Learning Side by Side

I was able to make it to EduBloggerCon “West” 08 for some timely professional enrichment and finally meeting face-to-face several people that are part of my personal learning network (via Twitter, EdTechTalk, Classroom 2.0, etc.).  The informality and fluidity of the day was a nice alternative to the more structured feel of the main 2008 CUE Conference that goes into full swing today.

Image Credit: Photograph by Sylvia Martinez, http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylviamartinez/2312165071/

Here are links to some of the resources mentioned at some of the presentations, discussions, and lightning rounds:

• CAST – Teaching Every Student: http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent
• Diigo – Social Annotation: http://www.diigo.com
• FREEPATH – Show Your Stuff: http://www.freepath.com
• Gabcast – Record by Phone: http://www.gabcast.com
• Glogster – Poster Yourself – http://www.glogster.com
• Google’s Tools (iGoogle, Google Docs Forms, Google Docs LookUp): http://www.google.com/ig
• Jott: http://jott.com
• MeBeam Video Chat Rooms: http://www.mebeam.com
• My Tweet Map: http://www.mytweetmap.com
• Ning – Create Your Own Social Networks!: http://www.ning.com
• Pageflakes – Get It Together: http://www.pageflakes.com
• PicLens – Immersive Slide Shows Across the Web: http://www.piclens.com
• PNN – The Personal News Network: http://pnn.com
• Portrait Illustration Maker: http://illustmaker.abi-station.com/index_en.shtml
• Tweet Scan: http://tweetscan.com
• Twitter: http://twitter.com
• Ustream: http://ustream.tv
• VoiceThread: http://voicethread.com
• Web 2.0 Animation for Social Skills: http://www.edubloggercon.com/Bruce%27s+Interests

It was wonderful to also have others not at Palm Springs, California join through the live video stream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/edtechlive.  I find it wonderful that I can now access archived clips from one of the session rooms in EdubloggerCon “West” 08 by visiting the Edtechlive Ustream channel.

We ended the day with a discussion about the viability of holding events such as this in the future.  One of the issues brought up included how it has transformed from a gathering of edubloggers (writers and readers) into more of a gathering of educators advocating for change in how we should facilitate learning.  Is the EduBloggerCon name misleading?  I found it interesting that one fellow colleague at this event mentioned his apprehensions of attending because he thought that much of this would be focused primarily on blogging.  Others may argue that the name is already becoming familiar to those that have participated in the initial iteration of EduBloggerCon.  Nevertheless, the consensus was that this was a valuable day and should be held again in the future.  Of course, those going to NECC 2008 in San Antonio, Texas will have that opportunity.  If anyone is heading to San Antonio, Texas early enough on Saturday, June 28, 2008 and is interested in attending EduBloggercon 2008, go to the wiki at http://www.edubloggercon.com/NECC+2008.