Edcampto: What's Our Purpose?

Last evening a second planning session for Edcampto took place in Toronto. I must commend Michelle Soloman and Stephen Hurley and (??? I know other names need mentioning, please let me know) on the work they've accomplished to date.  The website is up and running http://www.edcampto.org/blog/ and looks wonderful.  It is exciting to see progress - from conversations to ideas to something concrete. It is happening!

The underlying theme of our conversations last evening centred on two elements:

What exactly is our purpose and who will be our audience?

It was a good discussion. Every single person at the table had a slightly different vision of the purpose and audience of edcamp.  They ranged from learning how to engage disinterested and alienated learners to providing educators with practical ideas, to how to create richer learning environments to the role of technology in learning.

 Was one person's idea though, more valid than another's?  No.  Each person's contribution to our discussion was relevant because it caused us to think deeply about education.  This, I think, reveals the nature and purpose of edcamps.   Edcamps allow diverse voices on education to be heard, rich discussion to ensue and deep thinking to take place. They are an opportunity for those who are passionate about learning to collaborate with others.  Edcamps are very different from traditional professional development.  There are no "experts", but there are interested, knowledgeable and skilled groups of people willing to share their thoughts and engage in debate about education. Given that the very nature of school is about to change dramatically edcamps provide a forum for exploring how these changes might unfold and allow anyone with an interest in education to participate: educators, students, parents, industry, public schools, private schools ... all are welcome.

Our hook for Edcampto is still being written, however, I will leave you with phrases from our conversations to mull over.

   ... changing visions of education ... what is this place we call school?   .. engagement ... collaboration ...community  ..... conversation ... technology ... ideas ... colearning .... do you have questions? ...  you're invited to a passionate discussion on education ... do you perhaps have some answers?  ...  learners.  ... a conversation among equals ... passion ... building connections ... creating a network of learners ... change ...  sharing ... learning from others ... learning with others ... no experts, but expertise ... open ... imagination ...possibilities ... getting rid of the hierarchy ... personal learning ... the role of technology ... what's relevant to you is not necessarily relevant to all ... inclusion ... the power of personal learning networks

Together these phrases create an impression of what we are trying to prompt through Edcampto.

What happens at Edcampto will be dependent upon who attends.  Our overall goal though is for participants to leave at end of the day  feeling excited, enriched and passionate about the possibilities for learning in the 21st century.