A different kind of FETC for 2016

As FETC veterans begin to arrive at the Orange County Convention Center tomorrow, they will, no doubt, notice some changes. For some it will be the fact the FETC - having long dominated the south wing of the OCCC - is now sharing that space with the surfers convention (water surfers, not web surfers) and is split between the north and south wings. Some will notice that the paid workshops are now located at the Hyatt, a short walk from the rest of FETC. These changes should account for a bit more walking this year. No big deal.

For me, the major difference is a personal one. It was a difficult first semester this year. Other then making sure I was prepared for my workshop, I really didn't do much in preparation for FETC. There was no planning of the annual Tweetup at TGI Fridays. We had a run of 5 years with the Tweetup, but there was no real drive to organize it this year. Ordinarily, I would spend the weeks leading up to FETC blogging and Tweeting. There was none of that this year. I didn't use the #FETC hashtag until the drive down to Orlando this morning.

So I wrote all of that to say this, this year FETC will be about re-engaging. Not the regular recharge that I get every year at this massive event. No, I talking about a total reevaluation of my role in education. It will be an opportunity to re-engage with my PLN (which I have neglected as of late). In short, I'm hoping that this week will represent a major turning point in the career. That may seem like a lofty goal for a four day conference. We'll see.

Edcamp Branford: Reflections

My experience, limited though it may be (but growing), tells me that each Edcamp has something unique to offer. Edcamp Branford, held this past weekend in Branford, FL, certainly helped prove this theory. Thirty minutes off the interstate in rural Suwannee County, Branford High School is the very definition of a rural, small town public school. In fact, Branford is actually a grades 6 to 12 institution with about 700 students. It was clear from the start that small town did not mean short on enthusiasm for sharing and learning.

Making new connections is part of the Edcamp experience
Photo Credit: @jen_williams & @la_Profe_s

The 8:00 am start time meant leaving Tallahassee at around 6:00 am. Early for a Saturday morning. I was thankful that the Starbucks in my neighborhood opens a six, and my venti dark roast almost lasted the entire drive. Well if the coffee had not done the trick, the school band entertaining teachers as the entered the school cafeteria would certainly help get the blood moving. It was awesome to see kids investing in their teachers professional development. Student involvement throughout the day was one of the hallmarks of Edcamp Branford. In every session that I attended, students were actively participating in discussions. Whether it be about the value of homework, the burden of testing, or the use of Google applications in the classroom, student voice was a major part of the day's learning.

Getting ready to kick-off my PLN session

This was an inaugural event and Tammy Neil and her team did a great job in making sure everyoneTammy approached me as I entered the door and asked that I do a session of Twitter and PLNs. I pulled some slides out of the can and tackled the first session of the day. True to Edcamp form, those that attended my session made my job easy. Only about half of the 15 or so teachers in the room had used Twitter, and most left eager to employ social media in establishing and building a PLN.
had a valuable PD experience. I had intended to attend this Edcamp without signing up to share a session, but

Jerry Swiatek of Edcamp Citrus has been doing a session entitled Things That Suck for the last year or so, and it has become a favorite of mine. The idea of  the session is to give teachers an opportunity to discuss "hot topic" issues in education - thing that suck. The topics to be discussed are crowd-sourced through a Google Doc. Homework, testing and cellphones in the classroom received the most votes. While there were some real differences of opinion on each of the topics, the most valuable contributions were made by the students in the room. I guess the big takeaway from this session - and really from the entire event - was the value of student voice. We need to do a better job at including them at the table when decisions are being made.

Students talking homework at the Things That Suck Session

Sean Farnum of Edcamp St. Augustine led a discussion on Genius Hour (20% Time) that drew a pretty good crowd and lots of good discussion. I suspect their were those like me that have wanted to implement a Genius Hour in our classes, but needed to hear from those that have made it work in their classrooms. Genius Hour is built on the idea of providing students with time to follow their passions, to work on a project that they care about. While Sean was able to share his experiences in an elementray setting, Sergio Yanes of Chiles HS (and Edcamp Leon) in Tallahassee talked about how he has made it work in his high school language arts class. Sergio shared how he was inspired by the work of Kevin Brookhouser and his #20time Project. Sean also mentioned the work of Joy Kirr as a resource for anyone wanting to take the leap. I am determined to make this part of what I do with my students in 2015-16.

Edcamp Branford is sure to become a regular event on the Florida Edcamp circuit. Congrats to Tammy and her team. If you have still not experienced the power of Edcamp, I urge to checkout the schedule of events coming up and spend a day that will change your life. If you are in my nech of the woods in North Florida, here are a few events that you won't want to miss:

• Edcamp St. Augustine - May 9
• Edcamp Magic - June 6
• Edcamp Leon - June 13
• Edcamp Citrus - September 19
• Edcamp Tampa Bay - October 10

FETC 2014: Day 3 and Hitting Our Stride

Thursday, January 30, 2014 - 1:30pm

It has been a busy morning. I presented my first workshop of the week this morning, and that always makes for a scramble to get ready. That's my excuse for getting a late start here and on Twitter.  I'll try to make it up throughout the rest of the day.

There are some great sessions on today's lineup, and a few that I consider can't miss opportunities. Here is what I'll be checking out this afternoon:

Exploring New Literacies for Networked, Self-Directed Learners and Makers with Will Richardson @willrich45 - 3:20pm in S310GH

If you have not heard Will speak before, don't miss this opportunity. I attended his session yesterday and had not planned on going back today. However, I have to hear more from this guy. He is starting the conversation that we should all be apart of - How do we fundamentally change education to serve today's learners.

Digital Learning Across the Curriculum with Eric Sheninger @nmhs_principal - 4:20 in S310EF

I missed Eric this morning because I was presenting my own workshop at the same time.  Like Will Richardson, Eric's is another can't miss session. Eric is transforming education at New Milford HS in way that should serve as a model for the rest of the country. Don't miss this one!

As you wander the exhibit floor this afternoon, make sure you take time to visit the folks at Remind101 and WeVideo. These are two products that I really believe in, and both companies want to hear your ideas and feedback.

I have several posts that already need to be written, to go in depth with some of the most important things being discussed this week. Keep an eye out over the next few days.

FETC 2014: Day 2 Underway

Things are starting to pickup at the OCCC. Crowds will continue to build throughout the day, peaking at the Opening Keynote at 3:30. Discovery Education's Chief Architecture and Engineering Expert Danny Forster will deliver this year's opening keynote address. Over the year's, the opening keynote has been a mixed bag - some good, some lacking the inspiration that teachers look for in a keynote. I report later on how this year's address is received.

My day started with a session that I am still sitting in - Educating Modern Learners: Intensive Look at the Contexts, Literacies and Practices that Supports Students by Will Richardson @willrich45. Why isn't this guy doing one of this year's keynotes? Like most attendees, I do get excited about learning about new tools. Many get really pumped up scouring the exhibit floor for free pens and water bottles. But this is the kind of session that every attendee should be hearing. Will is asking the right questions. Questions like, "What are the key changes we have to understand in order for the conversation to be relevant?" I plan on devoting a post later on Will's talk, so I'll refrain from further comment now.

So what does the rest of my day look like?

As I mentioned, I'm looking forward to the opening keynote. Before the keynote, I'll be at Techshare Live! with Adam Bellow, Hall Davidson, Leslie Fisher and Kathy Schrock. Techshare begins at 11am in the main hall (SA1). This is always a popular session, and really serves as the unofficial kick-off for FETC. If you going, get there early to beat the crowds to the good seats.

I'll probably dropout of Techshare a little early to get over to Meg Ormiston's talk, Engaging Students in BYOT Classrooms. Meg is great and the topic is hot.

I'll wrap-up the day at tonight's PLN Tweet-up at TGI Friday's. This is our 4th year getting together for the "unconference" event, and is always a great time to interact face to face with the PLN. Get more info here. All are invited.

I'll be posting later with more in depth comments on Will's talk, and anything else that comes up today.

FETC 2014: The calm before the storm

Tuesday, January 28, 2014 - 8:30 am

By this time tomorrow, the Orange County Convention Center will be a bevy of activity as conference attendees will be scrambling to register and kick-off their week of learning and sharing. This morning . . . it's a mere trickle. Today's schedule consist of paid workshops, and while things will pick-up as the day progresses, it will still pale in comparison to the onslaught that we'll see tomorrow. FETC has over 8,000 registered for this year's conference, a significant increase over the past couple of years.

A quick glance at today's workshop schedule and it appears that Google Apps and game-based learning will be hot topics this year. It will be interesting to see what other buzz words surface throughout the week. I plan on popping into a few Google sessions today. I'm looking forward to hearing what Cindy Lane and Chris Craft have to share.

I'll be posting several times a day, throughout the week, so please stop by often. I'll also be Tweeting everything that you will want to see from FETC 2014. Follow me at @stephenveliz on Twitter.

FETC 2014: A Field Guide

At this time tomorrow, I'll be getting ready to depart for Orlando and the Florida Education Technology Conference (#FETC). With 8500 attendees from 42 countries and over 600 companies sharing their latest products, FETC is one of the most important educational conferences of the year. This year's conference boasts over 200 sessions and workshops covering topics that run the gamut; from building 21st schools, to employing web 2.0 tools that foster collaboration and learning. While the "official" start of FETC is on Wednesday, January 29, the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) will be abuzz on Tuesday with pre-conference workshops conducted throughout the day. You can find a list of the paid workshops at FETC.org.

Because of the sheer size and numbers involved with a conference like this, it is impossible to see and do everything. All conference attendees, but especially first-timers, would be well served in doing a little conference pre-planning. I just spend the last hour working through the conference website and mobile app, charting my course for the coming week. While I will certainly veer of that course from time to time, my plan will at least give me a sense of direction as I navigate the crowded corridors of the OCCC.

The purpose of this post is to provide conference attendees - veteran and novice alike - with tips to help make your week more profitable. It is probably best to start with what to bring - both in your suitcase and your backpack. Then I'll share my list of must see sessions. As with any conference like this, the after-hours schedule can be as important as anything else, so I'll share a couple of events that I think would be worth your time.

An FETC Packing List

• Shoes - Any packing list for FETC should begin with this in mind - the OCCC is HUGE! You will be walking a lot. From treking from the parking lot to the building, to running from session to session, to navigating the enormous exhibit hall, and standing over beverages in the evening, you spend much of the week on your feet.  This makes footwear one of your most important concerns as you begin to pack. Err on the side of comfort and stability.
• Dress for Success - The forecast is calling for temperatures in Orlando that range from the low 40s to upper 70s. There is also a 50% chance a rain on Monday and Wednesday. Like with your footwear, I would plan my wardrobe with comfort as a priority. Regular dress for FETC ranges from very casual (shorts and tees) to business casual. I would also pack a light jacket or sweater, and a raincoat or umbrella. As they say, "If you don't like the weather in Florida, wait 5 minutes and it will change."
• The Backpack - Think lightweight. That being said, make sure you have whichever device you are most comfortable using. Over the years, I have moved from carrying my heavy laptop, to a much more comfortable iPad, to this year when I plan on going back to the laptop (albeit a much lighter version). FETC provides free WiFi throughout the conference area. Don't forget your charging cables!
• Save a little extra space in your bags for stuff that you pickup from exhibitors.  If there is one thing that teachers can't resist, it is free stuff. They'll be tons of swag being tossed your way as you stroll through the exhibit hall. While this is exciting as you fill your bags, remember that you have to carry all of this stuff home. This can get expensive if you are flying.

Session Recommendations

• Deciding which sessions to attend should be a very personal matter. However, I will share some of my top picks for the week.  When choosing sessions to attend, I often look at who is presenting as much as what is being presented. So here goes.
• Educating Modern Learners: Contexts, Literacies and Practices for Students - Will Richardson @willrich45 - Wednesday, January 29 at 8:00am - Paid Workshop $WWA072
• • Over the years, Will has authored one of the must-read blogs in the edtech movement.
  • Session Description: We are in transition from traditional thinking about classrooms, teaching, schools and education to a much more technology-rich, student-centered, authentic, modern definition for all of that and more. Understand the changing contexts for learning, gain a clear understanding of modern learning literacies, learn a framework for beginning conversations and actions around system change, envision and design new classrooms, schools and practices to serve modern learning and learners, and develop a 5 days-5 months-5 years plan for changing personal learning practice.
• TechShare LIVE! - Adam Bellow @adambellow, Hall Davidson @HallDavidson, Leslie Fisher @lesliefisher, Kathy Schrock @kathyschrock - Wednesday, January 29 at 11:00am - TSL386
• • Always a great way to kick-off opening day, this is a rapid-fire sessions of great web 2.0 tools.
  • Session Description: What's new. What's great and Where to Get IT! Back by popular demand! Join us for this fun and fast-paced session prior to the Opening Keynote! Get a first look at the latest, most exciting gadgets, apps, hardware and software in educational technology.
• Digital Leadership: Changing Paradigms for Changing Times - Eric Sheninger @nmhs_principal - Thursday, January 30 at 10:00am - FS1383
• • Titled after his recently released book, this session is a must for every administrator in the country. Too bad they won't all be here. But you will be, so make sure this session is on your calendar, whether you are an administrator or not.
  • Session Description: Learning today should unleash the creativity of our students and prepare them with essential skills sets for success in a digital world. Attendees will discover how to seize the opportunity inherent in ubiquitous connectivity, an evolving real-time Web, open-source technology, mobile devices, and personalization to integrate digital learning across the curriculum.
• Removing the Distance from Distance Learning - Dean Shareski @shareski - Thursday, January 30 at 1:00pm - FS3050
• • One of the most important though-leaders in edtech, Shareski always puts on a good show.
  • Session Description: Many of our distance courses are still taught like correspondence courses where work is submitted to the teacher only and students are required to have strong independent skills. This session will explore the strategies, tools and design principles that will enable teachers to create learning experiences that are equal to and perhaps at times better than face to face courses.
• Rapid-Fire Learning: 20 in 40 - Steven Anderson @web20classroom - Thursday, January 30 at 1:00pm - FS3384
• • Anderson and Shareski are on at the same time. This will be a toss-up. Steve is another star in edtech circles.
  • Session Description:  Arm your technology toolkit with some of the latest, greatest and most interesting tools around. Join us as we will do some rapid-fire learning and go through the Top 20 Tools in 40 Minutes.
• Digital Learning Across the Curriculum - Eric Sheninger @nmhs_principal - Thursday, January 30 at 4:20 - FS6382
• • If you miss Eric earlier today, don't make that mistake twice.
  • Session Description: The time is now to change and transform schools to meet the needs of key stakeholders. Learn how to harness the power of digital tools and social media to improve communications, enhance public relations, establish a brand presence, increase student engagement, transform learning spaces, and grow professionally like never before.
• Leading, Learning and Modern School - Christopher Lehmenn @chrislehmenn - Friday, January 31 at 8:45am - KEY456
• • Get up early for Christopher's session. Chris is another of the principals out there that are walking the walk.
  • Session Description: In a time of great societal change, schools have had to work hard to re-imagine and re-envision the purpose of school. How can we create learning institutions where all members of the community, students, teachers, and administrators alike see themselves as active learners? How can we leverage all of the tools at our disposal to transform our schools into ever-evolving communities of practice that enable students to be powerfully engaged in their world today and prepared to be fully realized citizens of the world tomorrow?
• Go Digital and Ignite Professional Development - Lyn Hilt @lynhilt - Friday, January 31 at 10:00am - CS7768
• • Learning for teachers is in as much need of a change as teaching student. I'm really looking forward to this session.
  • Session Description: This session will briefly review adult learning theory and the needs of today's social learners to support professional development. "Unconference" models, flipped faculty meetings, and teacher-led PD will be explored. Tools that will be shared include screen capture/video creation tools, as well as the use of Google Docs, Google Hangout and Google+ communities to promote collaboration. We will examine the use of blogs, wikis, Twitter, backchannels, virtual notebooks/walls, and social bookmarking as methods by which administrators can share pertinent information with staff anytime, anywhere and obtain feedback before, during, and after PD sessions.
• There are many, many more sessions from great presenters. These are just the few that I look forward to hearing. My number one piece of advice is to plan before you go.  FETC has developed a handy mobile appthat makes planning your schedule a breeze.

Share, Share, Share

• One of the most valuable things about FETC is the sharing that take place - during sessions, in the corridors, and just about every other place where attendees gather.
• #FETC - Twitter serves as the central hub for most of the sharing that takes place during the week. If you have not yet embraced Twitter as a part of your professional development, there is no better time to experience the power of this essential social networking tool than this week at FETC. Just follow the #FETC hashtag for a non-stop feed updates.
• If you are new to Twitter and are not sure how all of this works, just talk to others that you meet or jump into one of the many Twitter-focused sessions. It will change your life.

Special Events

• It will be a full or learning and sharing, but don't forget to enjoy yourself.  There will be many "after-hours" events, sponsored by vendors or formed on the fly by attendees.  I encourage you to find something to do after a long day of learning.
• The Annual "Unofficial" PLN Tweet-up - What started as a fairly small group getting together at TGI Friday's a few years ago, is now one of the real highlights of the week.  This year, we'll meet on Wednesday evening at 7:00pm, at the TGI Friday's at 8955 International Drive (the one near Dave & Buster's). This is the place to be on Wednesday night. To add your name to the list of those that plan on attending - a Who's Who of the Edtech PLN - just click here to get to the Google Doc.
• FETC Phot Walk - New this year, this sounds like a lot of fun.  Organizers are attempting to break the world record for the largest photo walk. To participate in this free event, meet in front of the South Concourse of the OCCC at 9:30 on Wednesday morning. It looks like it will be about a three mile walk along International Drive. For more info, click here.

Well, that was a lot of information. But it was really just a drop in the bucket of what you will see and experience this week in Orlando. I will be posting often throughout each day right here on the blog. I also invite you to follow me on Twitter at @stephenveliz. Enjoy your week and FETC 2014.

FETC 2010 - Outside the Lines

One day after receiving an invitation to submit a workshop proposal for FETC 2011, I'm sitting down to tap out what will probably be my final post on the 2010 edition of FETC.

In the months leading up to this year's conference - my first FETC - I waited in eager anticipation for the trip to the magic city. While I was eager to see what the workshops and concurrent sessions would have to offer, what I was really looking forward to were the personal connections that would be made "outside the lines" - in the exhibit hall, the restaurants, and, best of all, at the Thursday night Tweet-up. This came to mind this past week as I talked with colleagues at my school about reporting our FETC experiences for professional development points. Our school district offers points for time spent in workshops, and even time spent in the exhibit hall talking to vendors.

What is more difficult to document is time networking with fellow teachers that, until recently, you had only met online - through their blogs or their Twitter feeds. That's a real shame, because that is some of the most valuable time logged over the three days in Orlando. Though I enjoyed James Gubbins' session on Twitter, and the Teaching with Video session by Steve Katz; the lasting impressions of FETC came from talking edtech with these guys and Jerry Swiatek (@jswiatek) at TGI Fridays over a cold beer. Sitting through sessions with Jenna (@2sonsup) or Elizabeth from SimpleK12 (@SimpleK12) was as rewarding as the sessions themselves.

Even reconnecting with teachers from my district that I seldom see at home - folks like @artykel, @fernandezc4, and @educatore - provided added value to the conference experience.

So now, as I begin working on session proposals for FETC 2011, I am again looking forward to renewing those personal relationships - and making new ones. One thing that I'd like to see added next year is a more formalized "unconference" infrastructure - a blogger's cafe perhaps. What would you like to see changed or added in 2011?