An Ed Camp is a participant-driven professional learning session. Instead of sitting through scheduled presentations, attendees suggest topics, choose conversations they want to join, and learn from one another through discussion. It is informal, flexible, and built around what people actually want to talk about.

On Friday, we ran ours on Zoom and broke into breakout rooms based on topics of interest. I joined a group focused on student skill-building, specifically verbal presentations, writing, and typing skills. The conversation was simple, but it felt important.

Our Topic: Skill-Building and Why We Cannot Avoid It

We kept coming back to the same concern. Students these days are not practicing these skills enough. And not because they are unimportant, but because they are uncomfortable.

Students get anxious about presentations as they worry about how they sound or just about speaking in public. And when we see that anxiety, it is tempting to adjust. So we shorten presentations, make them optional, or pivot to something that feels easier.

But we started asking ourselves whether that actually helps students long term. If we remove the practice because it makes them nervous, are we helping them build confidence, or are we reinforcing avoidance?

Speaking clearly, writing thoughtfully, and organizing ideas are not just school skills. They are life skills and interview skills. Skills students will need long after they leave our classrooms. Ultimately, avoiding them does not reduce anxiety, but structured, repeated practice does.

The Value of a Zoom Ed Camp

On Zoom, the Ed Camp format worked well. The breakout rooms felt focused because everyone was there intentionally. The conversation felt practical and grounded in real classroom experiences.

A few things that stood out:

  • The discussions were relevant because they were chosen by participants.
  • It encouraged collaboration rather than passive listening.
  • It gave space to think out loud and reflect honestly.

Challenges of Running It on Zoom

There were also challenges. Virtual discussions can lose momentum if there is no clear facilitator and it is harder to read the room online. Some voices naturally take up more space, while others stay muted, and screen fatigue is real.

Would I Use This With Students?

I have been thinking about whether I would use an Ed Camp model with students and there is strong potential. Giving students voice and choice in what they want to workshop could build ownership. It would also create natural opportunities to practice speaking and collaboration, which connects directly back to our conversation about presentation and communication skills.

There would need to be scaffolding and clear expectations, and possibly assigned roles within breakout rooms, but overall I could see myself using it.

Pros:

  • Builds ownership
  • Encourages discussion
  • Creates authentic speaking practice

Cons:

  • Can feel overwhelming without structure
  • Requires maturity and accountability
  • Needs careful planning to stay focused

I would likely start small, perhaps using it as a prep session before a larger presentation or writing task.

Ed Camps in General

Ed camps overall have strengths and limitations.

Pros:

  • Flexible and accessible
  • Breakout rooms allow for small-group discussion
  • Chat features can support students who are less comfortable speaking

Cons:

  • Screen fatigue
  • Harder to read nonverbal cues
  • Easier for students to disengage quietly
  • Technology interruptions

Like any format, these workshops work best when participants are active rather than passive listeners.

A Helpful Resource

For more information on the benefits of EdCamps for teachers, check out this video!

Final Reflection

Friday’s Ed Camp was a reminder that sometimes the most important professional learning comes from simply talking honestly about what we see in our classrooms.

Learning and brainstorming in a more collaborative way ensures we are able to move into the education field with significantly more insight than going at it alone.