I was recently in Washington D.C. for a computer conference (June 27- July 1). It was called NECC (National Education Computer Conference) and now it is ISTE( The International Society For Technology in Education.
This was my first time at an ISTE/NECC conference and I was at times amazed and overwhelmed. It was the biggest and best conference I have every been to. Over 18,000 people attended. One of the best parts of the few days for me was meeting people that I have “met” online through their blogs or twitter. Sue Waters who does Edublogs and lives in Australia was there and it was great to meet and talk to her. I also met Amanda Marrinan who teaches a grade 2 class -also in Australia. I met Kathy Cassidy who has a grade 1 blog and lives in Saskatchewan, Canada. I met these people and many more at the “Blogger’s Cafe”, an area set aside for people to hang out, meet up and make connections.
This is where I met Steve Hargadon from Classroom 2.0 and Learn Central. I often listen to Classroom 2.0 Elluminate sessions on Saturdays. People from around the world join online to learn new things about technology. They are always interesting. More than a year ago I met Jane Kraus on Classroom 2.0. She is an IT person in Oregon and had posted a discussion on Classroom 2.0 that she was looking for classes that were learning about butterflies. I responded and we eventually did a skype call at school. It was a thrilling first experience for me and my grade 2 students. Her picture is at the end of this Animoto. I didn’t realize she was at NECC this year and I was disappointed that I didn’t meet her. I wanted to include her picture because she is the one who inspired me to attend the conference. As you’ll see in the animoto you might recognize Steve Dembo, Ken Shelton, Lisa Parisi, Susan Van Gelder(from LEARN), Kevin Honeycutt, Wes Fryer and Angela Maiers. I also met Donelle O’Brien who I now follow on twitter and hope to learn from her as well as the others I follow on twitter.
Below is an Animoto of my experiences meeting people – one if not the best part of this conference.
I tried to go to as many sessions as I could. Often I passed up eating as there was so much to see and do. I went to sessions on Podcasting, Comic Life, Classroom Learning Stations, and Top Ten Tools for K-3 (Gail Lovely). Check out her All the Best wiki. I went to sessions on Building Your Personal Learning Network and how Twitter is a great and powerful way to do this. Steve Hargadon did a session on Building Your Own Social Network. He showed how to do this. First, join Ning which is an online service that let’s you join social networks or create your own. I also went to a discussion on Global Collaboration through the Flat Classroom Ning.
While going through the exhibits I was lucky enough to meet a Smartboard trainer named Obe Hostetter who gave me some coaching and smartboard resources.
O.K. I’m really sorry it’s taken me so long to write a reflection on NECC09. It was really hard to put my experiences into words. I hope to go again though probably not next year. My 40th High School reunion will be in La Jolla, California this same weekend next year. In 2010 ISTE (as it will be called) will be in Philadelphia and I hope to talk some of my colleagues from school into coming with me.
7 responses so far ↓
1
dobrien
// Jul 16, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Oh! You did such a fabulous job on your video and reflection. I am interested in some of these sessions you attended that I could not make it to. Do you have notes on Building Your Personal Learning Network?
So sweet of you to include me in your blog post and video. It was wonderful meeting you! Looking forward to sharing ideas and collaborating this year!
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teacher102
// Jul 16, 2009 at 1:27 pm
It was great meeting you, too, Donelle. I don’t remember if I took any notes on Building Your Personal Network but it was all about developing a network on Twitter. Lots of people shared experiences.
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Sue
// Jul 25, 2009 at 5:53 am
Hi Mary Ellen,
Sounds as if you ahd a fantastic time and learned a lot. Have you any thoughts on specialising in ICT?
When do you start back at school again?
What grade level will you have?
Hope you are enjoying a great Summer break.
Sue & the Crew
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4
teacher102
// Jul 25, 2009 at 9:06 am
Hi Sue -
So great to hear from you. We will be grade two next year – same kids – just a year older. I am busy learning this summer. I just made my first podcast. I also figured out how to use a green screen so we can put different backgrounds behind our videos. I think we will be studying dinosaurs and it would be cool to have dinosaurs behind the students doing reports. Hope you school year is going well. What is your weather like now in Australia?
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Soph
// Aug 18, 2009 at 2:46 am
Hello Mrs Lynch,
Your blog looks great. I don’t know much about blogs but I’m glad I’ve come and visited yours. 18,000 is a lot of people. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I have just got a blog and I was wondering if you would come and give me a few tips?
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Sue Waters
// Aug 19, 2009 at 1:01 am
Looks like I got a bit behind in my blog reading since I got home. Soz but been really busy with all the work as part of the upgrade.
It was really lovely meeting you at NECC also. I had so much fun there and hoping one day I get to return again.
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Tami
// Sep 3, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Mary Ellen!
So great that you attended ISTE/NECC conference this year. I’m aiming to get there soon. I met you in March in Montreal at this year’s Springboards. I left your sharing session ‘buzzed’ with ideas, and supported with some of the technology I do integrate into my teaching already. I tried to follow you on Twitter, but was unsuccessful
I hope to get the web address of the Wiki you had shared with us back in March as I’m looking for a photo share site that you presented (looked as though the children’s art work was in a museum).
I also will be embarking on Voice thread, and would love to share with you and your class what we’re doing!
Hope to be able to reconnect!
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