K-12 Literacy Conference

TheEdCollab Gathering

SOS! Support and FAQ

What Does This Cost and How Do I Register?

You don’t! The Educator Collaborative’s biannual K-12 Literacy Conference called, “The Gathering,” is FREE. No registration, you just click on a session page to watch live during the event or to view recordings later. It is our free gift to the education community.

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Actually, that’s about it for info. 😎

It’s free. You do not register. It’s our learning gift to the global educator family. ❤️

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Optional: Attend on a smart TV or device

Be sure you have the YouTube app on your smart TV or device. Then, find our channel “The Educator Collaborative” and watch the current playlist.

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1. Check if your smart TV or device has the YouTube app. If not, download it.

  • Check the user guide for your Smart TV (e.g. roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire TV stick, Google TV Samsung TV Plus, etc) or smart device (e.g. phones, iPad,  Surface Pro, etc.) on how to download the YouTube app.
  • On desktops and laptops you do not need an app. Instead, simply open your web browser and go to our YouTube page @TheEdCollab (click here. Then skip to Step 3).

2. Open the YouTube app and search for our channel

  • In the search bar, type “The Educator Collaborative”
  • Click on our channel when it appear (it typically looks like our lightbulb icon with a follower count listed).

3. From our channel page, scroll or search for playlists. 

  • Look for our playlists.
  • Find the one called “Fall” or “Spring” + the year and Gathering (e.g. “Spring 2023 #TheEdCollabGathering”).

4. Open the playlist. Choose workshops to watch as they premiere (or after).

  • Sessions show a countdown clock until shortly before they are ready to go live. View the Gathering agenda for times.
  • After a session ends, it may take anywhere from 1 to 40 minutes for a session to be archived and available for replay, during that time some video links may remain blank. Once archived, you can watch from the playlist page for at least 6 months or more (unless noted otherwise on the agenda).

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Trouble Accessing Sessions:

First, note that (if all goes technologically correctly) all sessions will be archived.  If you miss something, you will be able to come back and view again.

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1. Refresh Your Page

  • This often corrects any streaming issues
  • Some browsers hold old versions of pages (called “caching”) to speed up your searches – you can reset these by clearing your “browser cache”

2. Check your connection

  • Check that you are not behind a firewall. You must be able to access YouTube to view the streaming sessions.
  • Be sure you are on a fast Wifi connection for best live viewing.

3. Follow Us on Twitter or Subscribe to our YouTube channel for direct video access as they premiere across the day

  • Follow our Twitter handle @TheEdCollab or subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheEdCollab
  • We will post direct links to session videos throughout the day

4. Check the schedule

  • Sessions show a countdown clock until shortly before they are ready to go live.
  • After the session ends, it may take anywhere from 1 to 40 minutes for a session to be archived and available for replay, during that time some video links may remain blank.

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Hosting a Viewing Party with 2 or 200+ Edufriends:

We encourage you to view with friends! We have a few requirements, though, and some answers to common questions.

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1. Never Charge

  • One requirement of sharing #TheEdCollabGathering with others is that you can never charge a fee (this includes no fee for entry to your event, professional development credit/hours, etc.).
  • You may collect donations for things like food or space rental, however failure to pay cannot bar someone from watching.

2. Viewing always takes place from TheEdCollab’s site or channels

  • You may not embed, record, or use other means of redistributing #TheEdCollabGathering beyond viewing from our event pages or social media.
  • If you are sharing, you may project on screens, invite colleagues to a computer lab, send them links to our site/channels.

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Can I Earn/Give PD Credits or Certificates for the Gathering?:

While we are a registered New York State CTLE hours provider, TheEdCollab does not provide credit or CEUs of any kind for attending Gathering sessions. This is because we wish to keep the event free and so have no method of logging participation.

However, a school or district may wish to provide credit, if so, we have a few requirements and tips. Click below to view.

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1. Credit and/or Certificates may only be given by an accredited School or District

  • We love education organizations (we are one, too!), but for reporting and copyright purposes, only accredited schools or districts may provide any type of credit for Gathering participation.
  • Schools or Districts are granted this permission by The Educator Collaborative, provided the stipulations within this section are met (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), and if they are, we do not require any approval from us or notification to us.
  • Credit and/or Certificate granting by any other entity type carries legal liability and may only be waived with express written consent from The Educator Collaborative.

2. Never charge

  • One requirement of #TheEdCollabGathering is that no one may charge a fee (this includes no fee for entry to your event, professional development credit/hours, etc.).
  • You may collect donations for things like food or space rental, however failure to pay cannot bar someone from watching.

3. Credit must clearly be labeled as from, and supervised by, the School or District and must not state, imply, or be misunderstood to be, provided TheEdCollab

  • Professional development certificates may not include “#TheEdCollabGathering,” “The Educator Collaborative,” or “TheEdCollab” in the main title or sponsorship line.
  • Instead, a certificate title or activity should read something like: “South Town School District Professional Learning Day”.
  • Within the description, if included, reference may be made to our event and/or organization, but be sure to reference that the activity was “supervised by” your school or district.

4. TheEdCollab will not verify, keep records on, or otherwise hold historical documentation of any credits created by third-party Schools or Districts

  • Because we are not providing these credit hours, we will not be able to respond to requests for verification or information.
  • Providing schools or districts are encouraged to note this for attendees.

5. Viewing always takes place from TheEdCollab’s site or channels

  • You may not embed, record, or use other means of redistributing #TheEdCollabGathering beyond viewing from our event pages or social media.
  • If you are sharing, you may project on screens, invite colleagues to a computer lab, send them links to our site/channels.

6. Ideas for providing credit

  • The Educator Collaborative is not responsible for third-party credit granting, these suggestions are offered as advice but each situation and location is unique.
  • Request and secure supervisor/district/state permission prior to issuing any sort of credit for yourself or others to be sure your methods meet any local requirements
  • Request and secure an approved method of record-keeping, like finding out what type of sign-in or electronic means fits your district expectations
  • Some schools and districts require activities in addition to viewing: request and secure this information, then consider what planning/reflection writing/inter-visitations could engage learners beyond the day

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I’d Like to Present! (or) I’d Like to Join the Tech Team!

Hooray! Please click on the “Proposals” link on our site’s main menu to access just when and how to do that!

I’d Like to Learn with TheEdCollab, Do You Provide Literacy Consulting?

Yes! The Gathering is our gift to the education community, but it is only a small fraction of what we do. Our main work is providing  literacy consulting in-person and online. Here is how:

Other Questions or Feedback?

We love to hear from you. Please note that on Gathering days we are all-hands-on-deck and generally unable to respond to specific questions in a timely manner. If you have questions that have not been answered in this FAQ or would like to share feedback with us, please write to us from our Contact Page.