Four years ago, EdCamp was set up by a small group of educators, inspired by the idea of providing a free space to generate and share ideas and to promote organic discussion. The name is derived from BarCamp, a concept that stemmed from the desire for an alternative to the traditional invitation-only, annual conference that allowed a governed discussion between a select few. EdCamp and BarCamp pride themselves in their status’ as “unconferences” that offer free, open and participatory workshop-events, aimed at creating organic conversation among enthusiasts.
From Teachers To Teachers
EdCamp was designed specifically for teachers and their needs, their mission to “build and support a community of empowered learners”, a mission that has since spread worldwide with hundreds of events popping up across the globe in recent years. EdCamp’s influence signifies a change in education, or rather, a desire for change. The inspiring idea of generating free, open discourse where educators can share ideas, opinions and issues is certainly a platform for positive change.
To celebrate the EdCamp movement, Fishtree is giving FREE summer access to its next generation platform for all teachers attending EdCamp events this summer.
How Does EdCamp Differ From A Typical Conference?
1. All events are 100% free to ensure equal participation
2. Anyone can host an EdCamp event (individual teachers, schools, organisations).
3. Anyone who attends can be a presenter, all you have to do is turn up with your opinions!
4. EdCamps are non-commercial and vendor-free so as not to distract from the matters at hand.
5. EdCamps have no schedule, an agenda is only created on the day of an event, by participants.
6. There are no boring presentations! All content is spontaneous and interactive.
7. EdCamp relies on the “law of two feet” where participants can choose the sessions that meet their needs!
Join Fishtree At EdCamp Kansas This Friday!
Anyone familiar with Fishtree will be aware of the concepts at its core, aimed at positively revolutionizing the educational experience for both educators and learners. EdCamp’s innovative conference model can aid us in our attempts at sparking a much-needed debate surrounding the future of education. Here at Fishtree, we are excited about the idea of furthering that debate in the hopes of inspiring change, and we are delighted to be part of the upcoming event, EdCamp Kansas which takes place Friday, 13th June.
Cannot attend EdCamp Kansas? Say hello to Fishtree on Twitter or follow EdCamp Kansas on Twitter.
About the author:
Lorna Keane is a teacher of French, English and ESL. She specializes in language teaching and has taught in second and third-level institutions in several countries. She holds a B.A in languages and cultural studies and an M.A in French literature, theory and visual culture. Subscribe to her blog or follow her on Twitter.
P.S. Teachers use Fishtree to plan lessons, find standard-aligned teaching resources, create assessments and see students performance, all in one place! If you’re a teacher, use Fishtree to prepare for your class and understand how well each student is learning. What’s more, it’s safe, secure, collaborative and easy! Try the next generation learning platform or contact us for a demo.
