There's an inspiring new movement happening around the world, taking a different approach to teacher professional learning. It's called, "EdCamp." EdCamp is a growing phenomenon that was started in the US by a group of educators who recognized the need for teacher-driven learning that engaged and involved the participants in a way that was both purposeful and meaningful. Essentially, EdCamp is an "un-conference" that begins and ends with a blank whiteboard where participants themselves choose and lead powerful conversations about topics that interest them. This kind of professional development is both valuable and inspiring since the conversations that take place are more authentic and represent real teacher questions, concerns and solutions.
This approach is becoming more and more popular. EdCamps are popping up all over North America and are even becoming an international phenomenon in just 2 short years since they first began. The reason that this approach is spreading like wildfire is because of social media and the passion that it ignites amongst the orgnizers and participants. Teachers themselves are in-charge of creating the atmosphere and finding answers to their questions. Ideally, this mimics the style of teaching and learning that we, as educators should be employing within our classrooms. Students should be given control to drive their own learning and work with others who can help them solve problems and formulate new questions. This is the true style of education in the 21st century. Preparation for a world of digital literacy, collaboration, critical thinking and different ways of representing knowledge can happen quite naturally without the direct need to "organize" and "plan" for it to happen. This organic and open-style of education is "facilitated" and guided. Resources and tools are available for use when needed by the learner.
EdCamp has a great future because of its amazing fit within an ever-changing educational landscape. It's a movemement that we will continue to see grow as the shift from traditional classroom learning to a more student-led and collaborative approach begins to take over.
Dubai needs EdCamp to spread new ideas and innovations in education. It also supports the need for teacher continuous professional development that is often in short-supply. In an isolated area like Dubai, where resources are still quite limited, and where a great deal of competition between schools exists, there's not often many opportunities for teachers across government and private schools to meet and learn from one-another.
EdCamp is the way forward and is making a great contribution to 21st century education.
EdCamp Dubai will take place on the 12th of May, 2012 from 8:30am-4:30pm at Bradenton Preparatory School in Sports City. Registration is free and will take place from the 22nd of April. Visit www.edcampdubai@wordpress.com to register.
IngeniousEd. will be a partner with EdCamp Dubai to bring a day of innovative and inspiring learning to educators of all kind.
This approach is becoming more and more popular. EdCamps are popping up all over North America and are even becoming an international phenomenon in just 2 short years since they first began. The reason that this approach is spreading like wildfire is because of social media and the passion that it ignites amongst the orgnizers and participants. Teachers themselves are in-charge of creating the atmosphere and finding answers to their questions. Ideally, this mimics the style of teaching and learning that we, as educators should be employing within our classrooms. Students should be given control to drive their own learning and work with others who can help them solve problems and formulate new questions. This is the true style of education in the 21st century. Preparation for a world of digital literacy, collaboration, critical thinking and different ways of representing knowledge can happen quite naturally without the direct need to "organize" and "plan" for it to happen. This organic and open-style of education is "facilitated" and guided. Resources and tools are available for use when needed by the learner.
EdCamp has a great future because of its amazing fit within an ever-changing educational landscape. It's a movemement that we will continue to see grow as the shift from traditional classroom learning to a more student-led and collaborative approach begins to take over.
Dubai needs EdCamp to spread new ideas and innovations in education. It also supports the need for teacher continuous professional development that is often in short-supply. In an isolated area like Dubai, where resources are still quite limited, and where a great deal of competition between schools exists, there's not often many opportunities for teachers across government and private schools to meet and learn from one-another.
EdCamp is the way forward and is making a great contribution to 21st century education.
EdCamp Dubai will take place on the 12th of May, 2012 from 8:30am-4:30pm at Bradenton Preparatory School in Sports City. Registration is free and will take place from the 22nd of April. Visit www.edcampdubai@wordpress.com to register.
IngeniousEd. will be a partner with EdCamp Dubai to bring a day of innovative and inspiring learning to educators of all kind.
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