EduBloggerCon from Atlanta 2007

The first annual EduBloggerCon took place on Saturday, June 23, 2007. Education technology bloggers from around the globe gathered for conversation in an "unconference" format. I arrived in the mid-afternoon.

Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach is moderating a discussion about virtual learning communities. Why are some successful and others not so?

It was suggested that a "watchdog" was needed to head-off the community members who attack participants who express differing opinions.

If members have a common interest there seems to be a higher possibility of success.

The discussion turned to Second Life. David Warlick notes that SL users invest a lot of time in creating their environment and therefore work hard to cultivate that environment for a comfortable learning opportunities.

Others noted that it was challenging to establish trust in an SL environment.

• How do you know who to trust?
• The whole "anonymousness" of the site is a bit scary.
• CL of SLA suggested that we don't know what to do with SL. He has trouble with the trust element lacking within.
• CL expressed concern about anonymity in many applications... iChat is an example. Anonymous harassment and cyberbullying is a concern.
  
• In a virtual/online learning community, where is the authority? In a school we know where the authority is. But in an open community the authority is unclear.

Has anyone created a "grass roots" learning community and turned the access over to students and let the community grow from students to teachers rather than the other way around.
Interesting thought.

With our Classrooms for the Future program the carts, and therefore access to the technology, are under the control of the teacher.

My feeling is that the technology tools are coming. We have a professional responsibility to help ALL teachers to embrace it and leverage the power and engagement factors. I often use the example that I wouldn't take my children to a physician who was using antiquated techniques. The same applies to school. Let's begin together, today.

I enjoyed putting some faces to names. Chris Craft, Vicki Davis, and Steve Hargadon were very welcoming. (I'll insert links soon.)

Good session, good conversation, great people.

KP

Tags: edubloggercon, edubloggercon07, edubloggercon2007, paccio