If you have never been to an EdCamp before let me explain what it is. EdCamps are considered unconferences. In other words, about 425 educators, edtechs, and administrators all got together this past Saturday afternoon with no planned agenda. There were no keynote speakers, and no one had to propose a session prior to the event. At the start of the day, everyone gathered in the auditorium and then people were invited to come forward to propose sessions on the spot. No one had to be an expert in the topic, but only curious about it and have a willingness to share and learn. The sessions take on a discussion forum/roundtable/dialogue type format under the premise that "the smartest person in the room, is the room" everyone has something to share and bring to the table.
What is so great about this format, is that you can hear from everyone about their experiences and get their knowledge about the topic. You are also free to share your own knowledge and pose questions to the group. You are also ENCOURAGED to "vote with your feet" or "go where you grow." in other words, if you attend a session that is not valuable to you, you are free to get up and find another session that you might find more value in. No one will hold it against you that you left. I left one session, but that was because the discussion just ended up dying out.
Organization of the event was accomplished using shared Google Documents. One document contained the sessions, times, and rooms. Each session also had a shared Google Doc that was used to share notes, attendees' names, and Twitter handles in case you wanted to connect with others after the session ended. Each session was about an hour long and there were 4 different time slots throughout the day. I went into the conference hoping to just soak up some PD, but found myself adding a lot to the discussion and offering advice, feedback, and suggestions. I even proposed a session on 1:1 Chromebooks in the Classroom. A lot of great information was shared on classroom management and management of the devices. I am looking forward to the next EdCamp and encourage you to find one near you OR if there are none near you, start your own. It is a great experience!