Comments on: We’re living in a conversation

By: Lohness

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By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:16:07 +0000

I think the issue is whether or not we are actually engaged with the presentation. Numerous experiments have shown that we do not really multitask; we switch back and forth between subjects. If the presentation is such that we are able to keep track of it in smatterings, then that’s one thing. If it is an issue about which we know little and need to be — or are being paid to be — informed, that is an entirely different matter.

It is up to participants how they spend their time in a conference or presentation. But let’s not lend credibility to the myth of multitasking. You’re either paying attention, or you’re not.

By: Judy O'Connell

Judy O'Connell — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:28:14 +0000

Carol, it was so refreshing to hear this feedback! I think the problem is that some organisations simply haven’t caught up with the Web 2.0 way of interacting at conferences. In fact, I have been to many where I am one of only a handful who are blogging or twittering etc. Certainly I have never been informed beforehand of what to expect, and being asked to say ‘Hi’ amongst microbloggers – well that’s sensational. On the other hand, various organisations with a technology focus, have welcomed me and supported denizens of the online world to engage in what some people see as disruptive behaviours.

Some associations unfortunately do not operate in this way. Last term I attended a Teacher Librarian conference, to find no wireless, and only a couple of people with a laptop to take notes. I had to resort to my mobile to twitter or be connected.

Clearly I need to get up to one of your conferences! Please keep me informed of any great things you folks are doing. Let’s promote your efforts.

By: Carol Daunt Skyring

Carol Daunt Skyring — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:53:27 +0000

We absolutely expect people to blog, twitter & plurk during our Learning Technologies conference (http://www.learningtechnologies.com.au) and give them the means & encouragement to do so. We let delegates know beforehand what to expect & open the conference asking all the microbloggers present & distant to say ‘Hi’.

I was really stunned by this post as I thought this was commonplace – and especially at a technology conference.

By: Judy O'Connell

Judy O'Connell — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:03:31 +0000

Greg, you are keen for people not to talk or chat and disrupt a presentation – and I am also old-fashioned enough to agree with you on that. But I also know that I do like to share a few words with my colleagues at times, so I often choose to sit at the back of the hall or auditorium quite often, because as you point out, rudeness has no place in the world!!

But like Dean, I also believe in reading-up on who the presenter will be. Catch a good presenter and you will see me in the front row, off to one side, where I can catch video, or take pictures of the presenter. Mark Pesce and Will Richardson are two whose words I would always hang on and be close up for.

Graham, you are so right about disruptive technologies and the hackles of teachers. It’s a wobbly world alright – spinning faster as we speak and thus the urgency to understand how to use communicative Web 2.0 technologies is all the more urgent.

By: Greg's Blog - principal (le?) learning » Conference etiquette and levels of ‘newness’

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:29:13 +0000

[...] I usually only see ‘online’, and also with the crew from CORE. There has been a buzz in blogs since the conference about the issues involved with Twitter and online engagement with conference [...]

By: Graham Wegner

Graham Wegner — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:19:59 +0000

Judy, your answers are so well phrased and in tune with my own viewpoint. I’m of the view that if someone says what you mean, it is pointless trying to replicate the same thing. I reckon I’ll put in my survey with “same as Judy” in each comment box! And if educators are getting their hackles up over fellow educators subtly using disruptive technologies in an adult learning environment, they will be very resistant and controlling when their students get access to that same disruptive technology. The rumblings are only going to get louder…

By: Greg Carroll

Greg Carroll — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:51:27 +0000

See this: http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2008/10/digital-lemmings.html#comment-1357 post on the same issue. As I commented on Derek’s entry I believe the issue is a moral and ethical one and not of the technologies per se’. People who have a tendency to be rude in real life will ‘go for gold’ when hiding in the relative anonymity of the cyber world.
Being able to engage with others via Web2.0 tools and with my own thinking on my blog is an essential part of my learning at a conference now. I expect good internet access and speakers to ‘work’ in a way that allows me to do this.
I really don’t ‘get’ Twitter but like chat …. but thats me
Greg.

By: dskmag

dskmag — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 07:13:55 +0000

I think. That these people are now your colleagues and you need to remember that the system is ‘bigger’ than us right now. Reflection is key to creative thinking. If you are bored, think you know better etc., then sure have a discussion with the people around you, however, petty comments, in-jokes and ‘yeah but’ judgments are the ones that the system and media will beat you around the head with later. Maybe it’s a teacher thing – we like to keep score.

What you think – largely depends on where you sit on a range of social, cultural and systemic spectrum. Personally, I like to hear about things that are ‘new’ ideas. Conferences – in their ‘event’ style approach have by nature to suit a wide audience.

What would be the point in my insisting that virtual conferences in Second Life are only way I want to learn .. despite the low cost, convenience and lack of travel. There is on one ‘best’ way – but I have to day – that I don’t like people speaking to an audience with presos that have been around for a year or so – I’ve seen that at NECC and I’ve seen it online.

Pre-reading up on people leads to a better conf experience – go by name rather than topic – and do spend time with break out bloggers – cause thats where the best conversations are IMO.

How many at NECC did we walk out on Jude? Lots. Twitter is a fantastic tool, I think we’re all smart enough to work out who’s being critical for a good reason and who’s just posting uninformed crap (maybe).

By: Judy O'Connell

Judy O'Connell — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:16:23 +0000

I couldn’t agree more! There is a difference between participating or disrupting! In a sense adults are still learning how to function in this multimodal way, and seem to (at times) demonstrate the type of behaviour that we know students will engage in when they are not putting their best digital citizen selves forward The solution is not to ban it but for teachers as learners to develop appropriate professional behaviours to facilitate collaborative conference experiences. NECC was also 21st century – not only during sessions but around sessions as well. The bloggers cafe is a must, the second life cafe is a must, and the edubbloggercon – informal conferencing prior to the main conference – is also a must. We have to keep pushing the boundaries if we are to be effective teachers for our kids.