Moving at the Speed of Creativity by Wesley Fryer

EdCampVoxer (Dec 23-30) & EdCampOKC (March 5)

This is the text of an email I sent to all the faculty and staff at my school this morning. Feel free to copy and use this email or adapt this email to fit your own situation, to help get the word out about EdCampVoxer and EdCampOKC!

 

EdCampOKC 2016 EventBrite Header by Wesley Fryer, on Flickr
EdCampOKC 2016 EventBrite Header” (CC BY 2.0) by  Wesley Fryer 

 

Casady Faculty and Staff:

I’m writing to let you know about 2 upcoming, free educational technology professional learning events. Both are part of the nationwide “EdCamp” movement, which is a self-directed unconference PD model which has grown dramatically in the past few years. If you’re unfamiliar with EdCamps, the 2.5 video “EdCamp 101” provides a nice overview. The 2 minute video #EdCamp at OKEngage from this past July in Oklahoma City also gives a good introduction, and includes some familiar faces.

1. EdCamp Voxer (@EdCampVoxer) Dec 23-30. 2-15

Voxer is an audio communication app which supports both synchronous and asynchronous group audio chats. The Voxer FAQ explains “Voxer is a live messaging application that brings push-to-talk technology to smartphones. Our service features live and recorded voice – if a you push the button to talk, you can be heard on the other end as you speak, but everything is also simultaneously recorded so you and the recipient(s) can play back any message later.”

This winter break, educators from around the country are using Voxer to hold a distributed, online EdCamp. All sessions are optional and you can even propose your own. EdCamps are all about making connections to other educators and learning together. I anticipate one of the best outcomes for EdCamp Voxer will be connecting with teachers with similar interests, and following them on Twitter as well as other kinds of social media to keep learning together.

Here are some helpful links to get you started if you’re interested in participating in EdCampVoxer:

  1. Download and install Voxer on your smartphone or tablet. You’ll want to register to create an account, and make a note of the Voxer “handle” you choose. (Your Voxer username).
  2. If you have not already, register for Twitter. Follow @edcampvoxer on Twitter and the hashtag #EdCampVoxer to start connecting with other participants.
  3. Sign up to participate in EdCamp Voxer with this Google Form.
  4. After you register, use this link (bit.ly/edcampvoxer) to join rooms with topics of interest. Actual sessions start December 23rd.
  5. If you’d like to suggest a topic (as participants always can at EdCamps) use this Google Form to share your idea/topic.

Last and most important step is HAVE FUN! If you join Twitter or have joined please tweet me a message @wfryer. I’ll be glad to help answer questions you may have about EdCamp Voxer via Twitter. I’ll also be glad to field questions via email, but I’m likely to be faster replying via Twitter over the holidays.

2. EdCampOKC (@edcampOKC) March 5, 2016

Our fourth EdCamp Oklahoma City will be held Saturday, March 5, 2016 at John Marshall High School in OKCPS. Unlike EdCamp Voxer, this is a local, face-to-face event with other Oklahoma and regional educators. Our previous EdCampOKC events have been held at Yukon High School, Grant High School in OKCPS, and Southmoore High School. In addition to Oklahoma we’ve had educators from Texas, Kansas, and Missouri attend in the past. Registration is free and online via EventBrite: edcampokc.eventbrite.com. More information is available on www.edcampokc.org

All Oklahoma EdCamp events are listed on www.edcampok.org. Three other regional EdCamp events coming up in the next few months are:

  • EdCamp918 in Tulsa (@edcamp918) on Saturday, January 30, 2016
  • EdCampSWOK in Lawton at Cameron University on Saturday, February 6 2016
  • Texas Ed U Camp in Denton, TX at Texas Women’s University on Saturday, February 13, 2016

If you have any questions about EdCamp Voxer or EdCampOKC please let me know!

I hope you and your family have a restful and wonderful Christmas holiday. May the love of Christ and the joy he brings fill your heart and the hearts of all you encounter during this Christmas.

Wes

If you enjoyed this post and found it useful, subscribe to Wes’ free newsletter. Check out Wes’ video tutorial library, “Playing with Media.” Information about more ways to learn with Dr. Wesley Fryer are available on wesfryer.com/after.

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