What an interesting day!
I honestly did not know what to expect from the first edcamp in Hong Kong but it was a good experience and I'm very glad that I participated in it and helped to make it happen.
I'd like to say a big thanks to Jen who, having had experience of edcamp inToronto, really facilitated the day and kept it moving.
I'd also like to say a massive thank you to all of those who came! There were about twenty people - and interestingly they were a complete cross-section - not only those 'in' education.
We began the day with a coffee, or a green tea, and then shared where our heart was in education. I talked to Will who runs learning centres for under-privileged children in Hong Kong. We had a wonderful discussion.
We then introduced ourselves - and I FINALLY got to meet Di from DC college - we've only met on twitter!
We then moved into smaller groups and talked around three questions - Where are we now?- What do we need to do? (I think) and Where are we going on the future.
My first conversation I found quite frightening - talking about using face recognition technology to immediately add to data or inform parents of things happening with their children - it all sounded very 'big-brother' to me... Thanks Merrin for moving it along!
The conversation then turned to cultural differences and then finally to the future. It was also great to meet (again) Ruth.
Lunch was a salad club.
The afternoon was open for everyone to throw out a question - Mine was...Homework, Yes or No?
Again it really bought to light that there are such vast cultural differences in our amazing world, and who's to say who's right or wrong.
I enjoyed the day and would have even more I think if many more of my colleagues from the profession had been there as well. It's an interesting format but one that is not for all I think.
It was a great day and I'd be really interesting in holding another...shall we?
