Saturday was my third #EduCampAKL and well worth the caffeine fuelled drive up from Hamilton to Epsom Girls Grammar School. There were lots of new faces, plenty of familiar ones and a few online friends that it was great to meet face to face for the first time.
Full House at Epsom Girls Grammar School
It was a full house, populated by eager teachers/learners who saw the value in giving up their free time to connect with like minded colleagues from across the education sectors. It was a day to further our understandings of third millenium pedagogy and the new tools that might be used to engage students and promote effective learning.
PD is often seen as something that is done to teachers (not always the case IMHO) but EduCamps/Barcamps are different. There are no reluctant participants; everyone who is there wants to be there. Twitter once again proved itself the WD40 of social oils and made it ridiculously easy to slip into conversations with strangers previously met online.
Ultimately though, the day was about people*. People sharing and discussing their thoughts, their successes, their pitfalls and reflections. A group of likeminded educators all willing to join with others to connect and collaborate. I wondered again what it would be like to work in a learning environment surrounded by these people.
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
Next… EduCampBOP …see you there!
*and I got a choccy fish 🙂
Filed under: Auckland, blogging, blogs, classroom 2.0, educamp, ICT, New Zealand, teachernz, twitter | Tagged: connected, educamp, future, teachernz, twitter |
Go Room Five Go! 
Hello Teachernz,
I am Erwin Coleman, a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I am inspiring Secondary Education major with a concentration in History. I believe in educators and learners congregating together to improve the quality of education. The only way we can have creativity and innovation is if we put our heads together and think of new methods to teach and learn. I look forward to seeing following your posts in the future. You can find my class blog at https://www.edm310.blogspot.com and you can find my blog at https://www.colemanerwinedm310.blogspot.com. Thank You!
Hi Mr. Fawcett,
I am a student in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. I am currently working towards getting a degree as an elementary school teacher. I have been assigned to read your blogs and I am looking forward to it. I can’t wait to learn more in my journey through college about technology and the wonders it does in the classroom. Thank you for blogging for students like me.
Katie
Hello
I am a student in Dr.Strange’s EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama.
I feels good to know that there are people who actually enjoy going, and being apart of educational seminars where there can be growth in the education family. I look forward to reading about the many adventures to go through in your blogs.
Thank You.
Hi, my name is Cassie Skidmore. I also, am student in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I am currently working on getting my teaching certificate reinstated. I graduated from the University of South Alabama in 2005 with a BS in Elementary Education. I did not pursue teaching at that time. I was a little discouraged with all the “paperwork” the teachers in our public school system had to keep up with. I felt like they were teaching for “grades/scores”, instead of teaching for the children. I already had a job at a computer software computer and decided to stay there instead of teach. I now have school age children of my own, and have decided to get back into the school system. How else can I help make a difference and help make teaching a meaningful, fun way of learning for kids…right?
It is great to see educators coming together to share experiences and brainstorming together to how to make new things happen in their classrooms. This camp seems like an excellent way to learn what works for others and how to integrate new ideas and learning techniques into the classroom.
I am new to both blogging and tweeting, and never thought about it being a social network to connect with teachers and children around the world. I have already learned so much. I am very eager to have my own class blog.
You can find my class blog at https://www.edm310.blogspot.com and you can find my blog
You can find my blog at
http://skidmorecassieedm310.blogspot.com/
Hello, my name is Lori Wyatt. I am a student of Dr. Strange EDM310 summer 2012 class. I read your blog and watched the video by Professor Stephen Heppell. I enjoyed what he said. I agree with “We aint seen nothing yet” when it comes to technology. I am learning what my role as a teacher is helping students achieve great things with technology. I know it was nice to be around people who have the same mission as yourself.