On Saturday, November 21, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Science, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) Educators program is hosting a trip to the convention EdCamp NJ, which will be held in Springfield, New Jersey. This program is open to students who are in the education program and would like to know more about the teaching profession.

EdCamp is a convention that allows students who are in the process of becoming teachers to gain insight and information about the profession from people in the teaching field. This convention began in 2010 in Philadelphia and since then has had over 700 conferences in 25 countries. What makes this convention so popular today is the fact that the creators, which include Dan Callahan, Mary Beth Hertz, Kevin Jarrett, Ann Leaness and Christine Miles, call it an “unconference” convention. It is simply designed to give teachers of today and the future information of new ways of teaching to help further the education of students. Not only that, but this convention is free!

Many people may ask what makes Edcamp an unconference. Well, to answer that question, it simply isn’t a conference. Edcamp isn’t the type of conference that is known to the public months in advance. And it isn’t set in an auditorium where attendees have to sit and listen to a guest speaker for hours in front of a PowerPoint. It is a convention that involves hands-on learning for all attendees. Attendees and sponsors come together in one room and have discussions about ways a teacher can improve his or her teaching style to help educate the students.  

Edcamp NJ will be held at the Johnathan Dayton High School in Springfield. STEM Educators will not give transportation to this event, but Springfield is just minutes away from Kean University. For directions to Johnathan Dayton High School please follow these directions from Kean University.