NECC08-- Not quite the same as previous years...

I left the conference a little disjointed -- not sure why and decided to reflect transparently and see if any of you (my community of readers) can help me sort it out. Please comment below. I welcome your thoughts.

First let me say that meeting so many folks f2f (if I tried to list here would I miss someone) I had long admired or even had worked with on various global projects for the first time made my trip worth it. I enjoyed the human network element to NECC much more than any sessions.

I was looking back over the Tweets from NECC and saw a comment by Gary Stager, it was a push back to Wes Fryer (i think)- and I am taking it out of context -but it meshed with one of my take aways from the conference.

Gary said, "Contact doesn't matter if the connecting people are not doing anything. Don't you think?"

And while Gary often says things I do agree with, this statement left me shaking my head no. For me, connecting *is* the point. Connecting and listening to ideas and allowing this new contact to push my thinking beyond where I could take it myself, reflecting on what and who they are, and then deciding if it becomes part of my developing schema is in and of itself enough- regardless if we do anything beyond that connection. Alfred Lord Tennyson says that we are a part of all we have met. I believe that.

It was clear that NECC07 had an impact upon me in that I came to the realization that NECC08 was the anniversary of what came to be several key relationships in my life. But just as importantly, there are many folks this year with whom I connected and had a casual conversation with- that while they pushed my thinking in ways I had not previously considered- I will probably not do anything further. There may be tacit knowledge outcomes that will have a subtle impact on what I believe, but the meeting in and of itself was enough. These connections for me are much like watching a beautiful sunset. The beauty of the event is in and of itself perfect- there need not be any learning objective or standards met or end result- the beauty of the now is worth the time.

Why We Can't Go Back

I caught up with Vinnie Vrotny at the airport, he said something that I felt had deep meaning. I asked him if he had a good conference experience. He explained that this year's conference was different for him because he was different- he was in a different place. Others had approached me at the conference saying they felt this year's event had a different feel as well but attributed it to it not being the "love fest" last year's event became. One attendee told me she felt many of what she called "A listers" from last year had been saying they felt "D listed" this year. I must admit, I never have gotten this stream of thinking. Who exactly are the A listers? All I know is each new person I meet seems more interesting than the last. I am drawn to new ideas and quality conversation- regardless of how many readers you have online.

Class, gender, and race isn't something I naturally see. I tend to go straight to ideas- always have, even in high school. I am glad to have this type of blindness actually. However, I admit to feeling pulled at this conference. There were so many people I wish I had taken the time to connect with on a deeper level. I brought family and felt I was ignoring them when I spent time networking. I felt very ineffective. I am thinking that is what has left me in this funk-- of trying to figure out why I am not still high from the NECC experience.

So I am curious- did any of you feel similarly? Was it me? If you did-- why? Is it like Vinnie said-we are all at a different place so the conference should feel different? Or did I simply spread myself too thin?

Photo credit:
Texas Star- CSouthard
http://www.flickr.com/photos/csouthard/2622627476/

Ewan and Jeff at the Edubloggercon- DWarlick
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwarlick/2618246017/

Comments

[Marlo Gaddis]

I am so glad to hear someone else say that! When I returned home last night, I too was having a hard time answering the question, "How was the conference?" When I left NECC last year, I had seen and heard so much and was inspired by so many that I felt as though I was running on adrenaline for several months.

We are in a different place. I am not near in the place you and others find yourself in but I am working my way up. Still, I find that there were not nearly enough sessions this year. (crazy right?) I listened to many first-time NECC goers talk about how frustrated they were with closed sessions. I talked with one woman who got to the session 45 minutes early and still was closed out. There was too much time between sessions.

It was great to go to the Bloggers Cafe and see so many people I connect with daily through blogging and Twitter. I found myself putting faces with names and beginning conversations in a fresh way (as though we were beginning again.

[Alfred Thompson]

This was the best NECC I have probably ever had. Perhaps it is because I set narrow goals that apply to my main interests. Last year I felt more a part of the blogging community but I also tried harder (and I was able to attend EBC 2007 but not 2008). This year I felt like there were a number of conferences going on in the same venue. They were related but not the same. The blogger conference seemed in turmoil to some extent but the computer science conference was strong and active. Since I was there for the CS people as my main goal it was good. I do feel I missed out on a lot of blogger intereactions and I feel very sad about that. You are one of the people I wanted to meet but didn't for example. But I could not do it all so I feel good about what I did get done. Note I blogged about my NECC experience at http://blogs.msdn.com/alfredth/archive/2008/07/02/necc-2008-trip-report.aspx

[Carolyn Foote]

Sheryl,

I was slightly disappointed myself to also have experienced this disjointed feeling because I was so excited that it was in Texas and one of my favorite cities.

I'm a big believer in the physical space contributing to the functioning of the group, and it just seemed to me that both the bloggercon and the blogger's cafe were just not situated quite right for the communal love fest.

I also met some great people and furthered conversations that will lead somewhere interesting. But also perhaps because the NECC unplugged was happening in the same space as the cafe, it felt too loud and chaotic to really engage in deep conversations somehow?? I enjoyed several of the unplugged sessions and actually had some great takeaways but it just felt like too different functions happening in the same spot.

I'm not sure, but something just felt "different" as you say.

I also wondered about the keynote's impact. Last year I felt the keynotes were so very inspiring and were really "mixing it up" and though I just listened to this year's a little bit, I didn't really have that sense(I didn't hear the closing one though) of inspiration exactly. It seemed like last year's creative ones just carried energy throughout the conference for me--and gave me the "big ideas" to latch onto?

I came away with a lot of respect for the different presenters I saw--for their ideas, and their professionalism and dedication. And with some new friendships and a few inspiring ideas as well.

But I sort of felt that same "disjointedness" that you describe, so we're in that boat together ;)

[Paul OBriant]

This was my first NECC and I was very pleased with the experience. Like most conference, some sessions were more helpful to me than others. I won't some they were better or worse, just met my needs to varying degrees.

I had family with me and felt the same conflict you mentioned. I'm sure it would have been a different experience for me without family there. That being said, I had a great time with family too! I guess that proves the saying, you can do anything you want, just not all at the same time.

[John Maklary]

Sheryl,

I'll echo the same sentiments regarding bringing family to NECC. I had my wife and two young kids with me for the duration. While we had a great time exploring S.A. in the off hours, I do feel I missed out on more of the informal and spontaneous learning opportunities.

That said, I still enjoyed the conference. I got to talk to many folks, yourself included, about a myriad of topics and ideas and experiences. I agree that making face to face connections brings us closer and more in tune with each other. Virtual communication, while effective, still isn't the same.

[Tom Nedreberg]

This was my fifth NECC (Seattle, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and San Diego) and while I had the usual wonderful feeling of being around so many excited, smart, and innovative people and I came away from the conference a bit down as well. I think it all came down to the last keynote session. I was looking for something that just didn't materialize. I left rather angry. The first Keynote speaker was great and I loved what he said and the implications for our society but when the last keynote speaker started putting him down and trivializing what he said and coupled it with her general put downs of the sessions at the conference, it left a bad taste in my mouth. I was inspired by Web 2.0 and the possible connections to be built worldwide and the implications of that process. U was hoping the last keynote would add to my understanding and hope for the future. Instead I heard a research paper that should have been a spot-light session for a few people. The more I listened, the more it grated on me what she was saying and I think that left the bad impression more then anything. As for the rest of the conference, it was loud, it was fast, it was overwhelming. Just what I wanted it to be.

[Barbara Barreda]

There were many reasons NECC was different this year. In part as Vinny said we have changed, in part the space for conversation had to be carved out because the spaces without something booked were few and far between and the full sessions meant arriving earlier and thus less down time between sessions.

But with all that said my reflection is that the meaning is something that is growing in reflection. I did not learn any new flashy tools but I came away with a deeper sense of the pedagogy of learning. I did not get to have a deep conversation with you ( and with some of the others I would like to have spoken with) but I believe and feel that my conversations and connection are more viable and will lead to deeper communication.

Instead of being on a NECC high I have the feeling this year that NECC is a door to opportunity and I have a choice to make.. what will I do with the cards I have collected and the conversations just touched upon. This sense of incompleteness can be, for me, a disappointment or an opportunity...I am really kind of jazzed that the true fruit will only be seen in time and I hope I am up to the challenge!

[Nancy Porter]

This was the second NECC I attended and I was shocked that on the first day I was turned away from three different sessions that were closed. Were there just too many people attending? Not enough planning? I also agree with the earlier poster regarding the last keynote. It was flagrant self-promotion. It could have been mitigated by there being someone in charge to end the conference on a positive note. It illustrated a drawback to the Second Life MC. A sensitive teacher could have taken the temperature of the room and changed the atmosphere. I'm actually enjoying the conference more right now, viewing and reflecting on the sessions I missed. Maybe I will do NECC virtually in the future.

[Brandi Caldwell]

Last year I funded myself (I could only afford one day at NECC) and went to the conference hoping to absorb the awesomeness that everyone said it would be. I don't know if it was the one-day thing, being turned away from things I planned to see, or the lack of networking because of the time constraints, but I was very empty when I left. This year I did not have the money to attend. I have been watching UStream, reading blogs, and keeping up with backchannels. It was a rewarding and timely experience for me. I know that I would love the f2f meeting, and maybe next year I will have that chance. I just know that for the average teacher, the virtual conference opportunity (much like K12 that you helped pioneer) has been awesome. I will be NECCing for the next month just enjoying the conversations, opinions, and resources collected and shared by my peers. Thanks for that networking to all that attended and are willing to put the info out there.

[Mark Wagner]

Sheryl,

I definitely experienced the same challenge of balancing the family time with professional networking time and it did change the conference for me. On the one hand, the only folks who would care if I didn't spend time with them were family... but the only folks I couldn't see anywhere else were colleagues. Of course, as you and others have said, we can't go back - I've got a little boy now. In the end, I feel I did pretty well - I don't have any specific insights to offer, but I'm thankful I don't regret the way I spent my time. ;)

[mrsdurff]

The closing keynote was the best part of NECC2008. I was admittedly a virtual attendee and attended many sessions in ustreams and one in SL. I do feel rather let down, maybe disjointed is the correct word.
I agree with you about connections. The step after connections is communication. Maybe we are all stuck making connections, extending networks, finding each other.
Maybe we need to move up to the next level with transparent communication. Maybe we are seeker deeper level conversations and finding many conferences stuck in superficiality.
That superficial level is great for those not inside the 'echo chamber' but maybe it is not the way out of the 'echo chamber'. I don't pretend to know the answers.
Oh and my favorite two take-aways? "Wi-Fi courtesy of ISTE" & "I have Wi-Fi & A/C. NECC doesn't." Really, I really like the Wiffiti board and the Flickr site that one of the OZ/NZ educators shared (was it Sue Tapp?).

[Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach]

Thanks so much for sharing your stories and perceptions. They have helped me to make better sense of what I am feeling and know that it is ok to feel disjointed.

[Brett]

Your post really describes some of the feelings I had taken away from this year's NECC as well.

I posted a comment to Clarence Fisher's recent blog post, America....You've Got Trouble, about how this might have been the NECC where we began to realize that the transformation we want to happen is going to take longer than we want it to. I know I have left past NECCs all fired up to enact change in my district. This is my 4th NECC and I've come this year with a significant reality check and I'm sure that affected what I have taken away from this year's conference.

Just a thought, but I certainly would echo some of the thoughts and feelings shared here and I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in feeling that way.

[Jennifer Wagner]

Hello Sheryl --

I am sorry I wasn't at NECC, it would have been nice to say Hello to you.

I think Vinnie is absolutely correct when he said "he was in a different place".

Two years ago, the conversations between "our network" were sporadic....an email here, a google doc there, perhaps a skype call.....but not a constant.

Then at NECC 2007, we were introduced to TWITTER....and that changed a lot.

Some people have communicated EVERY DAY with each other since then......EVERY DAY!!

So conversations had to be different......because they were on a different level.

I think what some people confuse that is connectivity breeds friendship or intimacy....and to me.....that is a problem I saw happen at NECC 2008.

People had TOO many people they needed, wanted, expected to connect to....and there just was not enough time, for either side.

I think it was great for you, for Mark, and for others that had family there.....to be able to get away for a while.....because I cannot imagine what the level of communication had to be at NECC. Was there time for casual chat? Was there time not to talk about what each had conquered, and was going to conquer next? Was there time to say "how are you?" and have time to listen to the answer?

I didn't see that (through blogs, skype, wiki's, etc) this NECC. I saw a feeling of I HAVE TO CONQUER!!!

I saw people hit the ground running....
and leaving exhausted.

And I wonder, in the whole scheme of things, with all the options of CONNECTIVITY around us -- does it really matter, if we don't sit down and make contact with each other?? Just to chat and say "Hi, its good to see you again?"

Anyway -- that is the gyst I am seeing from people.......

Jen

[Paul Harington]

Hi Sheryl,
It is difficult to discuss previous NECC's this having been my first. For me the chance after a long time to actually meet members of my extended personal learning network face to face was a really valuable exercise. Also the chance to attend some very useful presentations for both professional development and a re-affirming of my online ideas was great.
However through the whole experience I did find myself asking whether I was in the target audience for this type of conference, the very obvious answer is, I guess not. Much of what the community has achieved is despite conferences like NECC rather than because of them. I realise that the only way to get a disparate group of presenters and attendees like this together is by having a large national conference, but Iam unsure as to whether this would be enough to pull meto Washington in 2009. As Vinnie so rightly said we are all in a very different place in our own development and this will be amplified by next year.....so we will see!
Paul

[Paul Harington]

Hi Sheryl,
It is difficult to discuss previous NECC's this having been my first. For me the chance after a long time to actually meet members of my extended personal learning network face to face was a really valuable exercise. Also the chance to attend some very useful presentations for both professional development and a re-affirming of my online ideas was great.
However through the whole experience I did find myself asking whether I was in the target audience for this type of conference, the very obvious answer is, I guess not. Much of what the community has achieved is despite conferences like NECC rather than because of them. I realise that the only way to get a disparate group of presenters and attendees like this together is by having a large national conference, but Iam unsure as to whether this would be enough to pull meto Washington in 2009. As Vinnie so rightly said we are all in a very different place in our own development and this will be amplified by next year.....so we will see!
Paul

[Jane Nicholls]

I have to agree with Jennifer and Paul. I think some of us have moved from going to conferences to get all the cool knew knowledge, toys and gadgets, to going for the connections. Because of our personal networks we already have access to this knowledge at our fingertips, but what is more interesting to me are the people sharing this knowledge. I enjoy the way Durff thinks, I like Paul's welsh sense of humor, I grin when I imagine Jennifer doing her happy dance. Maybe we need conferences to do too much now? We have too many connections and the pressure of condensing what we do in the course of our normal lives virtually into a 3 day conference is too much? The conflict between learning and connecting with others pulls us to different directions and therefore unsatisfied? Hmmm, just my musings...

[Darren Draper]

One thing I think we can all agree upon is that NECC 2008 was an experience wherein many have realized that while the show must go on, we may not be happy with the way the show is going.

Or maybe we're just getting bored.

In considering the growth that has taken place, I'm very intrigued by the comment you left on Robin Ellis' blog. Consequently, I'm wondering if you'd be willing to elaborate on the differences between networks of learners and communities. Perhaps the discord that some felt in this year's version of NECC stems from the idea that when people are forced to become a face to face community, they encounter issues that aren't present when they only interact with their learning network.

So what do you say, Sheryl? I think a great title for one of your upcoming posts might be "Moving from Learning Networks to Learning Communities". While I may have just stumbled upon my dissertation topic, I'm afraid that at this point in time, my brain is simply too small.

:)

[Joe Makley]

I guess I tend to be more of a hunter than a gatherer, and I was very, very satisfied with the experience of NECC. Ahem... I wasn't looking for a love fest, but practical conversations with people who had done things I am trying to do. Since that includes "changing school culture through global connections," I especially liked the Tuesday morning keynote, and have been gratified to have the video available since (if a little difficult to access.) For me, those conversations, and the sense of a wider professional world, are the reason for going. I did a number of the $20 3 hour events. It was quite an opportunity to provide feedback in a worksession on the new NETS for administrators, and very joyful to assist as a volunteer with the videoconferece from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Global Nomads. From an administrator's perspective, I believe if you send someone to NECC, you are likely to get a return on the investment. That's not an emotional response, but it can make people happy :)