It is required in my grade eleven course that students maintain a blog. I decided it was only fair to force myself to also work through the challenge of regular writing.
This weekend I attended EdCampWR -- a fabulous unconference hosted at a local elementary school. I was tired at the end of the week, and a little tempted to spend my Saturday lounging around my house watching the Olympics rather than focusing on education all day.
Ultimately I am so glad I went. I am always revitalized by talking to other educators and this was no exception. The unconference format meant that there was no pre-set agenda, but rather the agenda was created during the day based on the interests and expertise of the attendees. I love that degree of self-direction in professional development.
I am always amazed at the number of people who give up a Saturday. I am always amazed at the degree of insight and experience brought to the table. I am always proud of how focused and engaged educators can be when talking about issues that matter to them.
I met lots of new people. I got to see some online peers face to face. I heard a variety of perspectives from a range of school boards, and grade levels. Overall I left with a lot to mull over and consider as I continue to develop my own practice.