I'm a Convert!

OK, so initially I was skeptical about a conference this formless, but my last two sessions today were really interesting. One discussed new technologies and how it affects teacher pedagogy (well, that was the initial topic, but it metamorphosed). You can see the video of that conversation here (click the New Technology) video. The last session was a free-for-all tentatively about search techniques but which quickly became a debate/discussion about Google vs. databases. I find I'm actually enjoying the free form style--it lets us wander to what interests us. In fact, tomorrow I'm going to lead a discussion of digital storytelling and documentaries. Can't wait!

You Have to Laugh...

So we're all sitting at the opening session, which was supposed to be linked to a video-conference with students from a school somewhere. At the same time we were listening to the un-keynote speaker, he had us log into the conference chat, where we were told to discuss different topics. Multi-tasking overload! And of course the conference link wasn't working, so we couldn't hear what anyone was saying; half the people couldn't log in to the chat. The rest of us were so focused on the chatting, we ignored the speaker.

A perfect lesson in "just because you can (or, in this case, can't!) doesn't mean you should." The chat was really a gratuitous use of technology--we were sitting right next to the people...why would we chat?? Face-to-face would have worked better and been more meaningful.

It also had me wondering about students who "multi-task" during class. While they're so-called "digital natives," all the studies show that multi-tasking actually decreases performance level, so at what point do we insist they slow down and mono-task? Or is that concept all but defunct in the world to come?

The video-conference debacle was a problem with the resort--it was built 150 years ago or so, is wired for Web.05, and we were trying to run Web 2.0 technology. So I definitely felt for the poor speaker, who was having the technology nightmare we all dread. But we also need to be careful. If this had happened with non-tech savvy teachers, they would have walked out in 15 minutes, or used it to reinforce their technophobia.

I'm now sitting in a Drupal session. Everyone else is more au fait than, I, however. I'm interesting in using it to develop the new library site--Joomla was a disaster this summer!--I need something more basic than this, though. Not off to a booming start; some interesting sessions coming up, so my hopes are high!

And you can't complain about the setting at all. These photos were taken off the balcony of the session room.

NEIT2007 Unconference

My first live blog! I'm attending the New York something something technology unconference, listening to Jeff Lebow the un-keynote speaker at the beautiful Mohonk Mountain Resort. Why all the un's? The conference planners decided the best part of any tech conference is usually the unplanned conversations that take place between sessions, so they're trying to build an entire conference around that unstructured, participative structure. I'll keep you posted!