Edubloggercon West at CUE & An Edublogger Meetup at CLMS

Every year at the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), a group of educational bloggers (or edubloggers) gathers for a full day edubloggercon, an “unconference” where the sessions and topics are decided by the participants. It’s an exciting and high-energy social learning experience.

A west coast version of the edubloggercon takes place each year at the CUE conference in Palm Springs. Steve Hargadon, Jen Wagner, and I have begun talking about planning the event. Please add your name to the “I’m Attending” page if you’ll be at CUE (or in the area), and please join us in planning the event.

Edubloggercon – WEST

  • Palm Springs, Ca
  • March 4, 2009

Smaller more informal edublogger meetups take place at many other smaller (or non ed tech) conferences throughout the year. An edublogger meetup has just been added for the California League of Middle Schools (CLMS) conference in San Diego this March. This event is a great opportunity to get “outside the echo chamber” of ed tech. We hope that any of you who will be in attendance (or in the area) will join us for fun and inspiring conversation about technology, learning, and life.

Edublogger Meetup – CLMS 2009

  • San Diego, Ca
  • March 13, 2009

NOTE: It’s not too late to register for the CLMS conference and receive the early-bird discount. Also, in light of state budget challenges, CLMS is offering special discount rates. Get the special two-day pass for $165 and come to the edublogger meetup on Friday night! See the CLMS website for details:

http://www.clms.net/conferences/clms.htm

I hope to see you at one of these events soon – or at the edubloggercon in Washington, DC in June. :)

CUE 2009 Submissions: Maybe You Should Drive

In the past I’ve shared my major conference submissions on this blog, particularly at this time of year, when I try to update old sessions and dream up new ones for CUE and NECC. Three weeks ago (on September 12th) I submitted eight new or updated sessions for CUE 2009: Driving Student Achievement. I took a very bare-bones approach to my submissions this year, so most of these are very short, but I feel good about the ideas none-the-less. Below are the titles and descriptions of the eight sessions. Click through for the abstracts as well (in rtf format) – some include outlines, others are very brief.

Blogs, Wikis, and Google Docs:
Which one is right for your lesson?

(20 Minute CUE Tips Session)
Why use a wiki when you have a blog? When should you use Google Docs instead of a wiki? This session will clear up your confusion and free your creativity. Abstract

Build a Better Browser:
An Overview of Firefox Themes & Extensions for Educators
(20 Minute CUE Tips Session)
Rediscover the web! Firefox is now faster, more secure, and fully customizable. Learn how themes and extensions can be used to turn your web browser into the ultimate learning machine. Abstract

I Want To Believe:
What’s the research value of Wikipedia and Knol?
(20 Minute CUE Tips Session)
Anyone can publish anything online. So what’s the value of information on collaborative sites like Wikipedia and Google’s Knol? Learn how students can make the most of what they find. Abstract

Maybe You Should Drive:
Taking Control of Your Own Professional Development

(1 Hour Concurrent Session)
New tools provide powerful ways to find solutions, expand horizons, and pursue passions – whenever and wherever you want. Learn what tools to use, and how to use them most effectively. Abstract

Learning to Network and Networking to Learn:
Beyond The Tools…

(1 Hour Concurrent Session)
There’s always new web tools, but it’s more important to become part of an online learning network than to master any specific tool. Learn how to connect, converse, and contribute. Abstract

Search, Learn, Share:
An Introduction to Google Tools in Education (An Update)

(1 Hour Concurrent Session)
Google tools such as search, Docs, Sites, and Maps are standards for educators. Learn how the latest from Google, including Knol, Lively, Chrome, and more, can create even greater impact! Abstract

Twitter Me This:
Join a Global Learning Community & Feel Good About It

(20 Minute CUE Tips Session)
It’s a blog, it’s an IM… no it’s Twitter – more efficient than email or RSS! Learn to connect with others, discover resources, and share what you’re doing using “social microblogging.” Abstract

Note: I still need a new title for this – “Twitter Me This” has been used often elsewhere.

We all Scream for Ustream:
An Introduction to Video Streaming in Education

(1 Hour Concurrent Session)
Any lesson can be an episode in an online show for students! Discover how streaming video can also create a permeable classroom. Learn tricks like how to share your desktop. Abstract

Note: In retrospect, I think this should’ve been a 20 minute CUEtips session. ;)

Ultimately, I hope you’ll be interested in these – I’d appreciate any feedback or questions you have. Whether or not these sessions are selected for CUE, I’m likely to present them elsewhere this year… and I can always make adjustments as I flesh these out for the upcoming NECC submission deadline. :)

Edublogger Meetups and Edubloggercon WEST

I just posted this to the edubloggercon group:

Hey, all. I just started a new page at the edubloggercon wiki for a meetup at the Innovative Learning Conference put on by CUE and FETC in San Jose this October 14 through 16. I’m planning the meetup on Wednesday the 15th at 7 pm.

The Conference:
http://www.ilc2008.org/

The Edublogger Meetup Page:
http://www.edubloggercon.com/ilc2008

If you’re planning to be there – or to be in the area, please sign up. I look forward to hanging out with and learning with any of you who can make it.

And then, I thought I’d take advantage of my momentum and go ahead and create a similar page for the technology conference in Monterey this December:

Hello again. I went ahead and created a page for a similar edublogger meetup in Monterey, Ca on December 5th during the Learning to Network, Networking to Lean conference put on by CUE and CLMS/CLHS/NHSA.

The Conference:
http://clms.net/conferences/tech.htm

The Edublogger Meetup Page:
http://www.edubloggercon.com/monterey2008

Again, if you’ll be at the conference or in the area, I hope you’ll sign up to hang out and learn with us. :)

-Mark

Finally, I continued right on with this:

I decided to ride my momentum… I jumped in and created a place holder for the Edubloggercon-WEST at the CUE conference. But, I haven’t talked to Mike Lawrence or Steve Hargadon about this, so it may evolve a bit in the coming months. In the meantime, feel free to jump in and help create the organizing pages on the wiki:

The Conference:
http://www.cue.org/conference/

The Edubloggercon:
http://www.edubloggercon.com/cue2009

Hopefully I’ll see each of you at one or more of these events – at least if you live in California. :)