Archive for July 2008

The amazing, expanding conference

Posted by: Richard
July052008

edubloggercon
I originally planned to spend three days at Building Learning Communities the week after next. Then, I found out about the preconference trip to The Met, which I have long wanted to visit. Now, some bloggers have scheduled EduBloggerCon East for Monday.

I'm going to approach a five-day conference differently from the original three-day concept. Was planning to basically work all the time in order to make the most of the three days. Knowing that I can't keep that up for five, I am going to pick and choose instead and just enjoy evenings with my family.

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Not the Unconference They Hoped For

Posted by: Richard
July042008

Some NECC attendees are disappointed over the second edition of the EduBloggerCon unconference at NECC. I am surprised at their surprise! Small size and nonstandard venue are part of a successful unconference design. Of course the dominant conference structure (vendors, too many people, too much structure) would intrude upon informal, spontaneous conversation. It seems counterintuitive to hold an intimate, spontaneous gathering in the midst of a huge, highly structured conference.

Keep it small. Keep it local. The most change you can make is within your immediate surroundings, hopefully in a school! Use the international network of edubloggers to expand your thinking and build collaboration, but don't lose focus on the present and the applied. That will make the most difference for kids in school.

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