T&L Advisor Guest post by Carl Hooker, Director of Instructional Technology, Eanes Independent School District
Unraveling an event like ISTE is a bit like learning the Texas Two-step. "Slow, slow, quick, quick" is a mantra a first-time two-stepper would repeat in his/her head when performing the dance. This being my fifth ISTE conference, I knew which parts to take in slow and which to take in quick. For me the parts to really spend time on were the keynotes and the sessions. I tried to remove any distractions (aside from Twitter, which I consider a tool) and really focus on the main points of any presenter I was listening to. Whether it be Chris Lehmann or some folks from a private school in Los Angeles, learning is abundant at a conference like ISTE. You just have to take it slow at times to really realize it and reflect on it. There are also amazing opportunities to connect and share quickly with people from all over the world. As Adam Bellow mentioned in his closing keynote - An event like this is "where our bodies meet our brains." I connected face-to-face with many colleagues I had met via social media and tried to take advantage of a brief five minute conversation to share successes and failures. Those brief moments can mean major "A-ha's" for me and my district in the long run. Indeed, at ISTE, learning from others comes in all shapes and sizes. You just have to take it slow, slow, quick, quick....slow, slow, quick, quick....
