Comments on: Crowdsourcing my conference choice http://robwall.ca/2009/12/17/crowdsourcing-my-conference-choice/ Just because I'm making it up as I go along doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing Tue, 11 May 2010 03:38:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Sylvia Currie http://robwall.ca/2009/12/17/crowdsourcing-my-conference-choice/#comment-1316 Sylvia Currie Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:53:30 +0000 http://robwall.ca/?p=581#comment-1316 Here in BC we have an annual Spring Workshop organized by the Educational Technology Users Group. It's a smallish gathering of 100-120 people and is hosted at a different post-secondary each year. This year it will be held June 7-8 at the University of Victoria. The theme is "3 Cups of T: Teaching, Technology, Transformation". The fee is next to nothing (maybe $60 if that) so you'd have to spend your funds on a nice hotel! Useful sessions and guaranteed fun. Here in BC we have an annual Spring Workshop organized by the Educational Technology Users Group. It’s a smallish gathering of 100-120 people and is hosted at a different post-secondary each year. This year it will be held June 7-8 at the University of Victoria. The theme is “3 Cups of T: Teaching, Technology, Transformation”. The fee is next to nothing (maybe $60 if that) so you’d have to spend your funds on a nice hotel! Useful sessions and guaranteed fun.

]]> By: Rob Wall http://robwall.ca/2009/12/17/crowdsourcing-my-conference-choice/#comment-1315 Rob Wall Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:25:34 +0000 http://robwall.ca/?p=581#comment-1315 Thanks for the advice, Steve. BLC and ISTE are two that are on my short list so far so I'm glad to hear them mentioned - it's a sign I'm on the right track. I'm not a big fan of Walmart in general, but I take your point about ISTE. My hesitation about ISTE is that because of its size, it might not be as conducive to the community building that is such an important part of attending a face to face conference. Perhaps its just a matter of seeking out the community for myself. Thanks for the advice, Steve. BLC and ISTE are two that are on my short list so far so I’m glad to hear them mentioned – it’s a sign I’m on the right track. I’m not a big fan of Walmart in general, but I take your point about ISTE. My hesitation about ISTE is that because of its size, it might not be as conducive to the community building that is such an important part of attending a face to face conference. Perhaps its just a matter of seeking out the community for myself.

]]> By: teach42 http://robwall.ca/2009/12/17/crowdsourcing-my-conference-choice/#comment-1314 teach42 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:57:11 +0000 http://robwall.ca/?p=581#comment-1314 I'll be honest, having been to about a dozen different state level EdTech Conferences.... there aren't many things from a SESSIONS perspective that distinguish them. Some are larger, some are smaller. Others do a better job of hosting social events and building community. But if you look at the state level EdTech conference programs, most of them are fairly similar. Then there are a few independent ones that stand out, like Building Learning Communities, EduCon, Tech Forum and a few others. While they're a completely different model, they're also smaller and generally more focused. Don't know if that really helps you or not. But in general, if I had to recommend one, it would be the big mama.... ISTE. Just because of it's sheer size, you wind up getting a little bit of everything. It's the Super Walmart of conferences. If you can't find what you're looking for there, you probably aren't looking hard enough. I’ll be honest, having been to about a dozen different state level EdTech Conferences…. there aren’t many things from a SESSIONS perspective that distinguish them. Some are larger, some are smaller. Others do a better job of hosting social events and building community. But if you look at the state level EdTech conference programs, most of them are fairly similar.

Then there are a few independent ones that stand out, like Building Learning Communities, EduCon, Tech Forum and a few others. While they’re a completely different model, they’re also smaller and generally more focused.

Don’t know if that really helps you or not. But in general, if I had to recommend one, it would be the big mama…. ISTE. Just because of it’s sheer size, you wind up getting a little bit of everything. It’s the Super Walmart of conferences. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, you probably aren’t looking hard enough.

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