November 23, 2016
As the holiday season is now upon us, many are planning for the new year. Before we embrace all that 2017 has to offer, let’s take another look back at the experience that still has my head spinning. A first-timer’s sneak peak into the motherboard of #ISTE16.
Best seat in the house! This sci/tech T's very interested to hear @michiokaku tell his #ISTE2016 keynote story. pic.twitter.com/TlmrpRTvS9
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) June 26, 2016
I had done my research. I was combing through ISTE details since #iste14, #notatiste14, and #notatiste15. I had always wanted to attend this conference. As a veteran—yet lifelong-learning, forever-emerging—connected educator, I knew that our passion centers around—and stems from—student learning. It’s all about the learning. First. And then technology may enhance learning experiences as appropriate.
But… C’mon. Seriously! This is different. After all, this is ISTE! This is the International Society for Technology in Education! Just the potential that several educator rockstars would attend, and interact, and that my friends and I may have even the slightest opportunity to meet them face-to-face after following them on twitter for years, was enough to excitedly alter my deep-down conference expectations. Yep. I was so sure of it: I was going to be “wowed” with super tech gadgets by the best in the business! And I couldn’t wait for my very first ISTE ride.
Love this shot of me & @tonyvincent doing our LIVE broadcasts from #ISTE2016! #tonyscope Thanks @MrHamstraTweets! pic.twitter.com/T4TM75kJls
— Jennifer Williams (@JenWilliamsEdu) July 1, 2016
“Wow. That session had nothing to do with technology!” Proclaimed my friend and fellow ISTE first-timer. But the fact was that technology was addressed—just not in the manner in which we had predicted. Perhaps, this was just part of the introduction. But then it happened again in the next session. Was I missing something? Where are all the tech toys with which we’re going to change the world—I mean beg our schools to purchase and teach our students to love? (Note sarcasm). And then, it really hit home when ASCD Emerging Leader and TEDx speaker Kerry Gallagher sparked our curiosity to reimagine learning. If there ever was one shining moment that fully embodied my entire #ISTE16 experience, this inspiring #isteignite presentation was IT.
"I don't just want my Ss to learn. I want my Ss to WANT to learn." @KerryHawk02 #ignite-s learning anew. #ISTE2016 pic.twitter.com/oJ0rDSfxZG
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) June 26, 2016
No rebooting needed here. I immediately went to the blue screen of death. My mental hard drive was defragging. Learning really was the focal point. Some tech enthusiasts and ISTE-goers may be product-driven, but my opinion was not only substituted, augmented, and modified—It was redefined–for real. Learning is a process. My ISTE first impressions:
- Student learning comes first. Seriously.
- Learning is largely process-driven, and not always easy. Start with why and how.
- Technology is a tool that can help students learn.
“Was ISTE worth the time and money?” Some have asked. Well, that depends on perspective. While I’m happy to see so many fellow educators learning and growing, part of me cringes when I see the term “ambassador” endeared into twitter bios. By definition, an ambassador is so proud of his or country or cause, that he or she is willing to die for it. So… When making professional judgments about how to craft the best learning experiences for our students, will educator ambassadors serve a (potential) personal conflict of interest, or will they side on what’s best for each student? Will they always push their products to achieve a result to earn ambassador recognition (and maybe third-party money or gifts) at the expense of their students, or will they prioritize and embrace the processes of effective teaching and learning according to student needs? The answer is foundational. And it matters. And sometimes that means that the best technology for a learning experience is NO technology.
Be cautious when discerning motives to enhance student learning while in your classroom, at mega conferences, with your professional learning network, and even in conversations with your neighbor next door. Continually question: Is this what’s BEST for my students?
I knew the fundamental foundations of teaching and learning. But I did not know that ISTE would so boldly craft its brand as the cornerstone, and graft its roots into the very essence of education.
On principle alone, I encourage every educator to be ISTE-minded along their professional learning journey. #ISTE16 was not what I thought—It was so much better than I could have ever imagined. Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and reimagine learning once in awhile, you could miss it.
I arrived early to get my bearings. We just can't wait to get into #ISTE2016! #BigBlueBear & I ❤️ #lifelonglearning! pic.twitter.com/HNF4RhHtDg
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) June 26, 2016
"Bear down! SO much to learn at #ISTE2016! DO paws to @isteconnects w/new faces." Best. Advice. Ever. #bigbluebear pic.twitter.com/UCLnCFKraw
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) June 26, 2016
Well written friend. I couldn’t agree more. Always ask yourself, “Is this what’s best for my students?” …you got that right!
Thank you for the kind words, Melanie. So happy to learn from you every day in my PLN.
Hey Pal,
First, a reflection on your thinking here: I, too, question the intentions of the “Ambassador” programs that tech companies are running and the impact that they have on our colleagues.
They are an interesting reflection on the LACK of recognition available to educators. So many people work so hard to earn labels like “Alpha Squirrel” or “Den Star” because they bring a measure of prestige or esteem that we can’t always get from other places in our profession. That’s really sad — but also really frightening given how passion for recognition can shape the way we interact with one another and make choices about our classrooms and the tools/practices we embrace. You could write a whole post about that alone.
Second, some feedback on your blogging: Think about breaking up your longer posts — like this one — into two or three separate posts. The way I see it here, you’ve got three big ideas in this post: That ISTE was a great experience for a newbie, that Ambassador programs can change the way people make choices about products, and that teaching has to come before technology.
If you had separated those out into three bits instead of one, you would have had three posts instead of one! That makes blogging feel more manageable — and it might help with your “just deliver” conundrum. When you are proofing a shorter bit, you have less work to do.
Love that you are blogging, though! And seriously: Steal George’s ideas and get the teaching standards entered as categories to turn this into a portfolio!
Rock right on,
Bill
Thanks for your candor and insightful response. Great points. I never considered expanding ideas from one experience into multiple, separate blogs. Will be mindful of that in the future. Working on the categorizing, tags, and formats, too. You and George are right. Reflection is so important. The best part, is that this is something I WANT to do—Not something I HAVE to do. Exciting to have this ownership. Thanks again, Kyle