Scott McLeod has stirred the pot a bit with his post on “NECC 2009 – -Who Wins“.
Again, he (we) continue to struggle with the hierarchy we have unfortunately made within our network. He calls them “FB” (Famous Bloggers) I had nicknamed them the KNOWNS.
I wanted to post my 3rd comment here — my first was knee jerk, my second was after reading Christian Long’s (who as a matter of fact is lately MY FAVORITE person alive — he literally makes me ashamed at how shallow I think at times!)……….anyway…….
I wanted to post my 3rd comment here — because it has been something I have been dealing with quite a bit this past year…..and am still mulling it through……..so my comment and then an expansion of thought at the end.
Scott –
I have come back to this post several times, and have followed the commenters over to their blogs to see if they continued it there……some have.
One of your comments struck a cord with me “a community with loose ties.”
Though I won’t agree with that 100% — I do have to ask, “why does that surprise us?”
What honest expectations can we have from our community — and basically, I believe we can only expect to receive what we are willing to give.
Though I was not at NECC this year, I have been to my share of conferences……and the hierarchy of who we place as FB is just a perception. You might regard someone as a great blogger, while I dismiss them as trite and self promoting. I might run on and on about someone, while you might think them simple and shortsighted.
It is all a perception…….and while some people say that the FB at NECC were kind, considerate, and open – others might say they were aloof, rude, and self-serving…….
it still comes back to our perceptions at the time.
I pushed myself into the inner circle — if I might call it that — not to brag, not to say “lookie, I made it” — but because I wanted to get to know the FB as MORE than just a Tech Evangelist.
I have gotten to know many of (hmmm, still wondering who all these FB’s are actually — and if my list is the same as your list) because I have taken the time to ask questions that have nothing to do with Tech.
But with life……….
and when we look at each other that way — all struggling each day to do our best so we don’t waste a moment of our student’s lives, our families lives, our friends lives, our lives — we all kinda balance out to being on the same level……….
Thanks again for opening this conversation.
Enjoy your day!
Jen
At times, within our network (and I know what I call our network might be 100% different from your perception) resorts back to junior high, high school mentality. To be in the inner circle means acceptance, to be noticed by the “quarterback” (or in this case a FB) means I have arrived, to be asked to go to “the party” means more than it really means………and I didn’t fall for it in high school……..and wonder why I got caught up in it now??
What matters most is not TECH…….what matters most is PEOPLE. Regardless of who they are, what they do, or what their technorati rating is. (in fact, is someone is worried about their technorati record, someone needs to sit them down and remind them what life really is about — imho)
When our group starts labeling each other (and I know I am guilty of doing this and had to ask forgiveness), we diminish our power, our possibilities, and our creative juices working together for the betterment of so many.
So back to your original thought, Scott………”NECC 2009 — Who Wins”……….we all will………if we look at each other as fellow educators (and that is the only label we use)………and every time you have the chance to have a conversation with ANYONE, you jump at that chance.
My thoughts…..
I welcome yours.
Jen
It was an interesting experience to watch a community based mostly on very loose ties come together for 4-5 days and interact in person. Many comments / frustrations seemed to stem from some beliefs that maybe our ties were stronger than they actually are. Or, at least, some hopes to turn some loose ties into stronger ones.
In the end, how we balance our felt obligations and responsibilities to each other will be navigated individually. The zeitgeist of NECC 2008 seemed to be one of both excitement and disappointment. Excitement to intersect with people and ideas; disappointment that sessions, events (e.g., Edubloggercon), and people weren’t all that we had hoped.
I agree that ‘we can only expect to receive what we are willing to give.’ At NECC I tried to give as freely of my time and attention as I was able. I met a lot of new people and came away from the conference with extremely positive feelings. I hope that, on balance, others had a good experience too.
I don’t know if we’ve created the hierarchy or if it’s just a natural state of things. There is a power law at work here. We can’t all be FBs. But we can all be kind and supportive if we so choose. Thanks for extending the conversation in such a thoughtful manner.
I really like how you begin to bring us back to why we are all doing this in the first place, Jen.
“…and when we look at each other that way — all struggling each day to do our best so we don’t waste a moment of our student’s lives, our families lives, our friends lives, our lives — we all kinda balance out to being on the same level……….”
It needs to be about conversations, relationship, and learning around students and how they converse, relate, and learn. If that is what we are all doing this for then we are all on the same level, as you say.
Glad I found this blog,
thanks,
Tracy
@Tracy
I am glad you found my blog too — and glad that you took the time to post.
When I get overwhelmed with TECH, it usually means I have taken my eyes off what is important……which is RELATIONSHIPS…..and when I remember that RELATIONSHIPS are more important….I tend to be able to balance TECH better.
Smiles – but I only recently learned that. (grins)
Thanks again for taking the time to write.
Jen