I came across this post via a tweet from @bengrey. Though members of my company have attended NECC in the past, this year will be my first time attending.

After reading your post, I am energized and excited to participate in this event and meet leaders passionate about education an technology. Perhaps I’ll post my own “Big fat NECC brian dump” after the conference.

Cheers!

Carleigh McKenna
Cramster.com
Twitter: @Cramster

As I gave Willy Kjellstrom my perspective on NECC today, I found myself telling stories about the wonderfully authentic conversations and developing friendships that being f2f with my network enabled. Our conversations were not about the tools, but they were about the ideas and what the tools might enable. It was a passion that “there is more” and we believe our students deserve to experience it.

Thank you for your kind comment above–being a new trusted friend is an honor. I look forward to lots of learning together!

Laura

Laura Deisleys last blog post..NECC 2008 Social Objects #2

Your post did a great job of reflecting my feeling toward my second NECC. For me it was all about the network. While I gathered some new ways to use tools I am familiar with using, this year was more on how to share those ideas. Your session with the rest of the K12Online organizers gave me great insight into how to share the tools and ideas I have been forming over the past three years with the rest of my school. Bud’s comments gave me ideas on how to share those ideas with everyone. Most of what I am taking away from NECC is meeting and getting to know personally some of the people who spark my creativity. Thanks for inviting me to play golf and I look forward to a full round in D.C. next year.

Enjoy your day,

Kyle

Kyle Stevenss last blog post..Powerful Learning Practice: Creating Online Communities for Professional Development

Chad Lehmans last blog post..Reflective Thoughts – My first NECC

Nadine Ns last blog post..Keeping up with my PLN (Plurk Learning Network)

Not sure about NUCC…..Learning 2.008 is giving me enough work.

Take care friend and I’ll see you on the network!

Jeff Utechts last blog post..Thoughts on conferences

Tim,
Rock Star? (wish I could emulate the sound of blowing a raspberry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowing_a_raspberry) I wish you would have said hi. Didn’t we have an exchange during FETC? Great point about your situation. Another great learning for me was understanding more clearly the barriers and BS that so many of you deal with. I think continued efforts by folks like you will one day open the gates. At least that’s my optimistic personality speaking.

Skip,
Thanks for the comments. I realize there was a myriad of inside jokes and comments but it’s nice to hear there was also some value here for non-attendees.

I agree that we run the risk of losing sight of the fact that everything we do is really about student learning. One of the reasons I think that is true is because that 3% who are creating, finding, or using great Web 2.0 technology also find that most of it is blocked in their school system (as it is in mine). As a result, often these great tools get used to create VPLNs to connect us to others who share like passions. IMHO, ISTE should be doing even more to open the tech gates at the local level.

Thanks again for a great post.

Thanks again!
Christine

p.s. Hockey rocks! My oldest plays in the Dallas Stars Youth Hockey league – yes there is ice in Texas too!

Christine Voigts last blog post..1

Looking forward to watching it later. Maybe you’re not a liar but delusional. I still like you though.

On a serious note, I was shocked by the number of people in the session so early, and when I realized they shut the doors 20 minutes before start time I felt two things — sadness that all of you couldn’t get in and nervousness b/c none of you were there.

I’ll post and tweet as soon as someone from ISTE/NECC emails me to notify me that the official recording is up on their website.

I still haven’t had time to reflect and compose my thoughts on this past week. Your summary of the week is very thorough and accurate. Well, except for the part about me “lying” — it really was an honest mistake!

I really enjoyed meeting you in person and I hope we can find time to chat more at future conferences. Take care and be careful with those Cherry Cokes!

Stephanie Sandifers last blog post..Leadership for 21st Century Schools

Lee,
Hockey in Palm Beach? You must be a transplant. Weird, I was listening the the video from the chat that occurred Wednesday just before I came and heard you making some eloquent remarks. Simply attaching a name to a face and personality makes a huge difference in how you perceive and digest their work. Context is huge and f2f matters. Hope we connect again. I’m going to work on a buttery accent but defer rockstar status to Ewan. (I’ve always been partial to the intimate settings of a club with really good jazz anyway)

Mark,
Not sure if you knew but Darren did recognize you as you walked by. That was surreal. I pride myself in my network and boast about it often, not as self promotion but rather to help folks understand it’s possible. It takes time and work but it’s possible. Also key is the size doesn’t matter. It’s the quality and reliability that makes it work. You likely already have that.

The whole NECC connection for me was awesome and I’m still trying to make sense of it. This was my first NECC and I really did not know what to expect. The sessions and discussions gave me much to think about but I found the most value was in the informal conversations, mostly around the Bloggers Cafe. Making connections with my online peers in person was quite overwhelming for me. I didn’t expect to “know” so many people and I was very surprised at how may people approached me and said they “knew” me. I think I will be better prepared at my next national conference and I will try to etch out more time to have at least a few deeper conversations.

Ewan may have the buttery Scottish accent, but you were far more personable and made a much more lasting impression on me. Being a hockey mom, and therefore partial to anything from the Great White North, I suggest you not be so quick to hand over your position as *International* edublogger rockstar!

~Lee

Lee Kolberts last blog post..1

Louise Maines last blog post..Leadership Day 2008

I enjoyed our conversation, enjoyed all the conversations that were taking place. EVERYTHING that occurred in San Antonio will impact our students either directly or indirectly. Ideas, suggestions, attitudes and points of view will continue to evolve. Who knows what changes we’ve started in motion just by being in the same place at the same time.

Thanks for giving me a lot of food for thought as my school vacation begins. Learning never takes a holiday.

dianes last blog post..The Name Game