Is it important that EVERY conversation, ever session we attend, etc be shared with everyone in REAL TIME?
Personally, I don’t think so.
Tomorrow night, I have been told that there will be a small get-together in Illinois with Christian Long (I SO WANT TO BE THERE) and it will be totally conversation without any iphones, twitter, etc. And personally, I am looking forward to hearing about it AFTER it happens. Because, again personally, I am wondering if perhaps we are talking sooooo much to EVERYBODY that we have forgotten to talk to just with EACH OTHER.
I am wondering if it is necessary for everything to be broadcasted…..and my final decision is NO.
Though I agree that we do need to share everything we do……I am not sure we need to share it IMMEDIATELY. There are some very nice things to be said about having conversations WITH the people you see Face 2 Face and not having them be altered, added to, or dissected by an audience who is listening in.
For me, backchanneling has become a distraction (and I admit I can be a part of the distraction to others) but I have not seen a great many backchannels that have been productive as much as becoming a personal chat and conversation catch-ups. I need to say that I have seen the coveritlive option been used very productively, especially when the moderator can control the chats coming in. But all in all, I am still weighing the productivity of backchannels.
I am also wondering about when the presenter is part of the back-channel? Can someone really be able to speak with the audience in attendance and then also follow a conversation in the back-channel? I could not, but could you? Should you?
One of the continual thoughts shared at NECC was that people tended to not talk to each other as much as they talked to their computer screens. And though I do not agree with that entirely, I wonder what conversations we might be missing because we are trying to have conversations with too many people.
I applaud the group tomorrow that is keeping the conversation for those in attendance. I DO look forward to hearing about it afterwards, but I think that it is okay that they are just talking — and not typing or texting or twittering at the same time.
My thoughts today…..
Feel free to add yours!
Jennifer
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.
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.
@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
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
@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
@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
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.
@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
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!
[...] 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 [...]