“Meaningful student involvement is the process of engaging students as partners in every facet of school change for the purpose strengthening their commitment to education, community & democracy.” ~Adam Fletcher
This past Thursday, December 3rd, 2015, was one of the most inspiring and rewarding days in my 13 years as an educator. Alongside an amazing team, we brought together over one hundred secondary students from Florida, Missouri, Iowa, and New Jersey for the first ever National #StuCamp!
Our mission was simple: to elevate student voice and empower kids to lead the conversation. It’s been said, “The ones most affected by education are the ones least consulted.” We wanted to provide a platform for students to share, learn, and grow together while having conversations around content that mattered most to them.
Our mission was simple: to elevate student voice and empower kids to lead the conversation. It’s been said, “The ones most affected by education are the ones least consulted.” We wanted to provide a platform for students to share, learn, and grow together while having conversations around content that mattered most to them.
Surrounded by a passionate team of game changing educators - Meg Roa from Florida, Dane Barner from Iowa, and Srishti Sethi from Massachusetts (whose Unhangout platform served as the foundation for the event) - we planned the specifics of #StuCamp for several months driven by the simultaneous fear and exhilaration of the unknown. We structured the event true EdCamp style - no planned presentations. Students would create the session board the day of!
We went into #StuCamp absolutely not knowing what to expect. I imagine the feelings swirling within me were some of the same experienced by Kristen Swanson, Kevin Jarrett, and the rest of the initial EdCamp organizers before their first conference: uncertainty, anticipation, trepidation, and excitement. We had no idea what was going to happen, how the event would manifest. And we were ok with that.
At 1pm EST on 12/3, over 100 students entered our #StuCamp room on Unhangout. After viewing a quick welcome video, we opened the session proposals and the Steering Committee held our breath. It was happening! We gave up control to our students - and they didn’t disappoint! The topics proposed were poignant, thoughtful, and authentic. Sessions included science, dress code, school start time, sports, and over-testing among others. That moment, the shattering of the unknown, was one I’ll never forget. Students interacting and collaborating with peers across state lines, children driving the conversations around content that mattered to them; and, most importantly, adults letting go in a learning environment. It was transformational.
We went into #StuCamp absolutely not knowing what to expect. I imagine the feelings swirling within me were some of the same experienced by Kristen Swanson, Kevin Jarrett, and the rest of the initial EdCamp organizers before their first conference: uncertainty, anticipation, trepidation, and excitement. We had no idea what was going to happen, how the event would manifest. And we were ok with that.
At 1pm EST on 12/3, over 100 students entered our #StuCamp room on Unhangout. After viewing a quick welcome video, we opened the session proposals and the Steering Committee held our breath. It was happening! We gave up control to our students - and they didn’t disappoint! The topics proposed were poignant, thoughtful, and authentic. Sessions included science, dress code, school start time, sports, and over-testing among others. That moment, the shattering of the unknown, was one I’ll never forget. Students interacting and collaborating with peers across state lines, children driving the conversations around content that mattered to them; and, most importantly, adults letting go in a learning environment. It was transformational.
We were incredibly honored to be joined by Hadley Ferguson, Executive Director of the EdCamp Foundation, and best-selling author and staunch student voice proponent, Dr. Russell Quaglia, who both shared a few words with the students before they headed into breakout sessions.
Unfortunately, it wasn't all perfect - things in life rarely are. Reality hit home about 40 minutes into #StuCamp when we crashed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology server causing everyone to be bounced from our room. Ultimately, the event, in it’s entirety, didn’t go precisely as planned, but that’s fine. As with anything in life - especially when you take a risk - there’s potential for failure. We modeled the vulnerability of risk taking and will be using this as a learning experience.
Despite the technology difficulties, we still consider the day a success. We were able to connect students from across four states and provide an opportunity for kids to learn from one another. The incredibly powerful potential of this cannot be underestimated. The sessions and conversations were both authentic and thoughtful, even if only for a short time. We believe in kids: their voice; their potential; and their genius. And this past Thursday confirmed how proud we are of them and how confident we are for the future.
My sincere hope, our sincere hope, is that this event serves as a launching point. In the same manner that the EdCamp movement has redefined teacher professional development, it is my hope that #StuCamp spurs international urgency to connect and empower kids across the globe to lead the conversation to change education from the inside out. This was only the beginning. We want to see #StuCamp events popping up all the time. The Unhangout tool is free. Sign up HERE to host your own and connect your children with the world! The EdCamp model is such a wonderful mechanism to amplify teacher voice… Let’s give our students the opportunity to amplify theirs and start a revolution.
Unfortunately, it wasn't all perfect - things in life rarely are. Reality hit home about 40 minutes into #StuCamp when we crashed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology server causing everyone to be bounced from our room. Ultimately, the event, in it’s entirety, didn’t go precisely as planned, but that’s fine. As with anything in life - especially when you take a risk - there’s potential for failure. We modeled the vulnerability of risk taking and will be using this as a learning experience.
Despite the technology difficulties, we still consider the day a success. We were able to connect students from across four states and provide an opportunity for kids to learn from one another. The incredibly powerful potential of this cannot be underestimated. The sessions and conversations were both authentic and thoughtful, even if only for a short time. We believe in kids: their voice; their potential; and their genius. And this past Thursday confirmed how proud we are of them and how confident we are for the future.
My sincere hope, our sincere hope, is that this event serves as a launching point. In the same manner that the EdCamp movement has redefined teacher professional development, it is my hope that #StuCamp spurs international urgency to connect and empower kids across the globe to lead the conversation to change education from the inside out. This was only the beginning. We want to see #StuCamp events popping up all the time. The Unhangout tool is free. Sign up HERE to host your own and connect your children with the world! The EdCamp model is such a wonderful mechanism to amplify teacher voice… Let’s give our students the opportunity to amplify theirs and start a revolution.
