JEDcamp is coming to the Chicago area!
For many, the best part of a conference isn’t the keynote or the planned sessions – it’s the side conversations. You know – the networking, the meeting old and new friends, the serendipitous brainstorming… What if a conference could have all of that good stuff without the formality of a hefty conference booklet and the expense and travel time? That was exactly the thinking that led educators to create “EdCamp,” the (un)conference (or, as a colleague coined it, a “pop-up” conference).
Edcamp started in Philadelphia in 2009 when a group of educators wanted to just get together and have organic, participant-directed, meaningful conversations about education. For more about edcamp, visit the Edcamp Foundation website. Here’s a great article about edcamps and their impact.
Well, this year several Jewish educators have decided that it’s time to have edcamps that are dedicated to talking about Jewish education. There have been two so far in Florida and New Jersey and there are two more scheduled to happen this year in Maryland and (insert drumroll here…) NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS!
Yes, my friends, we are proud and super excited to announce that Solomon Schechter Day School is sponsoring the first EVER Chicago area JEDcamp on Sunday, October 20th, 2013 between the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. How incredibly cool is that?
It’s important to note that, while this will be an amazing professional development opportunity for SSDS staff, we’re excited to open this up to all stakeholders in Jewish education in the Chicago area including those who are involved with day schools, religious schools, museums and informal education.
So… I’m encouraging all of you to plan to attend Chicago JEDcamp on October 20th, and if you’re interested, please consider joining the planning committee in formation (drop me an email before school is out for the summer to let me know you’re interested). And be sure to reach out to other educators you know in the area – it’s important that we get a diverse group to participate.
Let’s all make this a success!
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About
Debbie Harris is the director of educational technology at the Sager Solomon Schechter Day School in Northbrook, IL. Involved in Jewish education for over thirty years, she has an education degree from Northwestern University with a concentration in instructional media and a master’s degree in professional Jewish studies from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. She is skilled in using and teaching desktop publishing, video editing, presentation and animation software; and consults and presents regularly on integrating technology into Judaic studies. Her students podcast, blog, edit video and create claymations. She co-chaired the technology track for CAJE 33 in Vermont, is a SMART Certified Trainer for SMART Notebook, and a 2011 recipient of the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
When not learning, teaching or writing about technology, Debbie likes to sketchnote and craft. She likes to knit, do calligraphy, sew, watercolor, paint fabric and just generally play with fun toys like scrapbooking supplies and anything with texture. Debbie travels to California every summer to paint tallitot with high school aged campers. Finally, she is incredibly proud of her two daughters; Lori, who teaches English at a community college; and Allie, who is the director of the URJ’s Camp Newman in California.
Look for her at:
Debbie Does Desktop
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Diigo
YouTube
Ravelry
Email Debbie here
MuseForJews 
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