We built it, but not many came... How do we reinvigorate Teachers Unplugged?

This is the fourth year that I have helped to organize the Teachers Unplugged session at NAISAC. This is a participant driven session in which the attendees propose and vote on topics for discussion and then we sit at round tables and have two 20 minute discussions about the most popular topics. It takes some explaining as people enter, but every year we have heard the same thing from people as they leave the session, "This is the best session I have attended at this conference."

     

I think this has to do with the fact that the sessions are interactive and participatory. The fact that NAISAC brings together independent school folks from all over the country who are grappling with the same questions, makes the unplugged session a unique opportunity to hear and learn from the other attendees at the conference (not just the experts). We even "sketchnoted" during the discussions - putting into direct practice the Doodling message we had heard from Sunni Brown's talk the day before. 

This year we had about 30 people attend the Teachers Unplugged session (about 50 people attended the Administrators Unplugged session the day before). Not only is this a valuable experience for the participants, but you can easily bring this back to your own faculty as an approach to Professional Development. My question is why so few? And how do we get more people to attend?  

I think part of the problem is our title - people don't "get" what an unplugged session is until they get to it. It is a hard concept to explain. How can we rebrand this session to better communicate its value and its benefits? I really don't want this session to die. NAIS has generously given us large rooms with big tables. I fear if we can't get the numbers, NAIS won't be able to justify the space they give us. 

Please help! What can we do to help reinvigorate the interest in this session? Do you have an idea for a new session title? Something that would attract more people to give it a chance? I welcome your suggestions!!

Teachers Unplugged - An unconference inside a conference

For the first time ever, NAIS is offering two unconference sessions within their regular program called Teachers Unplugged. At these sessions attendees are going to have the opportunity to shape their own learning. We will have multiple round tables and a variety of topics offered for discussion by those who show up.

This is simultaneously exciting and terrifying. I am helping to facilitate the process, but the reality is that is totally out of my hands. I have run many unconferences, edcamps, and edubloggercons and I have the same feelings everytime. Thus far it has always worked out, but letting go of that control is always disconcerting.

If you are at the #NAISAC13 conference this year, I hope you will come by and help lead or participate in a conversation. Several of the organizers are going to be wearing t-shirts to encourage your questions. Please take a moment to stop us and ask. The sessions are going to run before and after lunch in Hall G.

Here are a few of the topics that people have suggested they might talk about.

• Geometry, math, technology in math instruction, math courses beyond calculus
• Plans for a maker space in their school to support STEAM initiatives? 
• New practices best practices in STEM/STEAM initiatives
• Public-Private Partnership models (school-school and/or organization/consortium)
• Bridging Conversations re ""Diversity & Inclusion"" & ""Teaching and Learning"" (ie intentional cross-cultural competency goals)
• Global collaborations in the K-8 curriculum
• 1:1 laptop program
• professional development
• social media in the classroom
• social media for educators"
• How to build the Intersection of Rigor and 21st Century Skills"
• Starting your own blog
• Going paperless
• iPads or Chromebooks
• Making change in a traditional school
• Getting the best out of middle school boys

Please check out this form to add your own topic.

If you are planning to attend, please take a moment to let us know what topics are most interesting to you.