Comments on: Can The Conversation Be Expanded TOO Much? http://projectsbyjen.com/blog/?p=276 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:57:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Tech4Teachers http://projectsbyjen.com/blog/?p=276#comment-567 Tech4Teachers Sat, 19 Jun 2010 22:32:35 +0000 http://jenuinetech.com/blog/?p=301#comment-567 [...] go unanswered. Why? First, because this challenge comes from well respected colleague and friend Jen Wagner (who I know will check up on me to make sure I do it.) Second, it forces me to practice what I [...] [...] go unanswered. Why? First, because this challenge comes from well respected colleague and friend Jen Wagner (who I know will check up on me to make sure I do it.) Second, it forces me to practice what I [...]

]]> By: Nadine N http://projectsbyjen.com/blog/?p=276#comment-566 Nadine N Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:45:16 +0000 http://jenuinetech.com/blog/?p=301#comment-566 I attended NECC virtually this year. I really appreciated all the streaming, back channeling, twittering, and plurking the information out to me at the time. Upon further review however, it was information overload! I am such a content junkie when it comes to learning new things, trying new tools, and finding out what others are doing. After reading dozens of blog posts, I've come to the conclusion that some of the best content comes from bloggers who attend the workshop or have the conversation and then write about it in a reflective way - so I can get their take on what they've seen or talked about. In addition, I think that the best thing about conferences is the face-to-face interaction - and that's what I missed by not attending NECC. Thanks for your post! I attended NECC virtually this year. I really appreciated all the streaming, back channeling, twittering, and plurking the information out to me at the time. Upon further review however, it was information overload! I am such a content junkie when it comes to learning new things, trying new tools, and finding out what others are doing. After reading dozens of blog posts, I’ve come to the conclusion that some of the best content comes from bloggers who attend the workshop or have the conversation and then write about it in a reflective way – so I can get their take on what they’ve seen or talked about. In addition, I think that the best thing about conferences is the face-to-face interaction – and that’s what I missed by not attending NECC. Thanks for your post!

]]> By: Jennifer http://projectsbyjen.com/blog/?p=276#comment-565 Jennifer Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:58:53 +0000 http://jenuinetech.com/blog/?p=301#comment-565 @Robin Thank you for taking the time to write. I wonder sometimes how presenters are able to multitask during their sessions....I know for certain, it is not one of my strengths. I enjoy presenting, but for me, if I extend myself too much.......no one wins. Thanks again, Robin, and it was good to "see" you at NECC. (well pictures of you!!) :) J @Robin

Thank you for taking the time to write.

I wonder sometimes how presenters are able to multitask during their sessions….I know for certain, it is not one of my strengths. I enjoy presenting, but for me, if I extend myself too much…….no one wins.

Thanks again, Robin, and it was good to “see” you at NECC. (well pictures of you!!) :)

J

]]> By: Robin Ellis http://projectsbyjen.com/blog/?p=276#comment-564 Robin Ellis Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:15:30 +0000 http://jenuinetech.com/blog/?p=301#comment-564 Jen, I know I have a difficult time trying to live blog an event or twitter what is going on, I am not a great multi tasker and it detracts from my personal learning. I don't feel comfortable as a presenter being part of a back channel, again can only focus my attention in one place. Some people do this all very well, I prefer focusing my attention, and as you, I also prefer talking to those I am with, in person, and learning more about who they are. Thanks for the post. Jen, I know I have a difficult time trying to live blog an event or twitter what is going on, I am not a great multi tasker and it detracts from my personal learning. I don’t feel comfortable as a presenter being part of a back channel, again can only focus my attention in one place. Some people do this all very well, I prefer focusing my attention, and as you, I also prefer talking to those I am with, in person, and learning more about who they are. Thanks for the post.

]]> By: JenWagner http://projectsbyjen.com/blog/?p=276#comment-563 JenWagner Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:26:12 +0000 http://jenuinetech.com/blog/?p=301#comment-563 @debbie I know we have already chatted......but thank you for posting your thoughts here.....and sharing my sentiments!! I have seen Cover.It.Live been used as you suggested with the Creative Memories sessions....and that can become a powerful tool. Maybe someday I can participate in one of those. :) Jen @debbie

I know we have already chatted……but thank you for posting your thoughts here…..and sharing my sentiments!!

I have seen Cover.It.Live been used as you suggested with the Creative Memories sessions….and that can become a powerful tool.

Maybe someday I can participate in one of those. :)

Jen

]]> By: JenWagner http://projectsbyjen.com/blog/?p=276#comment-562 JenWagner Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:24:33 +0000 http://jenuinetech.com/blog/?p=301#comment-562 @Tracey Thank you for providing the link. I do not know Meg....but will take some time to check out the site. Again -- thank you for sharing your thoughts. Jen @Tracey

Thank you for providing the link.

I do not know Meg….but will take some time to check out the site.

Again — thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Jen

]]> By: Tracy Rosen http://projectsbyjen.com/blog/?p=276#comment-561 Tracy Rosen Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:47:32 +0000 http://jenuinetech.com/blog/?p=301#comment-561 I wrote it in my last comment, I want to write it again. I am so glad I found your blog! Do you know of Meg Wheatley? Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future http://www.turningtooneanother.net/ Tracy I wrote it in my last comment, I want to write it again.

I am so glad I found your blog!

Do you know of Meg Wheatley?

Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future
http://www.turningtooneanother.net/

Tracy

]]> By: Jen http://projectsbyjen.com/blog/?p=276#comment-560 Jen Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:13:52 +0000 http://jenuinetech.com/blog/?p=301#comment-560 @Nancy Smiles, I won't wha-wha-wha-wha -- :) Thanks for posting.....and I agree.........knowledge, conversation, collaboration is so important (within the classroom first) and then expanding it out from there. The B.E.S.T. conversations I have had with the people who know THE MOST about TECH has never been about TECH. And that is the way I like it. I can read the wikis, the blogs, the tutorials, listen to podcasts, and participate in conferences. If you (speaking here of our entire network) are good at what you do, you don't need to tell me about it -- I can go to your site to get your resources to read on my own time. But when we are sitting EYE TO EYE, I want to talk about YOU and LIFE and LAUGH and just CHAT.......smiles, yep, that is what I like to do. Thanks for the post. Jen @Nancy

Smiles, I won’t wha-wha-wha-wha — :)

Thanks for posting…..and I agree………knowledge, conversation, collaboration is so important (within the classroom first) and then expanding it out from there.

The B.E.S.T. conversations I have had with the people who know THE MOST about TECH has never been about TECH. And that is the way I like it.

I can read the wikis, the blogs, the tutorials, listen to podcasts, and participate in conferences. If you (speaking here of our entire network) are good at what you do, you don’t need to tell me about it — I can go to your site to get your resources to read on my own time.

But when we are sitting EYE TO EYE, I want to talk about YOU and LIFE and LAUGH and just CHAT…….smiles, yep, that is what I like to do.

Thanks for the post.
Jen

]]> By: Nancy http://projectsbyjen.com/blog/?p=276#comment-559 Nancy Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:26:58 +0000 http://jenuinetech.com/blog/?p=301#comment-559 I presented at NECC for 5 years and then suffered major overload/burnout. I'd heard and seen too much tech for my own use and ran into brick walls when trying to encourage others. Now I focus on content and learning and if I use technology so be it but my focus is the thinking. (I have blogs, wikis, and used tons of Web 2.0 tools--ut they are not the "end-all"). Remember what the adults sounded like in the Charlie Brown cartoons--wha-wha-wha-wha?? That's a lot (not all) of what I "hear" when I read all that's out there dealing with ed tech, NECC and other conferences. Is anybody saying anything new? profound? Is anyone saying things that will make my students better thinkers? problem solvers? kinder people? Do I possibly need ONE MORE tool to use in the classroom? I know, 2 years from retirement, I'm old school but I'd like to see more emphasis on knowledge and less on gadgets. So much of the backchannel, blogging, presenter wikis is, IMHO, much ado about nothing. OK, finished whining. N. I presented at NECC for 5 years and then suffered major overload/burnout. I’d heard and seen too much tech for my own use and ran into brick walls when trying to encourage others. Now I focus on content and learning and if I use technology so be it but my focus is the thinking. (I have blogs, wikis, and used tons of Web 2.0 tools–ut they are not the “end-all”).

Remember what the adults sounded like in the Charlie Brown cartoons–wha-wha-wha-wha?? That’s a lot (not all) of what I “hear” when I read all that’s out there dealing with ed tech, NECC and other conferences. Is anybody saying anything new? profound? Is anyone saying things that will make my students better thinkers? problem solvers? kinder people? Do I possibly need ONE MORE tool to use in the classroom?

I know, 2 years from retirement, I’m old school but I’d like to see more emphasis on knowledge and less on gadgets. So much of the backchannel, blogging, presenter wikis is, IMHO, much ado about nothing. OK, finished whining. N.

]]> By: Debbie http://projectsbyjen.com/blog/?p=276#comment-558 Debbie Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:02:59 +0000 http://jenuinetech.com/blog/?p=301#comment-558 The answer to your first question is, in short, NO! There is too much to digest and process as it is. Adding more real-time content doesn't appreciably impact the effectiveness. Think of it this way: if I walk into a restaurant to eat, and the menu already takes 10 minutes to read through, the restaurant adding another 2 or 3 pages doesn't fill me any more or better. I still can only eat so much! I think backchanneling can be very effective, depending on the size of the presentation, the type of backchannel, and the intent of the backchannel. Personally, Ed Tech Weekly chats are fun but add very little to the quality of the content 90% of the time, IMHO. It does help that the links are dropped into the chat room, but it has takenn me months to get to the point where I could look at a link, listen to the broadcast, watch the oovoo, and interact in the chat room all at the same time - and I consider myself an above average non-technical techie! On the other hand, some of the Creative Memories webinars I've attended featured a listen-only environment where chat was restricted to question submission (these are webinars with 2000+ people) and the questions most frequently asked were answered by a chat moderator. This has a benefit of allowing the moderator to direct message basic answers to those who aren't up to speed while mass broadcasting answers that the majority want to hear. So, as usual, there's no one right answer. It just depends on the context and the type of learning desired. The answer to your first question is, in short, NO! There is too much to digest and process as it is. Adding more real-time content doesn’t appreciably impact the effectiveness. Think of it this way: if I walk into a restaurant to eat, and the menu already takes 10 minutes to read through, the restaurant adding another 2 or 3 pages doesn’t fill me any more or better. I still can only eat so much!

I think backchanneling can be very effective, depending on the size of the presentation, the type of backchannel, and the intent of the backchannel. Personally, Ed Tech Weekly chats are fun but add very little to the quality of the content 90% of the time, IMHO. It does help that the links are dropped into the chat room, but it has takenn me months to get to the point where I could look at a link, listen to the broadcast, watch the oovoo, and interact in the chat room all at the same time – and I consider myself an above average non-technical techie!

On the other hand, some of the Creative Memories webinars I’ve attended featured a listen-only environment where chat was restricted to question submission (these are webinars with 2000+ people) and the questions most frequently asked were answered by a chat moderator. This has a benefit of allowing the moderator to direct message basic answers to those who aren’t up to speed while mass broadcasting answers that the majority want to hear.

So, as usual, there’s no one right answer. It just depends on the context and the type of learning desired.

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