Comments on: The Next Generation Conference http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/05/03/the-next-generation-conference/ teaching technology abroad Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:45:04 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Planning for Learning 2.010 begins « The Thinking Stick http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/05/03/the-next-generation-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-2709 Planning for Learning 2.010 begins « The Thinking Stick Wed, 13 May 2009 02:00:51 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=351#comment-2709 [...] September and what didn’t work. We talked to others who have been to a lot of conferences and took advice from those who had just come back from the Apple Global Leadership Summit in Hong Kong which by all [...] [...] September and what didn’t work. We talked to others who have been to a lot of conferences and took advice from those who had just come back from the Apple Global Leadership Summit in Hong Kong which by all [...]

]]> By: Kim Cofino http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/05/03/the-next-generation-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-2674 Kim Cofino Mon, 11 May 2009 02:20:47 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=351#comment-2674 @Doug, Thanks for your thoughtful (if somewhat depressing) comments! I was worried about the financial aspects of conferences - I guess it's pretty much exactly the same problem we have with schools as a whole, isn't it? I agree with your statement about getting published, but I also think that conferences should promote new ideas, not just the same recycled ideas that were published 15 years ago simply *because* they were published. I understand that's just the world we live in, but I'm planning the ideal conference, right? Sometimes we need to think about the way things should be in order to improve what we've got (I think). I'm not so sure I agree with your statement about reflection. One of the very first things Tom Kelley told us in his presentation is that the human brain can only take in 7 new bits of information at a time. This means that if we don't have time to reflect and scaffold our understanding to "put in in place" so to speak, any conference can only give us 7 new bits of information if we're waiting to reflect until the plane ride home. We need time to process and if we don't have it, we might as well just look up those 7 new bits of information on the web and be done with it because the rest of the conference will be big waste of time... @Deanna, I totally agree about processing and reflecting time. As I mentioned to Doug above, if we're not able to connect what we're learning to what we know, we can only manage 7 new things at a time. I hope that any conference I make the effort to physically haul myself to will give me a lot more than just 7 new things! @Doug,

Thanks for your thoughtful (if somewhat depressing) comments! I was worried about the financial aspects of conferences – I guess it’s pretty much exactly the same problem we have with schools as a whole, isn’t it?

I agree with your statement about getting published, but I also think that conferences should promote new ideas, not just the same recycled ideas that were published 15 years ago simply *because* they were published. I understand that’s just the world we live in, but I’m planning the ideal conference, right? Sometimes we need to think about the way things should be in order to improve what we’ve got (I think).

I’m not so sure I agree with your statement about reflection. One of the very first things Tom Kelley told us in his presentation is that the human brain can only take in 7 new bits of information at a time. This means that if we don’t have time to reflect and scaffold our understanding to “put in in place” so to speak, any conference can only give us 7 new bits of information if we’re waiting to reflect until the plane ride home. We need time to process and if we don’t have it, we might as well just look up those 7 new bits of information on the web and be done with it because the rest of the conference will be big waste of time…

@Deanna,

I totally agree about processing and reflecting time. As I mentioned to Doug above, if we’re not able to connect what we’re learning to what we know, we can only manage 7 new things at a time. I hope that any conference I make the effort to physically haul myself to will give me a lot more than just 7 new things!

]]> By: More thoughts on conferences and pro-d | Tech Ed-dy http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/05/03/the-next-generation-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-2626 More thoughts on conferences and pro-d | Tech Ed-dy Fri, 08 May 2009 17:49:56 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=351#comment-2626 [...] recently came across a post by Kim Cofino called The Next Generation Conference that I think had some more practical insights into what makes for a really successful pro-d [...] [...] recently came across a post by Kim Cofino called The Next Generation Conference that I think had some more practical insights into what makes for a really successful pro-d [...]

]]> By: Deanna http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/05/03/the-next-generation-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-2622 Deanna Wed, 06 May 2009 02:25:37 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=351#comment-2622 I attended a small unconference last year and am now co-organizing the event next year. One thing that came out of this year's survey was request for time for reflection and further discussion <b>during</b> the conference. It's hard to process and reflect when you're trying to figure out which session to go to next! We're building that in to the day as well as holding roundtable discussions at the end of the day, which they did this year. The connections with the other participants between sessions are often more valuable than a session itself. I attended a small unconference last year and am now co-organizing the event next year. One thing that came out of this year’s survey was request for time for reflection and further discussion during the conference. It’s hard to process and reflect when you’re trying to figure out which session to go to next! We’re building that in to the day as well as holding roundtable discussions at the end of the day, which they did this year.

The connections with the other participants between sessions are often more valuable than a session itself.

]]> By: Doug Johnson http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/05/03/the-next-generation-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-2613 Doug Johnson Mon, 04 May 2009 20:55:44 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=351#comment-2613 Hi Kim, You have some great ideas here. Most of us would benefit from smaller, more personal experiences at conferences. Just a few world-weary observations... 1. Conferences tend to be major revenue sources for non-profit organizations like ISTE, ALA and state organizations. It will be difficult to change a model that works financially. (Like large lecture classes in colleges are cash cows despite being a poor education model.) One thing is that one is rarely required to attend a conference (and thus support it) if other methods of learning work better. 2. Despite being an old white guy, I've grumbled about the lack of gender diversity in conference keynoters myself. (See http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2005/10/9/is-aasl-sexist.html But here is the deal... I think most keynoters become keynoters due to traditional publications which have given them a "reputation." While this may be changing as more bloggers become well known, print publication stills seems the fast track to being acknowledged as an "expert." Get published! 3. While I agree about the need for reflection, I will put on my administrator hat here and say you should do it on the flight home, not during the conference itself. I think of conference sessions like instant coffee granules and reflection as the hot water. You need both, but you should only need to pay for one ;-) Keep at'm, Kim! Looking forward to meeting you in about a week. Doug Hi Kim,

You have some great ideas here. Most of us would benefit from smaller, more personal experiences at conferences.

Just a few world-weary observations…

1. Conferences tend to be major revenue sources for non-profit organizations like ISTE, ALA and state organizations. It will be difficult to change a model that works financially. (Like large lecture classes in colleges are cash cows despite being a poor education model.) One thing is that one is rarely required to attend a conference (and thus support it) if other methods of learning work better.

2. Despite being an old white guy, I’ve grumbled about the lack of gender diversity in conference keynoters myself. (See http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2005/10/9/is-aasl-sexist.html
But here is the deal… I think most keynoters become keynoters due to traditional publications which have given them a “reputation.” While this may be changing as more bloggers become well known, print publication stills seems the fast track to being acknowledged as an “expert.” Get published!

3. While I agree about the need for reflection, I will put on my administrator hat here and say you should do it on the flight home, not during the conference itself. I think of conference sessions like instant coffee granules and reflection as the hot water. You need both, but you should only need to pay for one ;-)

Keep at’m, Kim! Looking forward to meeting you in about a week.

Doug

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