Technology Use

There are those who think #EdCamp might be synonymous with integrating technology in educational settings. This is a misconception.. We actually advocate for the use of pencils.

Thanks  MiddleLevelEd for the great video. 

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Creditworthy Conference

A new edition this year. I thought it might be nice to get some credit for taking the initiative and furthering our own education. So I signed up to be a Professional Development Provider with the State of Illinois. This means I can and will provide continuing professional development units (CPDU) to those who wish to earn them. Email me for more details.
This was both and easy decision and a difficult one. I think we all deserve credit for coming to EdCamp. I think we learn more than we would in most sponsored professional developments, if simply because we are choosing what we want to learn.
On the other hand I think an unconference can very easily devolve into a CPDU factory. (Which would make it on par with the majority of sponsored professional developments.)
I don’t want that to happen. We as teachers need to take charge of our profession. We need to be saying, “This is what good high quality education looks like.” Then we need to take what we learned back to our districts and use it to improve our classrooms and our schools.
That is happening now. That is what we are doing when we take our valuable time and use it to further our own professional education. I don’t want to dilute that effort by giving people the option of coming to EdCamp to earn cheap CPDU’s. I do want to acknowledge that we work hard to improve our own craft. I would also like to acknowledge that educators can and should be the leaders in our own professional development. Thus the option of earning CPDU's.

We’re At It Again

It has taken a bit longer than planned, but EdCampChicago is ready to host another unconference.

Last year it was great to have such a strong showing from so many Wisconsin educators and we hope some return this year, but many people also suggested EdCampChicago should be closer to Chicago.

While I was busy eyeing a nice junior college down town Leyden School District stepped up and practically begged to be the next host. Well they offered anyway, and what an offer it was.

First they offered as many classrooms as we wanted, we are hoping to more than double the number of participants to 250 educators. Then they offered Smart Boards in almost every classroom. What about WiFi? we asked. Of course, they responded.

Then we started asking for more.

Will you invite school board members? Yes.

We would love to see students get involved do you think they might want to do things like video tape, and provide concierge services? Yes, and we will do one better, we’ll ask our Cuisine Club about running a coffee and sandwich shop.

Hmmm, I wonder if they have an auto shop at this high school?

I am looking forward to February 2012, EdCampChicago 2012 is shaping up to be an awesome event.



EdCamp Chicago is being held at East Leyden High School (3400 Rose St, Franklin Park, IL 60131-2184) on Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.  Come and join us for a day of great professional development!

Impromptu Smackdown

Several of the attendees decided they wanted to share resources and put together an impromptu Smackdown sharing session. It's exciting when people take the opportunity to control their learning.


Here's the Google Doc of the sites shared.

ActiveGrade

ActiveGrade is an online standards-based gradebook that empowers students and teachers by making feedback the start of the conversation - instead of the end. We have 3 core beliefs:

• Assessment and grading should be about helping students learn and improve, not about ranking
• Clear, regular communication about expectations empowers students to be active in their own learning process
• Giving meaningful feedback shouldn't take all day

Focus on knowledge, not on points! We're giving away a 1-year teacher subscription as a door prize.

www.activegrade.com

The Days Events of Livestream from EdCamp Chicago

Slideshow from EdCamp Chicago

Morning EdCamp Chicago Arrival Video

Watch live streaming video from edcampchicago at livestream.com

Morning Arrival and Welcome Video

edcampchicago on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Opening Session and Remarks from EdCamp Chicago Video

Watch live streaming video from edcampchicago at livestream.com

Future of Textbooks and Flip Teaching Video(starts at about 4:28 minute mark)

edcampchicago on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

BYOD Section 1

Watch live streaming video from edcampchicago at livestream.com

BYOD Section 2

Watch live streaming video from edcampchicago at livestream.com

QR Codes in the Classroom


QR Code Part 1



QR Code Part 2



Diigo vs Delicious



Apps in K12 Education- Part I


Apps in kK12 Education Part II


"Great tech has...."


Empowering Student Learning with Social Networking and Technology Integration

Collaboration with EdCamp Philly

Did you know EdCamp Philly is also being held today? We've decided to collaborate a little with the great folks in Pennsylvania and do our best to share resources and reflections. A Wallwisher has been created for any EdCamp Philly or EdCamp Chicago attendee to share information about things they've learned from the day.

Simply click on the link below and you'll be taken to the site. Once you are there, click on an open space a new sticky will pop up. Enter your information and you're done!

EdCamp Philly - EdCamp Chicago Wallwisher Page