unconference and how you can better yourself for FREE this year!

There are some great opportunities this summer for fantastic, FREE PD. This summer, join me for some EDcamps, Padcamp, and TeachMeet NJ.

If you have never heard of an ‘unconference’ it is something wild and great. It takes what you love about PD and removes what you hate about PD, which are things you don't care to learn about, expensive upfront charges, and speakers who have no authority to be talking about ed issues. 

Wikipedia describes them - “These are generally called Edcamps and they are designed to provide participant-driven professional development for K-12 educators. Edcamps are modeled as free participant-driven conferences with a primary focus on technology and computers. Educational technology is a common topic area for edcamps, as are pedagogy, practical examples in instructional use of modern tools, and solving the problems technology can introduce into the classroom environment.”

NJEA Review just had a great article about them as well in their latest magazine. I have copied the article for you to read.

Here is a list of them that will be in NJ in the next months:

Edcamp STEAM - Wednesday, July 31 at Linwood Middle School in North Brunswick, New Jersey!  S.T.E.A.M. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math (a variant of "STEM") - http://edcampsteam.org/

PadCamp - PadCamp is a FREEunconference devoted to exploring the use of tablets, e-readers & other handheld mobile devices in K-12 education. It will be held at Galloway Township Middle Schoolin Galloway, NJ on August 8, 2013!. - http://www.padcamp.org/

EdCamp Leadership - Join us at Kean University's gorgeous STEM center on Monday, August 12, 2013! Its goal is to assemble forward-thinking school administrators, board of education members, classroom teacher leaders, parents/community members - http://www.edcampleadership.org/

     TeachMeet NJ - TeachMeetNJ is an "unconference" devoted to K-12 educators sharing different aspects of technology in education. Where: The Richard Stockton College of NJ When: August 22nd, 2013 – http://www.teachmeetnj.com

EdTechNJ 2013 - Coming to#Edison #NJ 10.12.13. Mark your calendars! http://www.edison.k12.nj.us/cms/lib2/NJ01001623/Centricity/Domain/58/save_the_date_edtechnj2013_official.pdf

EdcampNJ – November 22nd, 2013 - Linwood Middle School in North Brunswick, New Jersey - http://edcampnj.org

I will be at all of these this year. Thanks to my great friends at #njed for helping me understand just what these are all about. 

This include, but are not limited to: 
+TeacherCast +Brad Currie +Bill Krakower +Scott Rocco