Prompt: Write a post about conferences and professional learning.
Here are some possible topics to help get you started:
- Write a list of the top conferences you want to attend before you retire.
- Have you presented at an academic conference? If so, write about your presentation and share with everyone!
- Write about the most inspiring speaker you’ve seen at a conference, and tell about how it impacted your approach to education.
- Write a post discussing tips for getting the most out of conferences.
- Write a post about what conferences need to do to continue to be a positive force in education.
I love professional learning and conferences! I love them so much I decided to make one of them an annual thing and turn it into a family trip. 🙂
I am sure I am not alone in saying that my district doesn’t pay for a whole lot of conferences. I can see how something like that gets expensive real quick, but conferences are really a valuable learning experience. I have a passion for edtech and so that usually drives my conference interest, as well as academic innovation.
The first conference I used to go to on the regular was CUE (Computer Using Educators). It is a great edtech conference held in Palm Springs, CA in March of every year and is only about a 45 minute drive away. Many educators consider it a warm up to ISTE in June, and I would have to say that is a fair assessment. On the whole it is a great conference and I recommend it.
ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) is my new regular conference now. It is a massive edtech experience. I have been aware of the annual ISTE conference for years but I first attended in Philadelphia 3 years ago, and attended again this past June in San Antonio. Next year it will be in Chicago. I have been telling my husband that I want he and our 12 year old son to accompany me to make it a family trip and I am excited that this time we will finally be doing that. So ISTE will officially be a family summer trip so I can get my edtech fix, and my son can see the United States. Win-win right?
SXSWEDU is one I only just became aware of about a year or two ago and I have yet to attend. It is held in early March each year in Austin, TX. I am interested in it because it showcases academic innovation and not just edtech. We need so much innovation in education right now! I am hoping to attend next March.
What are some of your favorite conferences? Share with me in the comments below. 🙂
21st Century Educator 
Hey Melanie,
I read this post with envy! You’re lucky to have all these great conference options.
The only one I have been to that you mentioned is ISTE. I presented there is 2012 after winning an award which paid my way to the US. It was amazing! In some ways it was overwhelming but I loved it so much and would have probably returned the following year had I not been about to give birth!
I have heard great things about CUE from my blogging buddy, Linda Yollis. I have not heard of the Texas conference but it sounds terrific.I hope you make it.
I love the idea of combining a conference with a family holiday and this is something I’d like to do when my children are older. My husband attended ISTE with me and although we teach in very different areas, a conference like that certainly met both of our needs and more.
I should also point out that we have some great local conferences here in Australia too. I haven’t been to any in a few years but I’d love to get back into that in 2018 too.
Do you like the idea of presenting at conferences, or just attending?
Thanks for another enthusiastic post,
Kathleen