My First #HackED experience!

Have you ever attended a conference with a PRE-Unconference built in? Learning about this cool unconference event was a game changer as my first glimpse of ISTE in Philadelphia. Everyone arrived early and were eager to start talking about #edtech! 

It was kind of like a family reunion of sorts because I feel like I have conversations with these "friends" of mine on a regular basis. The energy was happy and everyone excited to connect at this year's conference.

So, I have never experienced HackEd before. I have attended edcamps but this was slightly different. Why? Because of the number of people in attendance and they came a long way for this! lol I met people off the cuff from Great Britian and a spunky edtechie from Ireland by way of Mississippi and California (@JuliaSween)

My mission: To listen. I tend to be a talkaholic! I wanted to learn from others. Don't worry I did share but I learned alot. Especially from the first minute. The rules are the same as edcamp:

• It's all about the conversation
• No presenting!
• Rule of Two feet (which means if you aren't learning from the conversation or it's just not for you, move to find the right place)
• Rule of Twenty (over twenty people, split the group so you can have a more intimate conversation)
• Welcome newbies! (and I was welcomed!)
• Have fun

These are THE best rules on the planet! 

The conversations!

This was ultimately the purpose of HackEd! Actually having a designated time to talk edtech with edtechies from all over the globe! 

Once everyone has create a list of topics they would like to discuss, the sessions are put to a vote. The ones with the most votes are added to the sessions board...There was so many choices!

Check out what Tom Kilgore(Tom_Kilgore) wanted to discuss!

I started HackEd with a conversation on 'How to make our campus/district admin better edtech leaders.' Everyone in attendance are edtech leaders but everyone isn't a campus principal, head of schools, superintendent (eventhough there was one in the group) and understanding that they(our admin) too must be edtech leaders is critical for the success of educational technology on our campuses. 

The meat and potatoes of the conversation:

1. We must know exactly where our admin's comfort level with technology is. If they don't feel comfortable, we (edtech coaches/specialist) must be the guiding light to understanding for them!
2. We need to remember where admin come from. Many admin were teachers before they became campus leaders. When they were in the classrooms, technology looked and even felt different than it does today. The way they may have used it is completely different. If we can reflect on their past experiences, we all can learn from them and move forward.
3. Create a culture of edtech talk with your campus/district leaders. I'm really going to invite my admin to every session so that we both a part of the journey with the teachers. I think, growing together will help the campus reach our edtech goals. 
4. Invite other admin from other campuses. This may be the key! Admin MUST be apart of the PD! Changing our mindset that we must just reach the teachers isn't working, especially if the admin aren't sure what's going on. 
5. Host PD just for admin, start early (possibly before school starts) and pack a lot of patience! This is my goal! 

This conversation was one I needed to have and hearing from district level admin and campus principals helped me create a vision that now includes why admins' voice, not just my own. 

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