This Talk About What Conferences Are/Need to Be
Conferences Monday, March 30th, 2009
Jeff Utecht and David Warlick are talking a bit on their blogs today about the whole notion of conferences. While I really like Jeff’s idea that his learning needs to be social and David’s idea of growing knowledge not just sharing, it seems we too often come at these from our personal pespectives, ones that have MANY conferences under our belts and quite a foundation thanks in part to a powerful network.
So, while I still say just go fishing to many of these discussion, I couldn’t help jump in here a bit with two points to ponder:
1. Maybe some of us need to take a Trip down Memory Lane
Do you remember your first time attending a major conference? I do! It was NCTE in 2000 and I was simply blown away: the speakers, the sessions, the tote bags, the give aways, the vendors, and the star struck feeling when I saw the rock stars of English Education! Although I attended many conferences from that point, I didn’t feel the same level of excitement until the Effective Schools Conference in 2003 when again my mind was bent in ways I hadn’t experienced. Again, more conferences from that point with much the same until the T^3 Conference in 2006 where math and science teachers broke me down. You get the picture, right?
For some of us, attending conferences is a part of our weekly routine. We are always attending so of course we are reaching for something more especially when they are the same surface level type conferences. However, what if you, those that are longing for something more, attended TED? Would the same excitement return? Something tells me it would.
2. Everyday is a Conference when you Network Effectively
This next line isn’t meant to be arrogant but a simple reality: ed tech conferences offer some but not a lot to me in terms of formal learning: sessions, workshops, panels, etc. I’m willing to bet the same holds true for most in my digital network. Why? The great minds and ideas that lead these conferences are being shared daily, being enhanced daily, and being rethought daily within the network I roam. Thus, the ideas that are being shared at the conferences are already actively explored as a community to a great degree before the conference happens making the actual conference seem surface level.
What does this mean for those of us in this regard? Let me throw out three ideas: 1. challenge conferences to create learning opportunities for all but remember the minority is not who they are striving to reach 2. Go Fishing 3. and the one I’m most serious about, LISTEN! I can’t tell you how much I learned at the last conference when I stopped the formal learning, stopped talking to those I knew, and started talking to teachers and administrators that weren’t part of my network.
Maybe it is Just Me
I plan on attending as many national conferences of specific subjects as possible this year in hopes of bending and stretching me so that I can better serve all content areas in my school. It seems to me that I will be 100% engage in the conference because these are outside of my comfort zone. However, I’m sure there will be a percentage that have attended a number of these and find themselves wishing for something more or making it more of a social trip.
All of this speaks to the goofy echo chamber and maybe, just maybe, speaking as the loud minority. How many people attend conferences and love the whole experience? How many find these to be excellent learning opportunities? I would say it is a large percent because they don’t have the luxury of frequent conferences and they haven’t leveraged a digital network on a sustained level.
Morning Fishing Group Image by Tonto & TLL
Related posts:
- Scare the Dickens Out of Me
- I Hope We are Expanding our Boundaries
- Still Not Convinced?
- NICE mini-Conference
- Missed It?
Short URL: http://www.ryanbretag.com/blog/?p=779
I, like you, continue to push outside the tech conference realm. This last conference was a teachers conference. My four sessions along with Kim Cofino’s session were the only tech related sessions of the whole 3 days conference.
In April I’ll be presenting at an European International Administrators conference again…my three sessions there are the only ones around technology.
I agree we need to push into new conferences, we need to expand the conversation out from our echo chamber. But being connected has changed me and what I expect from a conference experience.
I wonder what your experience would be like if you go to one of these subject specific conferences this summer and not Twitter, or Skype, or connect to your network in anyway. Would you feel less involved in the conference all together? Would you not take your laptop and take notes on paper. Not post a blog post about your experience. Would that change your conference experience? What that change your learning?
Another great post! I have to agree…for the most part; but I think there’s something to be said for face to face interaction amongst people more passionate than you about education…well at least it seems they are.
Would i rather be at a conference, yes, but there’s options that will meet my needs without a flight and a hotel. I wish I could attend more, but listening to great conversations in 140 characters or less at times, often stokes my flame and promotes more discussion. The best conferences are streamed or recorded in some way and if not following their hashtags in RSS serve me well. I recently did that for the iTsummit and enjoyed the conversation.
I read your comment regarding the echo chamber this week and I like the challenging thought it provides, asking us to “remember when” is also a great activity. Edtechvangelists can appear cliquey, arrogant and too busy for most teachers, remembering when would humble many. Once again, thanks for the great posts and tweets….I hope you continue after your 30 day challenge.
I find it to be a wonderful opportunity and find learning experiences in every session. Unfortunately, most of my conferences have been at my own expense due to district budget cuts. Hoping that many more are also online in one form or another.
Well said. My comments were from a personal perspective and a concern, as a professional speaker/teacher, that I am reaching and adding to the experience of every member of the audience. Perhaps too big’a ambition.
I really like your idea of sitting with folks you don’t know. I always try to sit at a table at conference banquets with people I do not know, and preferably teachers. It’s fun and I always learn.
I too love conferences, and will continue to attend and teach. But the landscape is changing, and I know of conferences that are dear to me, but are simply not paying attention…
Hey Jeff:
Great questions. As I drove into work this morning, I thought a bit about these and I don’t think I need all of the digital connections at a conference if I am able to connect with the speaker and people in the room. Later, I want to talk about it with my digital and f2f network.
In some ways, we’ve become slaves to needing these digital connections on during the learning opportunity in front of us. Yes, I want those connections if I am not fully engaged with the speaker but I also know I need to give that speaker a chance. Not to mention, why not connect with those around you. Why does it have to be via Twitter, Skype, Live Blogging, etc?
I understand what you are saying but I have found myself shutting down more and more during conferences and seminars. And you know what? I’m getting more out of those moments because I’m engaging with the flow of the room not the flow of the digital experience. I’m also engaging more with the people around me.
Just something to ponder.
Hi Louise:
I agree 100% and hope I didn’t come across differently. There are learning opportunities around every corner. My point was that I am blessed to be part of a network that gives me an in-depth preview on a good portion of those long before the conference. Thus, conference days are great to work with people you don’t have in your network to extend those ideas, get a new set of eyes on ideas, and take you in different directions. Great point!
Hi Michael:
Like Louise said so eloquently, there are learning opportunities everywhere and I agree with you that there is nothing like sitting with passionate educators. It breathes life into everything! I guess like anything, it is what you want to take from it. Conferences are learning opportunities, f2f or virtual. How we approach it dictates what we get.
But you are correct and I think aligned with what David and Jeff are stating, conferences should enhance their landscape by remembering the digital attendees, too.
David:
The reason I respect you so much and value what you bring to education is your passion for reaching every member of your audience. It is pure, authentic in a time where this is not true for too many in your position. Don’t stop striving to achieve what is quite ambitious but most worthwhile.
As for your point about conferences, we have to remember that their agenda might not be as pure. With the economy in its current state, there may just be a return to old business models that will keep them for paying attention even though we know it is to their advantage to focus.
Ryan:
As one who attends WAY too many conferences (both F2F and virtual), I agree with you 100% on this article.
For me, your most important part of your blog post was “how much I learned at the last conference when I stopped the formal learning, stopped talking to those I knew, and started talking to teachers and administrators that weren’t part of my network.”
I have noticed a comfortable rut many have slipped into by listening to their “friends” at conferences. Yes, I have been guilty as well. But, in the last 6 months, when I have stepped out of my comfort zone, gone to hear new people, new ideas….it has brought some eye-opening opportunities to mind and also some “kick in the butt, get over yourself, Jen” moments too.
Two more things.
1. I have to remember that my school is not funding my “social trip” to swap howdy’s with my friends. Taking time to socialize is appropriate but NOT the main objective.
2. Not only do conferences need to listen — but we also need to start speaking up. At a recent dinner, I happened to sit next to someone on the board of a well-known conference. When he asked what I thought….I was honest. I shared both highlights and lowlights…what I thought of the keynote, the vultures (oops, I meant the vendors)….and examples of conferences that I think are working.
Yes, the conferences do need to listen — but more of us need to be talking.
Thanks for sharing.
Always learning!
Jen
Thanks Ryan….I’m continuing to think on this. Not saying it’s the only way just what I’m thinking and feeling right now. Great questions and I’m enjoying the conversation.
Jen:
Thanks for you thoughts. They always add much to the conversation.
The point you made about schools funding these trips is essential. We need to remind ourselves that schools are spending a lot of money to send us on these trips that could be used for numerous other endeavors.
I often wonder if we need to do more with post-conference activities. When people return, what is expected of them? I believe we send people as representatives and they need to return with an understanding that there must be knowledge transfer and action items. If not, what was the point? We are sending people in isolation and that isn’t the purpose.