While processing why the experience was different, I began to think about what was different. First was the increased number of people who attended. Rather than being a smaller group of 80, it was a larger group of nearly 200 people. As you scale up a project, you have to wonder what the critical mass is before the conference becomes more unwieldy. Maybe the limit was crossed yesterday. There were fewer sessions in each during each block and there were more who wanted to present. The idea of voting using technology got in the way of just a simple raising of hands scheduling on the fly. As a result, Sylvia Martinez’s session on the reflective teacher researcher was got canceled in mid-day because of a the high demand of another session. It was unfortunate and a conversation that I will personally regret not happening.

A second factor was the venue itself. Like last years, the room was set up in industrial model rows. But what didn’t happen like last year is that the main room was not reconfigured into a larger circle where everyone could be included in the conversation. I don’t think that it was intentional to try to exclude individuals, but rather grew. Instead, their was a closed circle of insiders and a place for lurkers to sit outside the circle. It really felt like junior high all over again. In the second room, the tables remained in straight, industrial period model rows and the conversation seemed to be directed at us. At Web 2.0 smackdown, there was a desire to allow multiple voices to be heard, but the standing room only nature of the space lost the intamicy that we experienced last year. Only in the sessions held in the Second Life space did it resemble an open discussion forum where ideas were freely shared.

Thirdly, there seemed to be a desire to twit out the sessions, create streams (audio and video) of the conversation, and create back channels to facilitate the conversation. At Atlanta, the focus was on having conversations with people without the intrusion of these other methods of communication. For me, it prevented people from being fully engaged and authentic. It happened a few times, such as the Shirky discussion, where there was a stream, but it did interfere with the connections and conversations. The back channel, which took root three days after EBC Atlanta, got in the way.

Lastly, there seemed to be more individuals who came with a personal agenda of self-promotion. There seemed to be more commercial connections and individuals concerned with being there and making a name. As discussed many other places, the presence of Pearson’s film crew added to this feeling.

I do not blame anyone for this. It is part of the growing pains that can occur as more individuals become interested in participating. I hope that all of us who are participating will be inclusive and supportive of others. We have to expand the conversation beyond the echo chamber. There will always be missteps and lessons which care learned. Let’s continue the conversation to make EduBloggerCon DC an event woth attending.

I want to thank Steve Hargadon for all of his efforts to make the event happen. Without his leadership, we would not have something to complain about. But instead of just complaining, why don’t some of us offer to help make this better, become involved in the solution, rather than being part of the problem.

Since this is my first visit to San Antonio, I went to visit the Alamo. While touring through the grounds and revisiting history, an idea emerged in my mind. The Texans were reacting to the shift towards the Centralist government led by Santa Ana. The free form nature of the Blogger’s Cafe is going to be under seige by the scheduled nature of NECC Unplugged. So why don’t we take up arms, retreat into the garrison, and fight for our rights to preserve the informal learning environment that is the Blogger’s Cafe, a place where we can come together and be able to reflect and connect in the ways that we want to or need to. I do not want to be barraged by a continuous stream of more presentations. I want to carve out a space to be able to absorb ideas and make new connections.

I believe that there is a place for NECC Unplugged and people being able to have quick shares. Bur I do believe that the scheduled nature of this venture, while being created for all of the right reasons, is keeping those who may be late to the party, the ability to share.

I guess I am advocating for a rallying call to arms, a reclaiming of the Blogger’s cafe space. LIke Travis, Crockett, and Bowie, and the other Texans, many whose statues are in the hallway right outside of the Blogger’s Cafe,  I am willing to defend the turf from the invasion and instrusion in order to allow for those, who like me, just want a place for informal learning and reflection. Anyone want to join?

Fruits and Vegetables – One has to pay attention to making sure that you get proper nurishment, including fruits and vegetables. Too many fast foods will tire you out.

Exercise – I find that a good walk to and from the convention center to my hotel, even though there are shuttles, clears my mind and allows me to have some quiet, substained thinking.

Cherish people – engage in conversations. The synchronous feedback that thinking and debating with great thinkers helps me learn professionally and grow.

I hope to see connect and converse with you at the conference.

Ryan Bretag alerted me to a post on the Langwitches blog, about paying attention, which I believe is relevant to survive a conference like NECC.

While at NECC, in addition to listening to those EdTech folks who are known on a first name basis (Will, Davids, Wes, Sheryl, Hall, etc.), make sure that you connect with those who are around you. You may find that they may have something to teach you, challenge your thoughts, or allow you to make a connection that did not exist before.

While at NECC, don’t be afraid or scared to share your thoughts and opinions with others. You may teach them something new, challenge their thoughts, or allow them to make connections that they had not been able to make before.

While on the vendor floor, don’t be blinded by the bright lights, loud sounds, and enticements for free stuff. Look to the periphery to see those companies who may not have been able to waste money. They often have solutions which will allow you to meet your goals. This is where I have found many great solutions, including being an early adopter GIS software in NECC-MInneapolis.

Lastly, I have found it important to schedule some down time upon my return, to decompress and detox. This year, with the July 4th three day holiday so close to the closing, will help me have some fun, traditional time with my family when I return.

First, thank you for putting on a great conference. This gathering of educators who are looking to embed technology into their classrooms is one of the highlights of my year. I gather many new ideas and make many great friends from the conversations that you enable me to have by assembling this massive group of people.

Secondly, thank you for providing the space for the second EduBloggerCon this year. I had gone to many NECCs in the past, but this single event provided for me more contact with people who inspire me, challenge my thinking, and have helped mentor me to become a better educator.

Thirdly, thank you for providing a large number of audio and video podcasts of sessions that I can access later. With a conference this large, it is always difficult to make choices between equally interesting sessions. Also, it gives me the benefit of sharing the ideas and thoughts with colleagues of mine who are not able to go, either because of conflicts in time or budget constraints.

Lastly, thank you for amending your policy on “amateur” recording for non-commercial use. Your swift action shows me that you are trying to be in touch with your constituent group and that you are open to change. As someone who has had to attend a few conferences throught one of the variety of new communication means, both synchronous and asynchronous methods, it does not replace the excitement of being at the conference live. What it does do is:

• Create a desire to attend the conference live
• Provide access to the information if personal conditions arise, if the distance to the conference, or if school and/or personal budgetary shortfalls prohibit an individuals ability to attend the conference.

I look forward to your attempts on how to make all of the sessions available to the largest number of teachers. Knowing that they can be inspired, mentored, learn, and grow in a way the meets their needs is great modeling of the techniques and the tools that you are supporting.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Vrotny

I hope that the success, the hype, the anticipation, and the growth surrounding both of these events and venues from Atlanta will not exceed the reality and create a let down.

For me, however, just being able to sit around so many great people and thinkers, engaging inconversations, sharing, and planning will satisfy my thirst for learning and personal growth. I am a sponge awaiting to absorb as much as I can.

See many of you soon