OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Educators from all over New England and beyond gathered Tuesday for a professional development day that was quite different from the traditional conference model.

The approximately 100 participants who came to “EdCamp OOB” Tuesday weren’t presented that morning with a list of speakers or a pre-set schedule of topics. Instead, they came in with ideas of what they wanted to talk about, and met in groups according to topics of mutual interest where they talked and learned from each other.

The atmosphere was casual, and beach-themed attire such as board shorts and t-shirts was encouraged. The event was free, thanks to the help of sponsors such as Pier owner Paul Golzbein who hosted lunch and the afternoon session at Lindbergh’s Landing. The morning session was held at Old Orchard Beach High School.

The EdCamp “unconference” model began in 2010 in Philadelphia, said EdCamp co-founder Dan Callahan, who now lives in Massachusetts and was at Tuesday’s conference. Since then, there have been more than 700 EdCamps held all over the world, he said.

“It’s participant-driven,” said Callahan. “It gives teachers a chance to focus on the things they’re most passionate about.”

Callahan said if someone is in a group discussion and decides the topic is not the best fit for them, they can leave and participate in a different discussion group.

Many of the participants at EdCamp OOB had attended EdCamps in the past. It’s a great way to network, Callahan explained, and EdCamp participants often stay in touch and continue discussions at sessions and share ideas.

Billy Corcoran, fourth grade teacher at Loranger Middle School, one of the local organizers at Tuesday’s event, said he had attended EdCampME in Portland.

“Some of the best networking comes from just talking,” he said.

Corcoran said teachers get to learn from others “who have been in the trenches,” the sort of people they can relate to and trust.

“This is organic. It’s for teachers, led by teachers,” he said.

Alice Barr, a technology integration teacher at Yarmouth High School, said she had attended EdCamps in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

“You create the sessions right then and there, so it’s really relevant to what you’re interested in,” she said.

Plans are in the works for another EdCamp OOB next year.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].