Liz Davis wrote a summary of her take away from EduCon, which I think reflects the elusive feeling I took away from the weekend. Before continuing please read her post. I left the following comment, which I continue below. Liz, I too have this odd, elusive feeling leaving EduCon. Seems more intense this year then in the past. I am not sure if it is frustration, annoyance, or what. I just know I leave unsettled. I have always thought that…
I finally have a chance to sum up my experiences from spending a few days in the ‘think tank’ that is EduCon. I have been to all four so far and always leave unsettled, with many more questions then I when I came. I just can’t quite sum up my feelings. It is like having something on the tip of my tongue, I just can’t grab that fleeting thought. It is most annoying and won’t go away. So knowing I…
I am attending EduCon 2.2 and just getting ready to start the final day. Yesterday I had the privilege to facilitate a conversation with Danja Mahoney and Michael Springer, and chat with some of the smartest most thoughtful educators around. Our topic was Subversive PD: Creating a culture of collaboration to bring educators into the 21st century. Our focus was looking for strategies that work, in the absence of administrative and teacher support and/or awareness, to foster professional growth. Are…
Tomorrow I head off to EduCon 2.2 this will be my third trip. The first conference was something of an experiment with about 75+ attendees. The conference grew out of a conversation and the conversation has not ended. This year there will be 500 participants, reaching full capacity. It will be a lot more crowded, I hope it brings richer deeper conversations. We shall see. This time around I will also be facilitating a session, I was privileged to be…
I have been thinking about a comment Steven Squyers made during the Friday night panel at EduCon 2.1. “What’s your missions statement.” He was discussing how the Mars Rover Project has a mission statement short, to the point and takes up less then half a sheet of paper. He said when decisions are made we refer to the mission statement, if it supports the mission then go for it, if it does not then throw it out. I have worked…
I am attending EduCon 2.1 and having a great time. My goals for this conference were to deepen the connections I have with members of my learning network and to look for ideas and strategies to facilitate changes and growth in the educational environment in my district. There are many ways to connect to the archives of the conference but the best way is to go to the conference wiki and find the links there. I am just beginning to…
The last few weeks of school are overwhelming for me. It is as if everyone is racing for the finish line. Between work and home I am exhausted. At home I have a son ending his fifth grade career and a daughter ending 8th grade. There are final band concerts, award ceremonies and recognition (aka graduation) ceremonies. Not to mention the last Girl Scout, youth group, running club and skating club culminating events. It is far to much to really…