1st EdCampSFBay

I finally made it to EdCampSFBay in 2013! I signed up last year but didn't get to go (I forgot why).

I love the idea of "un-conference".  In fact, some colleagues and I were doing something similar about 2 years ago. A group of us decided to form a "support" group to help each other with curriculum, technology, classroom management, and sanity! The group started with about 5 or 6 teachers, and grew to something like 10 or 12. We met in schools or at someone's home.  We met semi-regularly for about a year, and then life got in the way, and we were having problem scheduling a get-together.

Now that I've attended EdCamp, my colleagues and I are thinking about an "EdCamp" on Campus or for the district.  We'll see.


I think PLN is the way for real growth. There's too much out there that we just can't stay on top of things by ourselves. Plus, we are teachers, we need to talk!

In any case, my two main take-aways:

1. I got to talk to another World Languages teacher who flips her classroom, and it's nice to find out that we are doing similar things. Kind of a confirmation.
• My follow-up actions: make more short videos. Continue with current classroom activities, but somehow learn to make the classroom more "station" like environment.
2. I got to revisit Google Maps, and will consider incorporating it in my curriculum. I've looked at Google Maps for a few years, but never really integrate it to the classroom. Since I am doing penpal programs with Taiwan again, perhaps this is something I can incorporate.
1. My follow-up actions: create a sample map to detail my town or schools that I've attended, and places that I've worked, or a trip that I've made in the past.

Uncharacteristically, I participated in the SmackDown. I usually like to hide in my little corner.  However, 360iTours is a really cool iPad app, and I think so many subjects can benefit, it was worth a shout-out. Too bad I couldn't demo it.  If I knew I was going to share, then I would've made a video. Then again, if my co-worker didn't urge me on, I probably wouldn't have gone up there to share.

It was also good to see Lisa Dabbs (@teachingwithsoul) again. I last saw her in October 2012 in UCCI's Institute. We are going to see what we can do to get our course approve!

Big "Thank You" to the sponsors and the volunteers! 

All in all, not a bad day, not bad at all.