FLEDGLING TO PHENOMENON: Edcamps, the participant-led “unconferences” designed for K-12 educators, come from humble origins. As Executive Director Hadley Ferguson explains in a recent interview, the movement started with a 2009 Twitter chat and a call-to-action from teachers for more relevant professional development.
Now, EdCamps are a national phenomenon, with backing from the likes of the Gates Foundation. More than 1,500 events have taken place so far; another 600 are projected to take place this year alone.
So what is the secret to Edcamp’s success? Ferguson says it’s providing free, inclusive, and most importantly, educator-driven professional development. “When you look at the growth of Edcamps around the country and around the world,” Ferguson says in an interview with CMX, “they make a lie of any notion that teachers are apathetic. You only have to look at the growth of the Edcamps, which all comes from volunteer organizers taking it upon themselves to host this event to pass on the energy and excitement that they experienced to other teachers.”
