Organizing higherEdcamp

When I became a frequent Twitter user, a step beyond major lurking, I had no idea what was in store for me.  I began to follow, retweet, tweet and then repeat, and repeat and repeat.  Before long I was immersed in tweets about topics I was passionate about.  I found it a challenge to make the time to follow all of the fabulous shares that were landing on my homepage.  What an amazing place to learn... and an even better place to find an unexpected professional learning network of people I deemed "follow worthy".

There was one profile that caught my continuous attention with her obvious passion for education, technology and most specifically special education.  Dina Moati and I began to follow one another and shared the occasional direct message.  It was a surprise though when one day Dina messaged me with a proposition... she wanted me to consider being part of an organizing team for higherEDcamp.

Now Edcamps were new to me.  I had never attended an Edcamp. I didn't know anyone who had attended one, nor had I really ever read about one. I asked myself how could I possibly organize one with such limited knowledge and experience?  Although I questioned my fit for the project, Dina's passion and enthusiasm for higherEDcamp was nothing short of contagious.  She quickly put out any of my self-doubt and with pure optimism she was sure higherEDcamp would be a success.  Soon the team began to grow, and although we lost some original members due to personal commitments, the "Team of 3" was born with Jennifer Tate joining the ranks.

My experience organizing higherEDcamp was amazing. Three strangers had come together through Twitter with the goal of putting together an inspirational and memorable day of learning for higherED professors, administrators, students and educators.  At the time we didn't know who would come.  We didn't know where it would be.  We didn't know how we would pay for it, and we didn't know if we would be lucky enough to attract some sponsors.  We just knew we wanted to create a day of innovation and collaboration, utilizing the UNconference format.

Three strangers... one goal!  We lived a distance apart so ALL of our planning was done through Google Hangout. In fact we only met each other in person as a team for the first time the day before the event. We tossed around ideas, we shared resources, and we quickly learned about each other's strengths.  Jennifer had the power of persuasion and took on the task of reaching out to prospective sponsors.  Her creativity brought us the idea of having a "Me to We" loom to create a tapestry to represent the day. As well she created a bowl full of badges for participants to pin to their lanyards to highlight their values and skills related to their teaching.   I took responsibility for helping to generate content for the website, draft the e-blasts, and assist with organizing the volunteers.  Dina had the vision! The end goal was always in site as she had the most experience with Edcamps.  She used her past and recent experiences to help shape our day and committed herself to spreading the news.  She tweeted, emailed and tweeted some more to make sure that higherEDcamp was well promoted.  Her ability to anticipate our needs for the day led us to securing a location and arranging more than enough food for the participants and volunteers.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the tasks and contributions associated with planning our first ever higherEDcamp.  Should you ever want to organize your own, there are plenty of valuable resources online from the Edcamp Foundation, and resources from those who have organized previous Edcamps. The three of us worked passionately to bring it all together.  When one team member was reluctant or hesitant about something, the others rallied.  We balanced each other out and it showed as our vision became a reality.

The day of higherEDcamp was nothing short of amazing.  After all, I got to experience and organize an edcamp all in one day!  Educators from across Ontario, and even from other provinces, attended higherEDcamp. They shared ideas and resources on a variety of topics, rekindled old friendships, and created new ones. Aside from the success of the day, the most unforgettable part of higherEDcamp for me was how three strangers, all with proclaimed interest and passion in higher education, came together and made something out of nothing.  Dina's words summed it up nicely... it was like a stone soup, a story of pure cooperation. With a little of this, a little of that, a more than a dash of partnership, higherEDcamp was born.

Thank-you team for such a wonderful experience!

For more information about higherEDcamp you can visit our website or follow us on Twitter @higherEDcamp #higheredcamp

10 Tips to Accomplishing Your Goals

At this time of year, we are often reflecting on our past and thinking about our future. We set new goals for ourselves that some like to call New Years Resolutions.   Whatever you call them they are important to consider.  My reflections have led me to think more about my accomplishments this past year, both professionally and personally.  Fortunately, I can say that I am feeling very accomplished in 2014. This led me to think more deeply about the idea of accomplishment as I look ahead to the new year.

Accomplishment can mean different things at different times in your life.  For some, an accomplishment is merely getting out of bed or getting to work on time. These are examples of successful achievements of specific tasks.  For others, an accomplishment is anything that has been achieved successfully that has required long-term effort. Examples of this are graduating from college, getting married or landing your dream job. Essentially accomplishment is anything that has been achieved successfully and is recognized by yourself personally or publicly by others.

Accomplishment makes people feel good. When one feels accomplished they experience pride and joy.  People often share their accomplishments with others and this can sometimes be perceived as boasting. I encourage you to consider thinking about this as more likely wanting to motivate and empower others to aim high. At least that is my experience. Accomplishment leaves people with the feeling that they have a sense of purpose and that they are achieving things in their life which give their existence a deeper meaning.  

Most of us experience days where we can feel truly accomplished in so many ways.  Other days we may feel we have achieved very little. People often perceive me as accomplishing a great deal and some have actually asked me if I ever sleep.  I can agree that sometimes I have too many balls in the air, no doubt.  However, for the most part these balls are what keep my soul the happiest.  

Here are some tips to help you feel more accomplished in your life.   

1. Think small. Not all accomplishments need to be big.  Appreciate the small tasks you complete whether you do them once or on a regular basis. 

2. Prioritize.  Are you juggling a lot of balls? To keep them all up, you need to choose which ball needs your attention and when.  Not all of the balls can be reaching the same height at the same time. Which one is at risk of hitting the ground first?  This is the ball that needs your attention as soon as possible.

3. Set timelines.  Set goals for yourself each day and identify how much time you have to spend on a task BEFORE you get started. As often as possible stick to your timelines.  Be your own taskmaster.

4. Empower yourself. Know that you can accomplish a lot in 5-15 minutes.  I experience this often with household tasks. If you have 15 minutes it is up to you to decide how to use it.  Do you want to accomplish 3 or 4 little tasks in 15 minutes or would you feel better devoting 15 minutes to a larger goal or outcome?

5. Accomplishments have value. Ask yourself what value does this task have?  For example, cooking for some may not be a favoured past time.  However, there is something to be said about self-care. Since many of us are so busy, looking after ourselves on a regular basis is an important accomplishment. Make your health a priority.

6. Identify what fuels your energy, What makes you feel good?  Is it helping others, a quiet walk, or completing a household chore?  Be sure to have elements of whatever makes you feel good each and every day.  This is sure to lead to a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment when you're putting your desires first.

7. Sometimes saying "no" is necessary. Know when to say "no" or "maybe next time". Some opportunities are time sensitive and require a great deal of thought before declining.  However, over-scheduling yourself can lead to reduced feelings of accomplishment. You may be a slave to many but a master to none. Sometimes saying "no" is necessary.  

8.  Mix it up!  The balls you have in the air should feed your soul.  Family, friends, work, volunteer projects, time to yourself - whatever you choose to spend your time doing it should feel meaningful and feel good.  If it doesn't? Rethink it! 

9. Strive for balance.  Be sure to identify your accomplishments in all areas of your life.  If one area feels abandoned add this to your priority list.  

10. Celebrate!  Share your accomplishments with people big or small.  Perhaps you will inspire others to think about their own accomplishments in a different way.

As I look forward to 2015 I see great things ahead.  I have been inspired by many to think outside the box and try new things.  Today I am feeling accomplished as this blog post is a commitment to my personal goal of blogging.  I look forward to inspiring others as I emerge into a better writer and thinker on topics that are especially meaningful to me and hopefully to you as well.

What will make you feel accomplished today?  Whatever it is - go for it! After all... the smallest step can lead to your greatest accomplishment.