What Is #PubPD and Why You Should Participate

Perhaps you've heard me talk about #PubPD, or you've seen Tweets from Jeremy or me about #PubPD. Perhaps you've wondered what it is all about. Perhaps you haven't given it a second thought. Regardless, I'm going to share with you a little about it and hopefully inspire you to attend a #PubPD session!

I actually learned about #PubPD from Jeremy. In a nutshell, here is what #PubPD is all about:

• It takes place once a month, usually on a Thursday near the end of the month.
• It lasts for one hour (6-7 PM).
• It takes place at a local pub that has wifi (currently, the local one has been at Nevin's Brewing Company on Rt. 59 in Plainfield).
• You need a Twitter account and your phone or computer/Chromebook.
• You join other educators from the area at your local pub to eat, drink, and chat face to face and on Twitter.
• The Twitter chat is hosted by @MapleSyrupEDU and uses the hashtag #PubPD.
• An education topic is chosen each month (last month it was classroom devices). Questions are posted about the topic and people respond on Twitter AFTER talking with their fellow pub pals.

If you are wondering why you should attend a #PubPD session, well, here are some ideas:

• It is professional development that YOU choose for yourself, not something hoisted upon you by the powers that be.
• You get to combine professional development with food and drink (you can choose to imbibe in an adult beverage or not).
• You get to make some new friends and educational connections.
• You get to develop your online professional network -- you will find some great people to follow on Twitter and other people will follow you, too!
• You get to learn so many new ideas and perspectives on really timely topics in education -- things you can use immediately when you get back to school the next day.
• You can "lurk" if you're new to Twitter chats or still learning how to participate. (Side note: my first #PubPD, I was pretty much a lurker -- I didn't say much on Twitter, did more retweets than tweets -- it was so far out of my comfort zone to attend this both in person and online!)
• The people who attend #PubPD are friendly and helpful. They will show you how to participate in a Twitter chat. They will ask you about the questions being posted online. They will see you as a valued expert in the field. All of this will leave you feeling inspired -- I promise!
• The participants in #PubPD are from the United States, Canada, and aroind the world so you get a really unique perspective on education topics (plus you get to see some Tweets in French -- so cool! Bonus: Charlene Doland often attends the #PubPD at Nevin's and she knows French -- so she can translate the French Tweets for you -- and she is super nice!!!!
• #PubPD always ends with a raffle for a free ticket to an EdTech Team event anywhere in the world (caveat: you have to pay for your own airfare!) -- and I won a free ticket at my first #PubPD, and I believe that two other Channahon teachers have also won!

I believe the next #PubPD is happening on March 29, which is our spring break. I won't be at Nevin's since I will be on vacation, but if I am able, I am planning to join in via Twitter while sitting on the beach at Shaggy's in Biloxi, MS. Watch Twitter for the announcement and link to RSVP to the next #PubPD!

Hope to see you at a future event!