EdCamp Cape Cod IV took place on Monday, August 1, 2016, at Mashpee High School. Over 100 educators came together to learn, share and collaborate around many educational topics. Some of this year’s topics were Project based learning, Virtual Reality in the Classroom, Empathy in the Classroom and many more! The sessions from the day and resource notes can be accessed at https://goo.gl/3iyRCk

The schedule is created by the participants as they arrive. The schedule quickly filled up with topics that educators wanted to discuss and learn about.  Problems and questions can be posed, or experiences can be shared. The focus can be whatever the participants decide and then shared common purpose/experience drives the session. Edcamp is “An organic, participant-driven professional learning experience. A community created by educators, for educators. The leading edge of professional development in education.” (edcamp foundation)

This was the 4th annual Edcamp Cape Cod, planned by the
Sandwich and Mashpee Edcamp Cape Cod team. This year we added a theme: “Beach Reads”.  Participants donated books which were given to the YMCA for their youth programs. Also several prizes at the EdCamp included autographed books by authors. Among them, Jan Brett, Emily Arnold McCully, Peter Reynolds, Leslie Hatton, Johanna Hurwitz, and Dorian Cirrone.

EdCamp is free to participants, and supported by sponsors who donate breakfast, lunch, coffee, refreshments and many prizes. We cannot thank the many sponsors enough for all the marvelous donations.
Lunch was provided by donations from both MassCUE and MASCD.

Sandwich High School and Mashpee Middle School students helped in so many ways,  directing visiting teachers, helping participants with registration and offering their own EdCamp student panel session where they answered participants questions from the student perspective.

Our Twitter feed blew up that day! Twitter was busy with #edcampcapecod and our top tweeters were offered a “tweet treat” prize for sharing their learning via social media.

The day wrapped up with a “Smackdown,” a lively exchange of ideas and prizes.  The Smackdown wrap up has become a signature feature of EdCamps where participants have the opportunity to share anything they learned in their sessions with the whole group.

The team would like to thank everyone who participated and made the day such a huge success! We are already excited about Edcamp Cape Cod V next summer!

EdCamp Cape Cod Team:

Sandwich Public Schools: Colleen Davidson, Beth Donahue, Nate Everett, Mary Kelly, Deb Klier, Karen McGrath, Alison Nelson & Terry Palombo

Mashpee Public Schools: Suzy Brooks & Colleen Terrill

SHS Student Volunteers: Trevor Delfino, Caleb White, Sam Whittle, Kylie O’Gara, Kelsey Cronin and Skylar LaMontague