Today, for a couple hours, I felt like I was transported into the future of EdTech PD (Education Technology Professional Development) while participating in EdCamp Online! Thank you Kristen Swanson and your marvelous team for pulling off a very cool event. I was thrilled to join the session facilitated by Linda Yollis, master classroom blogger, who I knew through Twitter and her inspiring blog.
Learning online has its ups and downs. I was super happy today because it went nearly perfect for me. I had a brief flashback to EdCamp Home (online PD that used Google Hangouts and I couldn't start a session) however, closing and reopening the browser windows was the quick fix for smooth sailing during the rest of the session. Technology is getting better and computers are faster and more capable making today's learning adventure a possibility. Google Hangouts is an incredible tool that I know I need to leverage more to share out lessons learned and to help lead staff and students to better infuse tech into the classroom for richer, better experiences. Brent Catlett shared a TweetBinder and I included some snapshots below. It blows my mind the far reaching impact of these brilliant educators.
Learning online has its ups and downs. I was super happy today because it went nearly perfect for me. I had a brief flashback to EdCamp Home (online PD that used Google Hangouts and I couldn't start a session) however, closing and reopening the browser windows was the quick fix for smooth sailing during the rest of the session. Technology is getting better and computers are faster and more capable making today's learning adventure a possibility. Google Hangouts is an incredible tool that I know I need to leverage more to share out lessons learned and to help lead staff and students to better infuse tech into the classroom for richer, better experiences. Brent Catlett shared a TweetBinder and I included some snapshots below. It blows my mind the far reaching impact of these brilliant educators.
Here is my archive of #edcamponline today http://t.co/lZlvbJddbq via @TweetBinder
— Brent Catlett (@catlett1) October 26, 2013
The pictures below show the flow of EdCamp Online. We started in the "lobby" and people started saying "hi" using the chat window while Kristen, David and Drew and others described the process. In the Google+ community people started to suggest topics for exploring. Once a topic was "+1" enough times, the session was created. It was pretty cool to watch the sessions being lined up. Almost like going into an ice cream parlor and seeing the menu with all the treats. Lots to choose from. After the moderators entered the room, 9 more lucky people could join that session. You could leave once you were in a session for another one as space permitted. I stayed in the blogging session and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to Linda, Rafranz, David, Tamika, Joanne, Katy, Brent, Vivian, and Justin.
Tips I learned for blogging:
- don't sweat the small stuff
- enlist parents as virtual volunteers (read/review/comment on posts)
- create student groups to support each other's blogging
- blogging offers writing without constraints
- camaraderie and grit
- be the "noisy group", it's fun and inspiring!
P.S. David, I also worried there was going to be a "barnyard blitz at 10." But it turned out to be a really, really great experience for me and I hope for many of the other 200 participants.
Tips I learned for blogging:
- don't sweat the small stuff
- enlist parents as virtual volunteers (read/review/comment on posts)
- create student groups to support each other's blogging
- blogging offers writing without constraints
- camaraderie and grit
- be the "noisy group", it's fun and inspiring!
P.S. David, I also worried there was going to be a "barnyard blitz at 10." But it turned out to be a really, really great experience for me and I hope for many of the other 200 participants.
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