NCCE 2002 Reflections

Seattle, Washington

Metamorphose: v. -phosed, -phosing, -phoses. -tr. 1. To change into a wholly different form or appearance; transform...

Oh, the sweet irony of Dr. Chen using an overhead projector in the very first session was almost too much for me! Bless his soul, at a conference of computer educators he had the strength of conviction to state he prefers transparencies to using PowerPoint. Indeed, even after dropping his transparencies and suffering mild indignation at the hands of the techno-snobs in the audience ("Yes, but my PowerPoint presentation never gets shuffled!" announced a malcontent.) Dr. Chen just smiled and replied, "Touché!"

Sublime, simply sublime.

Speaker after speaker after speaker at this year's NCCE (Northwest Council for Computer Education) conference, held in Seattle, Washington, seemed to implore educators to do what works for them and for their students regardless of the "coolness" factor of available educational technology. Dr. Chen advocated penmanship. Dr. Healy spoke about how computers shouldn't be even be touched before the age of seven or eight. Dr. Lengel shared that studies of computer usage have shown only marginal improvements in student outcomes. Good heavens, the closing session's keynote topic was "Back to the Future: Preparing Students for the 18th Century."

There were moments when I truly felt like Peter Casey and I had taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way and we were attending a Luddite convention instead of a conference for computer educators.

As the program title suggests, many of the sessions were dedicated to highlighting the continuum of change in educational technology; the highlights weren't pretty. In fact, the whole event was significantly sobering if truth be told. Alas, the sad irony may turn out to be this year's message is more about convergence than metamorphosis. Almost a score of years ago we embarked on a journey using a device designed in some guy's garage. Billions and billions of dollars have been spent since then to replace that technology with newer and cooler stuff. With the best of intentions we created computer labs where we taught teachers and students to word process, program using Logo, and troubleshoot cranky printers. And now, on a couple of frigid days in Seattle, Washington, a bunch of learned folks asked the simple question, "Why?"

Truthfully, we all asked that question twenty years ago.

NCCE 2001 Reflections

NCCE 2001 Reflections
March 15-16
Spokane, Washington

Though aptly named, "Rendezvous 2001: The Odyssey Continues," this year's NCCE (Northwest Council for Computer Education) conference held in Spokane, Washington could have just as easily been named, "Deja Vu 2001: That Sure Looks Familiar." While the "odyssey" most definitely has continued, I was struck by the sameness of this year's conference as compared to last year's. In fact, everything I wrote about technology integration last year applies to this year, only magnified. Last year I felt the underlying theme was "a cry, no, a plea for purposeful and thoughtful implementation and integration of technology into classrooms where students use technology as a value-added element of their learning rather than as a skill unto itself." No longer a plea, the theme now appears to be an outright demand.

"Balance" was a word used quite often in workshop sessions. "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water," was another well-used phrase. The conference favorite though was: "Books work every day!"

This year I had the pleasure of driving up to Spokane with Jan Spitz and Cindy Pierce representing Sky View MS and Cindy Stanton representing Seven Peaks Elementary. Peter Casey from COCC also attended the conference.

I learned a great deal but I'm having a terrible time articulating the lessons learned this trip. Much of what I learned has to deal with personal issues such as arrogance and compassion in their many forms. Hmm, one would think learning how to create an online database would be an adequate challenge, but, in fact, much of what we face today in the world is a direct result of technological arrogance and an appalling lack of compassion in relating with people as they cope with change. I have to say I held up the mirror, looked at the image, and frankly, didn't really like what I saw.

Now, when was the last time you attended a conference and were challenged thusly?

NCCE 2000 Reflections

NCCE 2000 Reflections April 19-21 Portland, Oregon

One of the important "lessons learned" I've discovered from previous conferences is the importance of recording impressions and reviewing information acquired. What follows are reflections and elaborations on what I experienced or have synthesized so far. I reserve the right to change my opinion as folks point out the error of my ways and I encourage people to challenge my interpretations.

In general, this year's conference was about doing educational "stuff" online. Access to resources over the Internet is being pushed hard and the jury is still out on the current implementation. Everybody considers access to be vital but the hows and caveats seem to abound. The biggest concern isn't so much about access to inappropriate material but access to relevant and essential information in forms appropriate to the task at hand.

Videoconferencing, video production, collaborative online discussions, state standards, and integrating technology into the classroom were common topics for many of this year's conference sessions. The number of sessions with web sites ending in "wednet.edu" far outnumbered the sessions with ".k12.or.us" which probably shouldn't have surprised me but it did never-the-less.

Finally, the underlying theme for this year's conference was a cry, no, a plea for purposeful and thoughtful implementation and integration of technology into classrooms where students use technology as a value-added element of their learning rather than as a skill unto itself. We may over time discover the use of technology replaces ways we teach today and taught yesterday, but I'm certain we will find twenty years from now technology will never replace hugs and smiles. I was genuinely touched by the passion both keynote speakers shared in their speeches. Every now and again it is important to me to remind myself I don't work with computers; I work with and support people who use computers.

At the risk of sounding like a travel log, I do feel it is important to note that I drove up to Portland to the conference with Peter Casey (COCC), Jan Spitz, Linda Bilyeu, and Debbie McPherson (Elk Meadow). We also saw Dr. Bruner, Romona Greeno (Cascade) and Barbara Klett (COCC) as well as a huge contingent from Redmond.