Make the most of uLearn19

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With two weeks to go, it is timely to look at how to get the most out of your uLearn experience.

Still looking for reasons to join us in Rotorua? uLearn is CORE Education’s annual professional learning conference.

ulearn-keynote

Across three days of professional learning opportunities, you will connect and collaborate with others who have the interests of all learners at heart, and the drive to explore innovations and develop practical solutions to learning challenges.

But wait, there’s more! You can take part in uLearn even if you are not coming to the conference! The #notatulearn hashtag offers you the chance to follow along and experience uLearn virtually this year.

BEFORE

Plan

  • Read the uLearn updates you’ve been sent.
  • Familiarise yourself with the conference themes and focus questions.
  • Identify what you’d like to get out of the conference.
  • Take time to read the programme and pick a pathway through the breakout selection. Pre-book your breakouts to ensure a seat.
  • Make sure your device is fully operational outside your place of work.
  • Make sure you have all your charging cords with you, but travel as light as possible!

Connect

Pack

  • Wear comfy shoes – you will do a lot of walking.folder
  • Bring your own drink bottle.
  • Wear a backpack so you’re hands free.
  • Make a uLearn dinner costume to fit the ‘Into the Jungle’ theme. Homemade costumes garner much admiration, and there are prizes to be won for your efforts.
  • If it’s too late to do this, make a note for next time!

DURING

The good news is you can still do many things from the BEFORE section, when you arrive.

Network

Visit the CORE Education stand and meet the Connected Educator Team.

connected-educator-team

Embrace social spaces at uLearn

Ten Trends conference showcase

WHEN: 5.00pm – 6.15pm Tuesday 8 October (optional, all welcome)network
WHERE: Unison 3, Energy Events Centre
Want to connect before the conference gets underway? Register via the app, or just come along and join in on the day, after you’ve picked up your lanyard and name tag. The Ten Trends Conference Showcase, brought to you by a CORE Education team, includes audience participation. So grab a drink, and get social with us.

Welcome reception

WHEN: 5.00pm-6.00pm Wednesday 9 October
WHERE: Exhibition rooms – Bay Forum and Trust Sportsdrome, Energy Events Centre
The Welcome Reception is a chance to engage with exhibitors and other delegates in the exhibition spaces, and continue the first day of your conference experience, while enjoying fine wine and canapés. The interaction continues with the Town Square fun and games.

ulearn-social

Town Square

WHEN: 5.30pm-6.30pm Wednesday 9 October (optional, bookable)
WHERE: Exhibition rooms – Forum and Trust Sportsdrome, Energy Events Centre
The Town Square is the heart of the community where people come to meet and socialise. As an extension of the welcome reception, Town Square is an opportunity to experience the vitality and heart of the uLearn community. Gather around the Digi Smackdown stage to hear impassioned speakers share their stories, tips and resources. Join the speed geeking conversations, play the giant games and begin the uLearn19 prize challenge. Try your hand at the Interactive Digital Mural in the Grand Hallway. Take the time to get connected in edSpace so that you can continue the conversations. Talk with the exhibitors and find out what’s on offer, and plan to come back to them during the conference. Meet up with your pals, meet new people, and flow on out to dinner at your leisure.

Eat Streat

Eat Streat is a vibrant, colourful must see as one of Rotorua’s coolest hot spots in the city. At the lake end of Tutanekai Street, you can enjoy quality restaurants, cafés and bars. The covered central walkway will keep you dry and the retractable roofing gives you all all-weather al fresco dining. Take a team there on any evening except on Thursday, if you’re going to the uLearn dinner.

Participate

  • Your colleagues are your best collaborators, so don’t be shy to ask about successes and failures, share your learning, and offer strategies that may apply to them.thumbsup
  • Take time to visit the Exhibition Hall and ask exhibitors about their wares. They are there to assist you to do your job.
  • Branch out and broaden your horizons, or stay focused on your identified goals – there’s no right way to do it.
  • Be brave – ask questions, offer thoughts.
  • Be thoughtful and invite others to join you if they are looking lost or alone.
  • Contribute your questions to back channel conversations and share ideas and provocations to social media.
  • Contribute feedback to the presenters by completing the breakout evaluations as you go. Read the live keynote blogs and consider your own thoughts.
  • Keep an eye on Strea.ma on the conference screens, as an easy way to track social media
  • Visit the CORE Education stand just inside the door in the Forum Room. Meet the team, explore our 2019/20 professional learning offerings, and peruse resources.
  • Complete the challenge and enter for your chance to win the ultimate uLearn prize – a complimentary uLearn20 ticket plus flights (within NZ) and accommodation.

ulearn-engage

Record

  • Find out about our keynote presenters: Shay Wright, Dominic Liechti @domiliechti, and Sally-Ann Wiliams @sallyannwtwitterbird
  • What do you know about them already? What do you wonder? Have you followed them on Twitter?
  • Keep notes. Set up a collaborative doc for your group and add the link to the uLearn19 collaborative keynote docs. Shay Wright, Dominic Liechti and Sally-Ann Williams
  • Share in notes and join in uLearn discussions in edSpace.
  • Tweet as a way to include your #notatulearn friends. Share your favourite quotes and resource links.
  • Remember to use the conference hashtags to be part of the hashtag story. #ulearn19, #CENZ19, #notatulearn
  • Meet up with colleagues to discuss and reflect on what you’ve learnt.

Plan

Consolidate your learning, prioritise, and decide what you will action back in your learning community.

AFTER

Collate and share resources

  • Think about ways to share what you have learned in your workplace, and how you can positively influence other staff. shareconnect
  • Presenters are asked to share their presentation slides and resources. Access the urls from the breakout sessions that you attended. 
  • Watch out for the keynote resources that are added to the uLearn website and to edSpace. Watch the keynote videos to revisit key messages. 

Continue conversations

  • Write your own blog to share your reflections.
  • Join a discussion in the edSpace uLearn discussion group or start your own conversation.

ulearn-connect

Take action

  • Award yourself the appropriate digital badge and identify the level you achieved on the uLearn19 digital badge rubric.
  • Gather evidence of the impact of your conference experience and attach evidence to your badge as part of your digital portfolio.
  • Bring others into your action plans and find ways to implement them.

And above all, plan to have some fun while you learn!
Now that you’ve read this, come along to meet the Connected Educator team at the CORE Education stand at uLearn, and share the ‘secret message’ and you will receive a treat:

Ehara mā te takitahi, engari mā te takitini, ka angitu koe!
Not as an individual, but as a collective, you will succeed!

All images copyright CORE Education, all rights reserved.

 

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Getting the most out of uLearn17

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education conference

School holidays are upon us. Time to relax and recharge. It is also time to take up professional learning and development (PLD) opportunities.

uLearn is CORE Education’s annual professional learning conference, suitable for teachers, facilitators and school leaders alike, from early childhood through to tertiary.

Across three days of continual PLD (or four days if you also attend the pre-conference), you will get the opportunity to connect and collaborate with like-minded New Zealand and international educators as you develop practical solutions to innovate in your teaching practice.

But wait, there’s more! You can take part in uLearn even if you are not coming to the conference!

The #notatulearn hashtag offers you the chance to follow along and experience uLearn virtually this year. There are two live streamed sessions available to you in our Connected Conversation series:

Connected Conversation 1: Student learners at the centre

Live-streamed on Wednesday 11 October 2017, 11:15 am – 12:30 pm

Panelists:

Juliet Revell @Juliet_Revell — Connecting with Kids #KidsedchatNZ

Melanie Matthews @melaniem8 and Olivia Graham @zlivz — Connecting to expert teachers virtually

Bronwyn Joyce @JoyceBronwyn (virtual) — Learning beyond the walls

Connected Conversation 2: Connected conversations going global

Live-streamed Wednesday 11 October 2017, 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Panelists:

Grant Lichtman @GrantLichtman (virtual) Moving the Rock: Seven levers we can press to dramatically transform education now

Christine Trimnell @TrimChris1 – Global Projects — 21st Century learning in a Digital World

Dean Shareski @shareski (virtual) — How to be Generous in a Connected World

(Maybe this will tempt you to join us in Auckland for uLearn18.)

So, whether you are joining us face-to-face or taking part in #notatulearn … Here are some quick steps to get the most out of uLearn17.

Before:

  1. Get organised! Join Twitter and follow the hashtag #ulearn17 and #CENZ17
  2. Join edspace uLearn group, introduce yourself and tell us what you’d like to get out of uLearn17.

 

Connected Educator (CENZ) Team

connected educators nz

  1. Come and see us at the Connected Educator Stand for Flipgrid challenges, connecting, photobooth and more — including the release of our revitalised Starter Kete. In the Connected Educator Room, we’re running practical, hands-on sessions to support you in getting connected Breakouts 1–5
  2. Find out about the keynotes: Eric Mazur,@eric_mazur Dr Ann Milne,@ann_milne  Brad Waid, @Techbradwaid  and Abdul Chohan, @Abdulchohan. What do you know about them already? What do you wonder? Have you followed them on Twitter?
  3. Check out the spotlight sessions, aligned to the conference strands.
  4. Think now about how you are going to capture your new learning. Are you going to blog it, tweet it, capture it on Evernote, set up a group/school google doc for collective gathering of insights? Take notes using shared Google Docs where possible and share in uLearn discussions.
  5. Bookmark links in uLearn discussion groups.
  6. Pack comfortable shoes, and clothes. You are going to chalk up some steps at uLearn. Have you got your personal fitness wearable charged and ready to go? Have you got a suitable backpack to carry all you need for the day? And, don’t forget to label your belongings — just like camp!
  7. Sign up for Night at the Movies ‘the heART of the matter’ and an interview with the producer on Wednesday night.
  8. Organise your Op Shop Ballroom costume for the gala dinner.

During:

  1. Find your tribe. Take the time to meet new people. The friendly tribe you’ll meet at uLearn17 can be your support network going forward. Follow them on Twitter, find and follow their blogs, share and connect beyond the face-to-face event.
  2. Be charged! Pack the ‘right’, fully charged, device for you. Can you capture all you need on your iPad, tablet, or phone? Do you need to bring your laptop or chromebook? Make sure you have all your charging cords with you, but travel as light as possible!
  3. On your own? It’s okay to hang out at the Connected Educator Station, ask questions, and, hopefully, meet up with others. Also, when in workshops, join someone else who looks like they are on their own and introduce yourself. If you are alone, choose workshops that are interactive, because then you get to talk to people.
  4. Keep an eye on Strea.ma
  5. Don’t forget to allow time to visit the Trades Hall and talk to the vendors. Don’t forget the various competitions and prizes being offered there. You need to stay to the end for the draws. Use ShowGizmo, scan QR code posters on exhibitor stands to go in the draw to win.
  6. Visit the CORE Education stand (inside the exhibition hall). Meet the team, explore our 2018 professional learning solutions, and purchase resources.
  7. Spin the digital prize wheel and be an instant winner! Prizes include a complimentary uLearn18 registration plus flights (within NZ) and accommodation.
  8. Join in the Conference Showcase Rātu / Tuesday 5.00pm
  9. Take some time to enjoy the culture and arts around Hamilton in your evenings or early mornings. There are lots of places to walk and explore.
  10. At uLearn17 and uLearn Changing Spaces (the pre-conference day at Rototuna Junior High School focussing on ILEs), you will have the opportunity to collect He Tohu Oranga (CORE’s digital badges). Digital Badges are an evidence-based certification of learning to provide a record of your achievements.

After:

  1. Continue the discussions via social media, on Twitter #ulearn17, #CENZ17, Facebook, edSpace
  2. Share your learning:
  1. Plan a date in your calendar to follow up with team or staff meetings
  2. Plan for ‘uShare’ experience where two or more schools get together for

face-to-face staff session to discuss their action plans

Now that you’ve read this, come along to the Connected Educator station at uLearn, and share the ‘secret message’, which is, “Learning is sweeter when you are connected’’, and receive the first free offer. Then find out how to work towards the set…

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story hui class

Capturing the ‘voice’ of the learner…

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“A picture is worth a thousand words” is an English idiom. It refers to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image or that an image of a subject conveys its meaning or essence more effectively than a description does. Wikipedia

Indigenous cultures from around the world have used pictures and art forms to express a moment in time or tell a story for centuries. For Māori, this has/is often in kōwhaiwhai, whakairo, and tukutuku.

As we approach the end of our school year, we pause to reflect on our journey, our progress, our challenges, and successes. For us, as facilitators, we have the privilege of working alongside educators, supporting them to reflect on their inquiry. One tool we use, is Story Hui.

“Story Hui is inspired by ancient forms of storytelling incorporating speech, sign, gesture, and simple drawing”. Story Hui allows us to capture an image (or sketchnote) of a learning journey. It enables us to dig deeper into how learning was before an intervention, explore the inquiry or action, and reflect on the outcome or evidence. We capture this in pictorial form, and in brief notes during a five-minute sharing slot or session. A further five minutes is dedicated to digging deeper into the story, being mindful of supporting the storyteller to articulate the journey, and reflect on progress. The audience are the people in the room. The story told impacts on educators. As the audience, they are drawn into the story, invited to question and go deeper into the story. This interaction celebrates the journey, and allows the storyteller to dig deeper into their story of practice. I always conclude the Story Hui celebration with capturing an image of storyteller and artist.

Today, for the first time, I completed a Story Hui with an educator and her class as the audience. The benefits were numerous. The students listened intently to the learning journey of their teacher, hearing her challenges, successes, and “aha!” moments. They heard themselves in the story, as participants in the journey. The students could dig deeper into the story during the questioning session, carefully phrasing their questions to focus on the teacher’s journey. Acknowledging the progress that they have all made — feeling the celebration and success of the journey —was very rewarding. They were immensely proud of their teacher and themselves. Next steps for this teacher might be to capture a Story Hui of some of her learners’ journeys.

story hui assessment

What is it that sets Story Hui apart? The focus is entirely on the storyteller and their journey. There is no place for ‘hijacking’ the journey and slipping it to the story of another. It focuses on a change/action/inquiry that an educator has undertaken, looking at the progress to date. It concludes with where we are at NOW. Sure, you can reflect on it and use it as a guide to shape the next part of your journey, but it is a story of progress to date. It is interactive. It is captured visually and via notes. It demands the attention of the audience. It is a celebration, a ‘warts and all’ celebration, is not prepared for, and is directly from the heart, mind, or soul of the storyteller. It is not judged or challenged, and it is valued, acknowledged, and celebrated.

I wonder if Story Hui will see itself adding to the reshaping of reporting?. I wonder if learners will create/share their own Story Hui, unpacking their ‘holistic’ progress?. I wonder if learners are able to feel the power of progress they make?.

As Vicki Davis says, “Sketchnoting is not just an attractive way to take notes, it can improve retention and learning.”

Karen Spencer’s keynote at uLearn16 was captured by Mary Brake of http://www.reflectiongraphics.com/. I had the privilege of hearing this keynote. Revisiting this image enables me to revisit the learning and reflect on many of the key points. A wondering I have is, how can we use sketchnoting with learners to maximise impact? If you capture a learning journey in sketchnote form, it has passed through your filter; you have synthesised the message. If you visit the sketchnote of another, it alerts you to recall poignant messages, and maybe go further, looking at what has been included, and what has been left out. How could a culture of sketchnoting/whakaahua enhance your class, school, learning journey as you unpack your inquiries? My colleague, Janelle Riki, explained to me the deeper essence of the word whakaahua, (which is often used in Māori for picture or photograph) to emanate the essence of someone, something in a picture form.
“Stories are embedded into every aspect of our daily lives like a finely woven korowai cloak. I think it’s exciting to be able to measure the shifts in learning outcomes, teacher practice and whanau and community engagement through the myriad of stories that are just waiting to be told.” – Jason Ruakere

Karen Spencer story

I have previously blogged about mindfulness in a post titled You Matter. A book I am currently reading has a section of mindful art quotes. How could we use this skill in class to empower our learners to explore, adopt, unpack, and ‘own’ their own story in quotes? Could the art of creating imagery or artwork around a quote or phrase, support in adopting or automating of it, and the behaviour associated with it? I am thinking of this with regard to values, vision, anchor charts, and learning phrases, or quotes.

Recently, as TEDxChristchurch came to a close, we were offered a taonga. Poet Sophie Rae returned to the stage and offered a piece entitled, “Things we are confused about now”. Sophie captured sound bites from each of our TEDx speakers, making connections, offering challenges, and gifting us an opportunity to go deeper, and make a difference. This got me wondering. So often we capture a learning journey visually, using a tool or framework such as Story Hui. How often do we capture a journey using sound bites, capturing key ideas, making connections and going further? Just as sketchnoting works for some learners, I am sure ‘sound biting’ could work for others. The talent and skill of Sophie captured the day for me in phrases, one liners, provocations…. Will I remember more from her summation than I will from the TED talks? For others to summarise and capture a journey, it has been through their thought process, their filter, and interpreted by them. What if we all made our own sound bites? What if learners captured their learning in sound bites, promptly, if not immediately after their learning? How could we make this a regular part of our learning journeys?

“Inspiration occurs when ideas collide.” TedxChristchurch

Yesterday I captured sketchnotes, well, more like notes really, from the talks. Today, I am going to capture sound bites, from the five talks that impacted deeply on me, phrases that I will speak and record as I attempt to embed my ‘ideas colliding’.

Starting with Sophie Rae — Poet: Always tell your story, tell it from your heart, tell it, retell, in written language, oral, or in images.

Lucie Ozanne — Researcher: Care networks are all we have. We must CARE. We must make a difference for those around us at all times, so that in times of crisis or adversity our networks sustain and support us. I must explore the concept of Time banks!

Dame Diane Robertson — Missioner: The Family 100 Day Project Demonstrating the complexities of being poor; an empathy tool.

Barry Vercoe — Digital Musicologist: The future’s not ours to predict, it is ours to design! Support the crazy ideas!

Grant Ryan — inventor:  We need the BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) of being predator-free soon!  We need the return of the cacophony of bird sound!

All of the talks were livestreamed and will be available on the TEDxChristchurch website soon.

I heard and saw the talks. I captured them in sketchnote form and sound bite. I used the sketchnotes to create the sound bites. I know many of these messages are staying with me, shaping me, causing me to think and behave in new ways.

Just as no one-size-fits-all, no one-style-of-capturing, synthesising, and recording, or journey works for all. How can we maximise learning in our classes, schools, and clusters by modelling, inviting, or even demanding, regular reflection in a variety of methods? How can we whakairo the learner story?

Please share in the comments below how you are capturing the learning journey…

 

Resources:

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uLearn

Preparing for uLearn 2016

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uLearn

Today, we want to focus on attending uLearn for the first time. But, don’t think this post is just for newbies. This post is your opportunity to comment and share your experiences, to help make this experience the best it can possibly be! You might want to check out TIPS FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE,

  1. Get organised! Get ready to get out of your comfort zone, and connect and engage!
  1. Come prepared to work hard and play hard!
  1. Use the ShowGizmo app, and update your profile.
  1. Join Twitterand follow the hashtags #Ulearn16 and #CENZ16
  1. Choose your breakouts strategically, and remember JOMO! There is always JOY in missing out on something, as it allows you to experience something else. Do you want to attend sessions by certain presenters? Or, by theme? Choose sessions that fit your Learning Style! Don’t forget to check out where your breakouts are, and allow yourself enough time to get there!

ulearn map

  1. Find out about the keynotes: Larry Rosenstock, John Couch, Karen Spencer, and Michael Fullan. What do you know about them already? What do you wonder? Have you followed them on Twitter? Larry, John, Karen, Michael.
  2. Check out the spotlight sessions (more info in link) You can search for and book Spotlight sessions as part of the wider programme, as well as search by presenter.
  3. Think now about how you are going to capture your new learning. Are you going to blog it, tweet it, capture it on Evernote, set up a group/school google doc for collective gathering of insights? How are you going to reflect on it, share it, revisit it, in a way that works for you and colleagues you want to share with? Don’t wait till you get home to start reflecting on your sessions. Share your thoughts with others. Begin to unpack your thoughts and possible impact on your practice while you are surrounded by people in the same ‘hype’.
  4. Find your tribe. Take the time to meet new people. The friendly tribe you’ll meet at uLearn16 can be your support network going forward. Follow them on Twitter, find and follow their blogs, share and connect beyond the face-to-face event.
  5. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Layers work well, as you can peel then off as you move between venues! You are going to chalk up some steps at uLearn. Have you got your personal fitness wearable charged and ready to go? Have you got a suitable backpack to carry all you need for the day? And, don’t forget to label your belongings — just like camp!
  6. Slow down to speed up: Take time to soak up the atmosphere. Allow yourself time to just ‘BE at uLearn’. Remember, there are people tweeting from sessions and sharing links, that will all be available asynchronously. Maybe catching up on shared notes and links later; it frees you up to really focus on the session you are in.
  7. Be charged! Pack the ‘right’, fully charged, device for you. Can you capture all you need on your iPad, tablet, or phone? Do you need to bring your laptop or chromebook? Make sure you have all your charging cords with you, but travel as light as possible! You can pop by the Connected Educator station during the day to use the charging station, and connect with the friendly Connected Crusaders who are there to help you.
  8. On your own? It’s okay to hang out at the Connected Educator Station, ask questions, and, hopefully, meet up with other singles, or suggest other places to connect with people e.g. coffee cart! Also, when in workshops, join someone else who looks like they are on their own and introduce yourself. If you are alone, choose workshops that are interactive, because then you get to talk to people.
  9. Don’t forget to allow time to visit the Trade’s Hall and talk to the vendors. The Hall can be very busy in break times, so maybe visit during a session, and take time to talk and to interact with what is on offer. Don’t forget, various competitions and prizes being offered there as an incentive. You need to stay to the end for the draws.

grand hall

  1. Take some time out. Find a quietish space, or come and find us in the Connected Educator station and chill out. Your brain will be buzzing, and you might need some time to reflect and recharge. You don’t have to go to every session — you need time to breathe and think too — in fact, it’s probably more important than dashing to the next session and then forgetting everything you heard.
  2. Don’t forget to pack your Kiwiana-themed costume. No matter how small, almost everyone dresses and parties in theme… so pop in your Kiwiana kit.
  3. Take some time to enjoy the culture and arts around Rotorua in your evenings or early mornings. There are lots of places to walk and explore.

Looking forward to connecting at uLearn.

Now that you’ve read this, come along to the Connected Educator station at uLearn, and share the ‘secret message’, which is, ‘connections that make a difference’’, and receive the first free gift on offer. (And find out how to work towards the set…)

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Michio Kaku presenter ISTE2016

Tips for getting the most out of your conference experience

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Lessons from ISTE2016  (International Society for Technology in Education)

uLearn is the social, learning explosion of the year for me. I love the people, the buzz, the sharing, and the learning. Have you registered for uLearn16 yet? I have.

Alongside my annual attendance at ulearn, for the longest time I have followed the ISTE hype on twitter and dreamt of attending. Late last year I decided to make the dream of attending ISTE a reality. Attending ISTE led me to reflect on the experience of attending a conference.

I would like to share what I have learnt from ISTE about getting the most value from attending your next conference.

Michio Kaku presenting keynote
The opening keynote was one very powerful session with Physicist Dr Michio Kaku giving us a glimpse into the future of education,
and the future of science and technology.

Preparing for a conference:

Decide early and get all the bookings in place. Consider proximity. Although you may pay a little more to stay close to conference central, you do a HUGE amount of walking at the conference and you may really benefit from being closer. Check out the accommodation options for uLearn with Orbit.

Get support from your PLN (personal learning network) with how to make the most of the experience. Connect with someone who has been before, or contact us early with questions or wonderings on how to get the most out of the conference.

Commit to your goals for the experience and focus your attention on meeting these goals. Decide on what you want to achieve from the experience. Decide on the presenters you really want to hear from, prioritising those you may not have the opportunity to access again. I always have Karen Spencer on my shoulder, reminding me that online connection is fabulous, but the real MAGIC is in the face-to-face connection. Once you decide who you want to connect with, get in touch with them online and let them know you are looking forward to the session and meeting them. It can be very helpful to have a connection and conversation established prior to the face-to-face meeting.

I identified early on a number of educators who I feel have been influential in my journey, and sought to connect with them at ISTE. I was extremely privileged to meet with Dean Shareski, Alec Couros, George Couros, Kathy Schrock, Angela Maiers and Sylvia Duckworth, (whose sessions I attended) and many others socially, including Tina Photakis and Shelly Sanchez.

Read and connect widely. Find out what your presenter or edu-hero has shared online. Reflect on how this fits with your goals, or what questions or wonderings you have for when you attend.

Set up a connection method with your colleagues. Remember that you see them most of the time. You really want to prioritise your time at conference connecting with new people. But, you also want and need the assurance of knowing where your colleagues are when you need them. We used a twitter group message chat, a whatsapp group, and, of course, texting.

Look out for chances to connect. On the very last day of ISTE 2016, a young educator approached us as we were having yet another photo shoot by the giant. She was in awe of the fun we were having, and shared the solitude of her journey. If you are on your own and attending for the first time, reach out, get connected, get the learning hype going.

Getting the most out of a conference:

Arrive well rested. This conference is going to be non-stop mental, physical, and social commitment.

Get ready to get social! Alongside the sessions you attend, you will have numerous opportunities for scheduled and coincidental social networking. Meet everyone you can. Talk to everyone, ask for help, get involved.

ISTE afforded many social opportunities. Some of my highlights would have to be:

  • The bike ride to our apartment at the end of a very busy day

Bike ride

  • The wonderful connections with so many of my edu-heroes
  • Sharing the journey with an amazing group from New Zealand

NZ group at ISTE2016

  • The edtech Karaoke party
  • The ‘bear’ moments and photos

Bear moments

Capture the learning journey. Prior to attending, decide on the platform or method of capturing your story of the conference. What method will work for you?

  • Sketchnoting
  • Twitter
  • Live Blogging
  • Online note taking — Evernote
  • Photos — make sure you have a device with enough free space for the countless photos you will take. Capturing a message from a slide to visit later, a selfie with a new ‘friend’, or a scene, or resource or link.

I have always been an advocate of Twitter at a conference — #ISTE2016. I often use Storify to capture the story of a day or session. At ISTE 2016, I sensed immediately that Twitter alone wouldn’t suffice. So, alongside regular tweets, I live-blogged all of the sessions I attended. As I shared the sessions, I was clear they were first drafts. They are not evidence of my learning yet, as they are just my initial capturings. As I revisit each session in turn, add images and reflections, they will become evidence of the impact of this experience.

You can check out my initial posts on each session on my blog. This will continue to be updated as mentioned above.

Embrace the unexpected and the MAGIC

Many meetings I had at #ISTE2016 were scheduled. Many more were serendipitous, coincidental and slightly bizarre given 17,000+ delegates. As I shared my #ISTE2016 journey on my Twitter feed, New Zealand educators connected me from afar. Sonya challenged me to meet Shelly Terrell. This meeting was perhaps the most coincidental of all. A break between sessions saw me intrigued by the action in the bloggers’ cafe. A friendly smile invited me to the couch and an offer of support was made. This casual meeting revealed I was chatting with none other than Shelley Terrell in person!

Alongside this, be prepared for JOMO (joy of missing out). You can’t do it all, be it all, capture it all. There will be some people you won’t connect with, some sessions you won’t get to, some moments you won’t capture. Embrace the opportunity this presents. Plan for a future connection, a future online learning, or a link shared by a colleague. Plan for revisiting, rewinding your journey.

Reach out

Tweet your presenters, connect with them, question them, and thank them. Reach out to those around you. Take every opportunity to chat, discuss a session, share your story, and listen to the story of others. Make connections; connect with friends of friends of friends.
Making connections

Synthesise and make connections

ISTE’s vision:
“Proactive leadership in developing a shared vision for educational technology among all education stakeholders, including teachers and support staff, school and district administrators, teacher educators, students, parents, and the community”
ISTE standards:
Education technology standards to transform learning and teaching
Empowering connected learners in a connected world

I am now beginning to reflect upon the connections and impact from my sessions. Without a doubt, I have some favourite moments and sessions. The opening keynote was one very powerful session with Physicist Dr Michio Kaku. It gave us a glimpse into the future of education, and the future of science and technology. He spoke of biotechnology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence, and of a time when the computer and the Internet will be both everywhere and nowhere. He spoke of technologies available in the near future; talking wallpaper; clothing, medicines, vehicles, and toilets collecting and sharing information about health and well being. Dr Kaku spoke of “robo-docs” and “robo-lawyers”, where we will have access to easily obtainable information and diagnoses. He spoke how educators’ need to prepare students to thrive in a new landscape. He spoke of the very real need for us to stress concepts and principles rather than memorisation. Fifty years from now we’ll live in a smart house, wear chips woven into fabric — when dressed you are online, clothing will identify coordinates and update services, ‘a doctor in your clothing’, an ambulance of tomorrow will reach you in time and save your life.

The edtek talks were another highlight for me with the sharing of very real motivational stories.

The first round of edu-ignites were incredibly informative. Check out the links and digital tote resources.

Dean Shareski’s session, ‘Rethinking Digital Citizenship” was another real highlight, especially with the New Zealand touch sharing Chase’s story.Online vs. Offline Self: Who is the Real You? | New Age Creators.

Taking the conference learning forward

As I leave Denver I begin to consider the magnitude of the journey I have been on. I begin to see the potential of sharing my learnings, my stories, and my provocations. I liken it to the overwhelming feeling that accompanied me when I attended my first uLearn. How would I make it manageable, keep it real, and ‘make a difference’? So, I have deliberately chosen to revisit each session in turn. As I re-craft my posts, I am committing to sharing them with those I think would find them useful, meaningful, or interesting.

Some is not a number and soon is not a time — so I commit to reshaping two sessions a week, each week, until I have reshaped them all and revisited and shared my ‘digital tote’.

My ISTE experience has made me think about how to get the most out of large conferences. If you are coming to uLearn this year, here are my tips. (And if you haven’t booked yet, maybe now is the time.)

Here’s a summary of my helpful tips:

  • Decide early and get all the bookings in place.
  • Get support
  • Commit to your goals
  • Read and connect widely
  • Set up a connection method with your colleagues
  • Arrive well rested
  • Get ready to get social
  • Capture the learning journey
  • Embrace the unexpected and the MAGIC
  • Reach out
  • Synthesise and make connections
  • Taking the conference learning forward

conference finished - all gone home
The end of the conference. Where have all of the 17,000 educators from 71 countries gone?

Where to now?

Now I’m off on holiday, so much richer for the incredible experience that #ISTE2016 has been.

I would love to hear from you. What have I included that is useful? What more can I include?  How will you prepare for Ulearn16? And who is keen to attend ISTE in the future?

If attending ulearn is not a possibility for you this year, how can you make it possible in the future? How can you benefit virtually by following the hashtag #notatUlearn?

Please comment below to let me know!

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