Summary Post C4T#1 (Post 1&2)

C4T#1-post#1
My first Comments4Teachers (C4T) assignment is to follow the blog of Liz Davis, The Power of Educational Technology. Liz Davis Blog Link She is getting geared up for her favorite conference of the year, EduCon. I have included EcuCon's guiding principles below.

What is EduCon?

EduCon is both a conversation and a conference.

And it is not a technology conference. It is an education conference. It is, hopefully, an innovation conference where we can come together, both in person and virtually, to discuss the future of schools. Every session will be an opportunity to discuss and debate ideas — from the very practical to the big dreams.

The Axioms

Guiding Principles of EduCon

Our schools must be inquiry-driven, thoughtful and empowering for all members
Our schools must be about co-creating — together with our students — the 21st Century Citizen
Technology must serve pedagogy, not the other way around
Technology must enable students to research, create, communicate and collaborate
Learning can — and must — be networked.

Liz explains this is her 4th conference. How I wish I could go! She makes it sound so fun to be surrounded by other teachers who are coming together to discuss meaningful ways to improve teaching in the 21st century. I believe a teacher is speaking volumes about him or herself when they take their personal time to attend these conferences. Not only do I read between the lines that they are still very interested in their profession, but that they care enough to keep improving upon themselves as well.

I just can't explain how excited I am to be a part of the EDM 310 class! It is the most labor intensive college class I have ever been in, but also the most rewarding. I have been time warped into different awareness level in my profession and am most appreciative for it. I keep thinking, I hope all education majors around the nation have a chance to learn and use communication tools like we have here at University of South Alabama.

C4T#1-post#2

I just posted my second comment for Liz on her blog. She has returned from the EduCon Conference and had some conflicting feelings about it. While she still believes in the significance of the conference, the materials seemed a bit of a repeat for a fourth time attender, like herself.

What I love is that she was very open and honest about sharing her feelings. It's not always easy to say what we feel, especially when it is not always positive. This brings us to the source of her discontent with the last conference. She felt as though there could have been more positive information about what the schools were doing right. Maybe more examples, instead of the same rhetoric, "We must bring our failing schools into the twenty first century with technology."

Congratulations to Liz who is so ahead of the technology curve that she is starting to circle back around! I am going to make sure to follow Liz, so I can go with her on this next trip!