What is a nErDCamp?
Short Definition:
A nErDCAMP is a free literacy event. Teachers, librarians, authors and illustrators of children's books get together to discuss reading, writing, and books! EdCamps, the original “unconference”, sparked this new form of professional development. In an Edcamp, educators get together to create their conference.
Watch our nErDcampCT 101 Video
Detailed Definition:
What is nErDcamp?
nErDcamp is an "unconference" modeled after the original edcamp with a focus on literacy. An "unconference" means that participants decide which topics will be explored. Please view this comparison between a traditional conference and an "unconference" here. This comparison was obtained from the edcamp wiki space. If you would like more info about edcamp, please visit their wiki here.
Before the opening session, participants will have the opportunity to brainstorm session ideas and write them on sticky notes.
During the opening session we will fill the morning session board with different topics generated from participants. Participants decide which sessions they wish to attend and are encouraged to move to another session if the current session does not meet their needs.
(Update: There will be a digital session board that will be shared June 1st).
nErDcampCT
We haven’t solidified our schedule yet, but it will probably start at approximately 8:30 and end by 3:30-4:00. There will be three to four 1 hour sessions during the day. Some sessions may be led by participants who want to share a strategy, tool or idea that has worked for them (ex: Schoolwide Culture of Reading). Other sessions may be more like round table discussions in which participants discuss and share ideas on a topic (ex: How to engage developing readers) or panels of authors/illustrators moderated by a participant. ALL Nerdcampers are encouraged to be active participants--which includes educators, authors and illustrators.
***The last 1.5-2 hours of the day will include opening up the event to the local community. Authors and illustrators will be set up at tables in a larger space doing book signings and meeting readers. My committee plans to work with an independent book store for all book sales so the authors/illustrators who participate will have some of their titles available for purchase prior to the event as well as on the day of the event.**
Update: Since we are going virtual, this will change. We are still planning on promoting independent bookstores and going to guide participants to purchase books from these places!
nErDcamp is always free to participants, and our max space is limited. All involved are there voluntarily and do not receive compensation. It’s a day to celebrate literacy and promote book culture!
Update: This isn’t necessarily the case this year since we are going virtual. We will only be limited based on the platform we choose to use. More info to come about this.
Authors/Illustrators-- We are hoping to have 30-40 authors/illustrators involved at the end of the day book signing. That means that up to 5 of your titles will be available as pre-sales and limited titles will be available the day of the event. Once we reach 40 confirmed authors and illustrators, we want to encourage additional authors/illustrators to register as participants and join in for a dynamic day of learning and sharing.
Update: since we are going virtual, we will be promoting the titles of books and suggesting that participants purchase them through their local independent bookstores. We are hoping to organize nameplates in order to send them to individuals who do purchase titles that day. More info to come soon!
A nErDCAMP is a free literacy event. Teachers, librarians, authors and illustrators of children's books get together to discuss reading, writing, and books! EdCamps, the original “unconference”, sparked this new form of professional development. In an Edcamp, educators get together to create their conference.
Watch our nErDcampCT 101 Video
Detailed Definition:
What is nErDcamp?
nErDcamp is an "unconference" modeled after the original edcamp with a focus on literacy. An "unconference" means that participants decide which topics will be explored. Please view this comparison between a traditional conference and an "unconference" here. This comparison was obtained from the edcamp wiki space. If you would like more info about edcamp, please visit their wiki here.
Before the opening session, participants will have the opportunity to brainstorm session ideas and write them on sticky notes.
During the opening session we will fill the morning session board with different topics generated from participants. Participants decide which sessions they wish to attend and are encouraged to move to another session if the current session does not meet their needs.
(Update: There will be a digital session board that will be shared June 1st).
nErDcampCT
We haven’t solidified our schedule yet, but it will probably start at approximately 8:30 and end by 3:30-4:00. There will be three to four 1 hour sessions during the day. Some sessions may be led by participants who want to share a strategy, tool or idea that has worked for them (ex: Schoolwide Culture of Reading). Other sessions may be more like round table discussions in which participants discuss and share ideas on a topic (ex: How to engage developing readers) or panels of authors/illustrators moderated by a participant. ALL Nerdcampers are encouraged to be active participants--which includes educators, authors and illustrators.
***The last 1.5-2 hours of the day will include opening up the event to the local community. Authors and illustrators will be set up at tables in a larger space doing book signings and meeting readers. My committee plans to work with an independent book store for all book sales so the authors/illustrators who participate will have some of their titles available for purchase prior to the event as well as on the day of the event.**
Update: Since we are going virtual, this will change. We are still planning on promoting independent bookstores and going to guide participants to purchase books from these places!
nErDcamp is always free to participants, and our max space is limited. All involved are there voluntarily and do not receive compensation. It’s a day to celebrate literacy and promote book culture!
Update: This isn’t necessarily the case this year since we are going virtual. We will only be limited based on the platform we choose to use. More info to come about this.
Authors/Illustrators-- We are hoping to have 30-40 authors/illustrators involved at the end of the day book signing. That means that up to 5 of your titles will be available as pre-sales and limited titles will be available the day of the event. Once we reach 40 confirmed authors and illustrators, we want to encourage additional authors/illustrators to register as participants and join in for a dynamic day of learning and sharing.
Update: since we are going virtual, we will be promoting the titles of books and suggesting that participants purchase them through their local independent bookstores. We are hoping to organize nameplates in order to send them to individuals who do purchase titles that day. More info to come soon!
