#Edcamp4Corners is our newest gathering of educators planned for November 4, 2023 at San Juan High School in Blanding, Utah. Ramsey Seweingyawma from Monument Valley High School will be our Keynote speaker, and we’ll have lots of great food, treats, swag and prizes for our inaugural cohort in southeast Utah!
#edcampWASO brings together teachers from Alpine, Provo, Nebo, and Juab school districts. We also partner with Utah Valley University to include pre-service teachers as well. This edcamp is October 7, 2023 at Nebo District Summit Center in Springville, UT.
#edcampStGeorge brings edcamp to the southern part of Utah. Edcamp St. George is January 6, 2024 at Desert Hills Middle School.
#EdcampUT brings together educators from across Utah. Edcamp Utah is February 3, 2024, at TBD in Salt Lake, Utah.
Edcamp CUT is for our friends in Central Utah. Edcamp CUT is April 27, 2024, at Red Hills Middle School in Richfield.
UCET brings Edcamp to teachers across the state of Utah. In a typical school year, teachers can experience these one-day conferences in a variety of locations. We plan to see you again during the 2023-2024 school year! To find out more about the different Edcamps across Utah, please look below or search hashtags – #edcampStGeorge, #EdcampUT, #EdcampWaSo, and #EdcampCUT on Twitter.
What is an Edcamp?
Let’s begin with a definition. In short, Edcamps are:
Despite the concrete definition, it can be difficult to truly capture the Edcamp experience. That’s because a “typical” day of learning at an Edcamp doesn’t really exist. Each Edcamp is unique and based on the needs of the participants. When you arrive at the location (usually a school or university) on the day of the event, there is no pre-set schedule of sessions or presenters. Instead, there’s just a blank sheet of big paper with a grid on it.
From that blank slate, everyone builds the session schedule together. As people mingle and chat over free coffee and donuts, they put up potential discussion topics on a board. Since it’s my job to build the schedule at the Edcamp events I organize, I can truly attest that the entire process is positive and organic. Occasionally, people who don’t even know each other realize that they have similar interests and end up running a session together. Other folks come with an idea, throw it out to the group, revise it, and end up posting it with a refined focus. Since anyone who attends an Edcamp event can be a presenter at the event, it’s a very empowering experience for everyone involved.
The skeptics are likely wondering, “What do you do if no ones signs up?” (I get that question a lot.) And while there are certainly specific strategies you can use to ease your anxiety (building an idea board on the event page, having conversations with amazing educators who are planning to attend, etc.), they usually aren’t needed. I’ve never attended an Edcamp or heard of an Edcamp where the schedule board didn’t fill. It just doesn’t happen.
From Kristen Swanson, www.edcamp.org
What Utah teachers are saying about Edcamp?
“Edcamp is what professional development should be about. Teachers coming together to discuss individual challenges and interests, while sharing resources or possible solutions based on real needs, interests, and experiences. Participating in Edcamp Utah was one of the most authentic professional development experiences I have had in years.” Jeremy Smith
“I had no idea what to expect at this event. I was pleasantly surprised as so many teachers were very willing to share their experiences with different technology. I felt like the sharing of the collective knowledge regarding technology was very valuable.” Jean Robinson
“I really enjoyed the open format of each session. Everyone’s ideas were heard and addressed within each session, regardless of current level of understanding.” Kathryn Morrison
“I have been hungering for a collaborative experience like this. Edcamp met my expectations and beyond.” Sharon Moore
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