There are some very cool educational "conferences" or "unconferences" coming up that everyone should check out. These three are all in the Northeast (NY, NJ, and MA). They are all FREE!
EdCampNYC - EdCamp NYC is an unconference about K-12 education issues and ideas. It is Saturday, December 4th, 2010 and will be held at the School at Columbia University in NYC. You choose what sessions you want to attend and you can even leave a session and choose a different one. They are not presentations so much as conversations and a sharing of ideas and concerns.
NTCAMP - NTCAMP is also an unconference focusing on K-12 education issues and ideas. It is Saturday, February 26, 2011 at Burlington High School in Burlington, MA. It runs from 8am - 4pm. There will be a variety of sessions and discussions throughout the day for anyone in the education field. It is NOT just for "new" teachers.
TeachMeetNJ - TeachMeetNJ is another unconference. This one is being held on Saturday, March 5th, 2011 at Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ. There will be around 100 different sessions. Sessions will be different lengths and very interactive. There is going to be a dedicated Blogger’s Cafe/Networking area. It is a place to meet other people, hang out, try new tools, and relax.