Day 180: NECC Exhibits

Day 180: NECC Exhibits, originally uploaded by susanvg.

This conference is huge - the exhibit floor goes as far as the eye can see. It is overwhelming and very commercial - much more so than Canadian conferences. I took a long walk through and found an excess of booths featuring ways to pigeon hole students. No plans on going back.

I have had some wonderful conversations with people like Helen Barrett, Sue Waters, Angela Meiers, Cheryl Oakes, Alice Barr and many more. It is proof that although relationships develop through our many virtual activities, it is often the face to face that strengthens them. I plan on exploring Second Life tomorrow, but have really enjoyed living in my first life today.

Day 179: NECC09

Day 179: NECC09, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Crowds - 18000 people are registered in this conference. Sitting in the keynote in a sea of people makes one feel small. How can you make contact, to make connections, exchange ideas, so essential as part of the conference experience in such a large mob?

I spent the evening at the Edublogger's Cafe - putting faces to the words I have read and heard via blogs and webcasts. And I met my fellow webcaster with whom I had been presenting webcast shows for almost two years, but we had never met. I love my virtual life; it has provided and continues to provide ideas, challenges to my thinking and connections - but it is so nice to have personal conversations and meet face to face. Among this community the essential conversations can happen. How to make a neighbourhood within a larger context.