For a while now, I’ve been using my blog as a learning space to reflect on professional development… and after BLC08 there still seems to be a lot to talk and think about. But there is a problem: My brain is full.
Here are some brief ‘take-aways’ to jot down before things spill out and away.
1. Never do 3 different presentations at one conference. At the very least repeat one of them. Enough said.
2. Online networks develop meaningful friendships. I’m blown away by the immediate connection I made with so many people in my Twitter network.
3. Face-to-face meetings with your network are powerful… very powerful.
4. More learning happens in the hallways and at meals/socials than in sessions. Create opportunities for Learning Conversations.
5. Sessions influence us, and sometimes anger us, but it is our opinions and attempts to make sense of things that matter.
6. As we reflect and question why we do things, we continue the learning.
7. We don’t need to be there to learn.
8. Ewan made it clear that if we create meaningful spaces for teachers to connect, and if we make those spaces useful to teachers, they will connect in new and meaningful ways. In my opinion, usefulness comes out of purpose and design… two things we need to work on.
9. We need to connect with others to meaningfully learn. COLLABORATION time is essential for learners of all ages.
10. Don’t say more than you need to just to fill the space. 😉
Dave,
Your points 2 and 3 hit home with me. The people that I click with in my online network I tend to click with F2F. It’s powerful. Time needs to be set aside for meaningful conversation. I believe someone has echoed that on Chris Lehmann’s post about at Educon 2.1 that the social time to reflect and discuss together in an informal setting is just as important if not more important as the structured setting. It was fantastic meeting you face-to-face.
Lisa
Hi Dave, I added your blog to my bloglines account and was delighted to find your post there. I too am saturated and still percolating the new learning. Being in the classroom with students has made it hard to write about but I have been able to put some of the new ideas to work and it has been powerful. The kids are taking to the tools and running with authentic learning.(taggalaxy has been a favorite) It was pure chance that you, Rick, Jenny, and I sat on that shuttle together headed to Alan’s pre-conference. That first meal set the stage for collaboration that continued the entire week. I miss chatting and processing with you but will continue to follow your path as I hone my own skills on mine. Thanks for this post, great reminders and the license to wait to say that which is important as we all continue to make a difference to kids. Peace.
Lorraine
I’m thankful that you did three presentations at BLC08. I was fortunate enough to see both the first and the last, and a colleague of mine attended the second. You made an impact on people at all three, for what it’s worth. 🙂
Anyway, my brain is full as well. I am challenged to bring what I learned at BLC08 into my life and work. I left BLC08 inspired. I still feel this way, and I am working to put what I’ve learned into action one small step at a time.
Thank you for your sharing your thoughts.
Your points 3 and 4 resonate with me! I just happened upon this blog, and find it most fascinating… as we are trying to make the leap from a traditional style with computers to more radical e-learning, while at the same time staying experiential/ relationship based…. I’ll be interested in continued dialogue about how to do this…. Look forward to reading more of your blog! ARK