Comments on: The Power of a Conference http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/11/the-power-of-a-conference/ Standing on the verge of a technologically educational revolution. Thu, 17 May 2012 09:49:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Ben Grey http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/11/the-power-of-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Ben Grey Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:07:47 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=48#comment-74 Jen- I'm looking forward to meeting you at ICE as well. One thing I failed to mention in this post is the importance of buy in from participants. Just like what Steve said, it's too easy for people to come and "handout hop" or too readily give up on a session. Everything I wrote was within the context of assuming people care about the conferences they are attending. If they don't work to glean critical information from the sessions, then their time is reduced to a glorified vacation, which does not help promote the cause of the conference. Karen- Extremely interesting observation. To be honest, I just grabbed that picture from Flickr because it was just about the only interesting image I could find representing a conference. I actually wanted to get a picture of the crowded halls at NECC from this summer, but I couldn't find a good one. Your comment does bring up a very interesting conversation, and Jen and I are working on a blog post to be published at some point in the near future regarding your observation. Hank- I always appreciate good comments that work in the phrase "man-fest." Absolutely right on about building up your network beyond just the virtual. Pat- I think there's a point where a participant has to make his/her own choice. If there's too much noise, maturity dictates that you turn down the backchannel or avoid running in a crowd with friends so that some focus can be attained. Think of how many people have had the same experience you're having, but on the opposite end of the spectrum, because they haven't been offered a way to multi-task and fully engage. Steve- I wish I could find the article I used several years ago for my Masters action research project about professional development. It was essentially an administrator's guide to promoting productive participation at conferences. It had several good ideas for ways to both validate and hold teachers accountable for what they experience at a conference. I think just like utilizing a backchannel needs to be done with some boundaries, so does sending people to attend professional conferences. Your observations about NYSCATE on your recent blog post is a whole separate issue. That gets to the heart of choosing the right kind of conferences to attend. Planners of the event really need to be thoughtful when coordinating speakers and presenters, and participants need to be critical when looking over the conference program. It's unfortunate that some of the larger conferences aren't able to send out the program prior to the registration deadline. As I said, that's a whole other issue. Jen-

I’m looking forward to meeting you at ICE as well. One thing I failed to mention in this post is the importance of buy in from participants. Just like what Steve said, it’s too easy for people to come and “handout hop” or too readily give up on a session. Everything I wrote was within the context of assuming people care about the conferences they are attending. If they don’t work to glean critical information from the sessions, then their time is reduced to a glorified vacation, which does not help promote the cause of the conference.

Karen-

Extremely interesting observation. To be honest, I just grabbed that picture from Flickr because it was just about the only interesting image I could find representing a conference. I actually wanted to get a picture of the crowded halls at NECC from this summer, but I couldn’t find a good one. Your comment does bring up a very interesting conversation, and Jen and I are working on a blog post to be published at some point in the near future regarding your observation.

Hank-

I always appreciate good comments that work in the phrase “man-fest.” Absolutely right on about building up your network beyond just the virtual.

Pat-

I think there’s a point where a participant has to make his/her own choice. If there’s too much noise, maturity dictates that you turn down the backchannel or avoid running in a crowd with friends so that some focus can be attained. Think of how many people have had the same experience you’re having, but on the opposite end of the spectrum, because they haven’t been offered a way to multi-task and fully engage.

Steve-

I wish I could find the article I used several years ago for my Masters action research project about professional development. It was essentially an administrator’s guide to promoting productive participation at conferences. It had several good ideas for ways to both validate and hold teachers accountable for what they experience at a conference. I think just like utilizing a backchannel needs to be done with some boundaries, so does sending people to attend professional conferences.

Your observations about NYSCATE on your recent blog post is a whole separate issue. That gets to the heart of choosing the right kind of conferences to attend. Planners of the event really need to be thoughtful when coordinating speakers and presenters, and participants need to be critical when looking over the conference program. It’s unfortunate that some of the larger conferences aren’t able to send out the program prior to the registration deadline. As I said, that’s a whole other issue.

]]> By: Steve Ransom http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/11/the-power-of-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Steve Ransom Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:51:00 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=48#comment-73 I would agree that conferences have the potential to reinvigorate, recharge, renew, challenge, facilitate new networks, etc... But, I think one must attend conferences precisely for those reasons. One has to choose one's conferences carefully. And, as Patricia mentions, one has to be ready to engage rather than session hop, handout grab (thankfully, handouts are going paperless), shop, eat, bring the family for a vacation, and vendor shmooze. I can see why perhaps administrators could view this type of conference activity as less than cost effective in the sense that attendees may or may not bring back any new ideas, renewed passion, or transformative practice. A virtual conference certainly helps with much of this and I think that the K-12 Online Conference has been a wonderful addition. I think it is also highly beneficial to attend conferences that perhaps are not immediately within one's narrow scope of interest - like EdTech conferences. I have found that I am often most challenged when I get out of my own echo chamber and hear fresh perspectives and new, complex and challenging ideas. For me, that is where I am most challenged. My latest post describes a recent disappointing echo chamber experience. http://ransomtech.edublogs.org/2008/11/24/edtech-conferences-sigh/ I would agree that conferences have the potential to reinvigorate, recharge, renew, challenge, facilitate new networks, etc… But, I think one must attend conferences precisely for those reasons. One has to choose one’s conferences carefully. And, as Patricia mentions, one has to be ready to engage rather than session hop, handout grab (thankfully, handouts are going paperless), shop, eat, bring the family for a vacation, and vendor shmooze. I can see why perhaps administrators could view this type of conference activity as less than cost effective in the sense that attendees may or may not bring back any new ideas, renewed passion, or transformative practice. A virtual conference certainly helps with much of this and I think that the K-12 Online Conference has been a wonderful addition.
I think it is also highly beneficial to attend conferences that perhaps are not immediately within one’s narrow scope of interest – like EdTech conferences. I have found that I am often most challenged when I get out of my own echo chamber and hear fresh perspectives and new, complex and challenging ideas. For me, that is where I am most challenged. My latest post describes a recent disappointing echo chamber experience.
http://ransomtech.edublogs.org/2008/11/24/edtech-conferences-sigh/

]]> By: Educational Insanity » Blog Archive » Conferences, Presentations, Etc. http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/11/the-power-of-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Educational Insanity » Blog Archive » Conferences, Presentations, Etc. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:50:35 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=48#comment-65 [...] Ben Grey very recently wrote about the power of conferences. [...] [...] Ben Grey very recently wrote about the power of conferences. [...]

]]> By: Patricia Haughney http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/11/the-power-of-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Patricia Haughney Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:30:28 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=48#comment-54 I am hesitant to post this but I'm often in the role of devil's advocate. While I also feel most professional development at the district level disintegrates to a sit and get level, I'm not certain that conferences are the best opportunity either. While the majority of attendants are diligent about attending and work hard to bring back important information, there is a temptation to become distracted in the conference setting. At a personal level, I got overly involved in the back channel discussions at IETC and had to force myself to pay attention to the speaker. That was ok when the presenter wasn't holding my interest but even in really good sessions.....I kept hearing that siren call of the back channel. Had someone answered me? Was there fascinating repartee occurring while I was off line? Was I missing a chance to connect with a new expert? Similarly, I would get involved in a good face-to-face discussion and not want to break away to attend a session that I had previously planned to attend. So, I suppose my question is how do we balance these conflicting demands on our time to maximize our conference experiences? We do have to accept that it's an expense for our districts, especially when they're out of town conferences, and I believe we need to apply a little cost-benefit analysis to the different forms of professional development. I am hesitant to post this but I’m often in the role of devil’s advocate. While I also feel most professional development at the district level disintegrates to a sit and get level, I’m not certain that conferences are the best opportunity either. While the majority of attendants are diligent about attending and work hard to bring back important information, there is a temptation to become distracted in the conference setting. At a personal level, I got overly involved in the back channel discussions at IETC and had to force myself to pay attention to the speaker. That was ok when the presenter wasn’t holding my interest but even in really good sessions…..I kept hearing that siren call of the back channel. Had someone answered me? Was there fascinating repartee occurring while I was off line? Was I missing a chance to connect with a new expert? Similarly, I would get involved in a good face-to-face discussion and not want to break away to attend a session that I had previously planned to attend.

So, I suppose my question is how do we balance these conflicting demands on our time to maximize our conference experiences? We do have to accept that it’s an expense for our districts, especially when they’re out of town conferences, and I believe we need to apply a little cost-benefit analysis to the different forms of professional development.

]]> By: Hank Thiele http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/11/the-power-of-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Hank Thiele Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:41:00 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=48#comment-53 @Karen L. It depends - is this a picture of an ed-tech conference? Or is the point that this is who you typically see at an ed-tech conference? I agree that many of these conferences are man-fests. However, that is slowly changing. Although there may be some that still promote the men's club, I am all for getting the best people together to learn from. That is why social networking is so important to pair with your F2F network. It is much easier to build a diverse voice from which to gather ideas. You can then decide who is essential to meet with F2F. @Karen L.

It depends – is this a picture of an ed-tech conference? Or is the point that this is who you typically see at an ed-tech conference?

I agree that many of these conferences are man-fests. However, that is slowly changing. Although there may be some that still promote the men’s club, I am all for getting the best people together to learn from.

That is why social networking is so important to pair with your F2F network. It is much easier to build a diverse voice from which to gather ideas. You can then decide who is essential to meet with F2F.

]]> By: Karen L. http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/11/the-power-of-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Karen L. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:42:21 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=48#comment-51 The first thing I noticed was the photo composition: mostly white men. What does that tell us? The first thing I noticed was the photo composition: mostly white men. What does that tell us?

]]> By: JenW http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/11/the-power-of-a-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-50 JenW Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:30:09 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=48#comment-50 You will get no argument from me on the value of F2F. Without a doubt......it has changed entirely how I view certain members of our network.......who I will continue to follow and who are just fluff. It has enabled me to put realism with someone who might just be a great blogger yet does nothing else -- and also put acceptance on someone who might have been quiet but in actuality HE/SHE is the one I should be listening to. But honestly, my favorite part of F2F is NOT always at the conference. It is at the excursions away from the conference. The dinners out, the quick lunch conversations, the drives in the car or train or shuttle, and yes, the moments before a session and the reflections right after. I crave for F2F and will do all I can to accomplish F2F as much as I can throughout the year. With twitter, plurk, F2F, and K12 (as well as other online venues) I get a chance to capture a glimpse of people. F2F....lets me see them close up. Good post, Ben! Jen PS: I look forward to meeting you F2F this February. You will get no argument from me on the value of F2F.

Without a doubt……it has changed entirely how I view certain members of our network…….who I will continue to follow and who are just fluff.

It has enabled me to put realism with someone who might just be a great blogger yet does nothing else — and also put acceptance on someone who might have been quiet but in actuality HE/SHE is the one I should be listening to.

But honestly, my favorite part of F2F is NOT always at the conference. It is at the excursions away from the conference. The dinners out, the quick lunch conversations, the drives in the car or train or shuttle, and yes, the moments before a session and the reflections right after.

I crave for F2F and will do all I can to accomplish F2F as much as I can throughout the year. With twitter, plurk, F2F, and K12 (as well as other online venues) I get a chance to capture a glimpse of people. F2F….lets me see them close up.

Good post, Ben!
Jen

PS: I look forward to meeting you F2F this February.

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