#EdcampUSA - It's About the Conversations

Edcamp energy is hard to beat! Take it to the national level and insert a surprise visit from the Secretary of Education himself??? How do you compete with that? You don't! That's the beauty of the Edcamp phenomenon. The energy level is the same everywhere and it's very high.

@kristenswanson

For me, it's about the conversations. I genuinely look forward to getting to know new people and hearing their stories and ideas. Sit and get has a time and place. (I am not sure where now that I have caught the Edcamp bug.) Meeting people from my PLN was very exciting. But it's what I learn during the conversations that matters the most.

Initial pleasantries: Everyone wants to meet everyone in their PLN. Some want to meet and take a photo. I'm glad they take photos. I am too selfie self conscious.

@amandacdykes +Tim Lauer @magicpantsjones @curriculumblog

It's not realistic to think that we can spend the same amount of quality time with all 100+ PLN members. But those initial encounters matter. We will meet again. Whether it's online or in person. Then there are those deeper connections. Those PLN members that you can genuinely call friends. Not the fleeting friends you meet once and never connect with again. The PLN members that you have gotten to know for YEARS maybe.

My social media birthday is in 2009. I met THE Tim Lauer through social media almost 8 years ago through a leadership podcast I hosted with Scott Elias. Here a tweet, there a tweet, everywhere a tweet, tweet! (Ok, it's more than just a tweet here and there but that's funny:) We have grown up as principals together over the years and we got to meet face to face and talk shop for the first time. Again, it's about the conversation.

Fist time in D.C.

Great group shot of #edcampusdoed w/ @arneduncan pic.twitter.com/oex1G4cNcg

— Zac Chase (@MrChase) May 29, 2015

The conversations: Conversations are the heart of Edcamp. It's not about a PowerPoint or presentation. It's about throwing a question out there and watching the learning unfold around you.

• Conversations before arriving at the event.
• Conversations during morning opening.
• Conversations during morning sessions.
• Creating your own conversations outside of session.
• Conversations at lunch.
• Conversations during afternoon sessions.
• Conversations at closing.
• Conversations after the event.

Do you realize how much conversation goes on around an Edcamp? If you like to talk....Edcamp is for you. If you like to listen......Edcamp is for you.



Next steps:
Kids and conversations: How much conversation do we facilitate with students during the school day? Can you imagine how much kids can learn if they are just given an opportunity to have purposeful conversations? There is a difference between talking and having a conversation. Believe me, I know kids talk a lot! I have two daughters who literally do not take a breath on the car ride home from school.