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== = = = ECOO 2009 is over, but the conversation continues! Please share your thoughts and our twitter conversations from last night are added here. I'm sure I've missed some, so please add. Let's Brainstorm! I've only added the names of folks who actually mentioned they'd like to help, so if you aren't on that list and wanted to help...please add yourself. =

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What worked?
- lots...it was a great f2f conference. great to get together and learn and discuss with colleagues - even though I wasn't there, the folks that I sponsored talked about a re-newed excitement that had been missing in recent conferences. The balance of practical classroom sessions and presentations by inspirational ICT leaders has been restored.

What should we do more of?

 * A focus on learning...an education conference not a technology conference, embedding technology in the learning process
 * We should maintain conversations synchronously throughout the year, and then culminate in the f2f at the conference
 * Have FREE wireless, yes - would benefit participation through twitter, backchannel usage, online note taking etc.
 * Should provide a reduced fee option for IT people (or support staff in boards) as I got some feedback from one who appreciated the reduced rate to be able to come and see what teachers are doing...she LOVED the conference opportunity
 * MINDS ON MEDIA...fantastic day. Teacher engagement+hands on learning+connecting with colleagues+inspiration
 * We could think of modifying MOM, by bringing students as well. They can just be equals that day. How novel. (Jim Carleton also suggested that we use this model at the iEARN International conference to be held in Barrie next summer.)
 * I think we could have 5 sessions a day, instead of 3.
 * How about making some evening sessions FREE for local teachers thus allowing people to attend who cannot get the time off? (Geoff)
 * I did a lot of informal chit-chatting with some who were at MOM, a common thread was that it was a great experience, but they would like more..possibly not the intention of the day..but a morning of the mingling, and then choosing one station for the afternoon, so teachers could create and take away something to use practically in the classroom (V)
 * invite increasing numbers of dynamic visionary presenters

What should we do less of?

 * Vendors....do we want them there? are they adding anything to the conference? I worry they are pushing product instead of advancing pedagogy...
 * Signing up for sessions...can't we just show-up and go wherever we want? It is tonnes of work to organize all the participant's choices.
 * Interactive White Boards
 * We need to make it cheaper....supply coverage costs + registration fees + hotel costs = too much $ for many
 * Maybe a Sat/Sun/Mon combo like Educon?
 * No lunches or snacks provided (unless sponsored by a vendor/sponsor etc.?) that would take a lot of costs down (and) prevent unnecessary needs to count lunch tickets, keep guard, hole-punch etc. (V)
 * bring in more leading edge vendors to show us where technology is going
 * vendors help pay for the conference. Without them the cost would be higher

What new things should we try?

 * Unconference idea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference - check out Educon for ideas - anybody going? Alec will be there http://educon20.wikispaces.com/
 * -Getting the Ministry involved
 * Call it CANUCON - go national?
 * I like the idea of having a variety of perspectives (and national) could be a way to go, sessions could be IT theory, practical, even forming PLCs based on interest or topic, wouldn't it be great if like-minded people connect and continue working together beyond a single session? (V)
 * -We should really have more events in the evening to help highlight the many aspects of ICT...I still would love to have movie or music-related evenings - cybraphon, rip! a remix manifesto (film showing), and follow up discussion, fashion ([|wearable ICT] ), after all, we are using ICT in education and the results are many artistic, athletic, scientific, environmental etc -related creations by our students (V)
 * Get more gaming involved and/or robotics (V) (Wii is certainly teaching me stuff - thanks to the COCA group that got me started! Geoff)
 * Get more administrators to #ECOO - innovate from top down AND bottom up
 * I have two names of PTAC members who would like to be involved in some way, whether giving a session on IT from admin perspective, I also spoke about joining the conference committee etc. to "represent" (V)
 * Poster sessions where teachers bring examples of student projects and teachers can flow freely from one to another to hear about what teachers are doing in classrooms - this was a great event at NECC.
 * Birds-of-feather sessions throughout the conference, also very successful at NECC- We would organize a leader for a certain topic, say blogging and then anyone interested in an informally gathering to network with other bloggers would join in there.
 * Pecha Kucha http://www.pecha-kucha.org/ might be a great way to do some sharing (great idea - I have played with this idea and it has real potential for classroom teachers I think - it can also cut down on presenters! Geoff)
 * Perhaps a broad literacy theme that would encompass all the literacies?
 * We definitely should have more of a media presence (V)
 * Perhaps use Second Life as a place to meet and learn pre-conference? A way to involve people virtually who can't attend? (Video conference) A way to invite experts in from across the world?
 * I think we should also do some adobe connect sessions (people sign up for a two or three part session/workshop) with some part virtual (V)
 * -Definitely think that if a session has less than five people, it should be cancelled (V)
 * We should keep sessions to the main and bottom floor, no 10th or 9th, presenters and delegates expressed this to me (V)
 * Can we use two venues? there's a hotel down the street (Days Inn or something like that by Warden and hwy 7)
 * Can we affiliate with a university? makes sense if part of the conference is the weekend (see previous note about spreading out to a number of venues, with a single hub as the central office). I am part of both Luminato and TIFF's volunteer crew and participants have no problems moving around (within reason and parking), we can promote car-pooling or cabs (V)
 * Have session bloggers (as with Grace Hopper)
 * Offer popular sessions with video streaming. Some teachers can't afford to attend due to costs but could probably convince their principal to give them a period of the day off to attend virtually.
 * Can we invite/involve Faculty of Education students?
 * Further to the Adobe Connect and streamed session comments, we should model the use of the technology. It may be possible to provide these connections, at least for some specific presenters to 'remote' attendees. Assuming we can/would do this, what are the implications for registration?
 * Try to meet the learning styles of as many teachers as possible. There's no such thing as one size fits all at a conference.

Any 'way out there' thoughts? Thinking big is a good thing! :)
-wonder if we could ever have free and open conferece ala @downes and @courosa? =ECOO Connections=

Some people expressing an interest in being involved in more ecoo connections. I'm sure I've forgotten some people...sorry....please add your name here: @manderson27 @zbpipe @marklipton @courosa @brendasherry @peterskillen @jkdham @redfearn @benhazzard @barbaram - Canucon? Great name Barbara! @digitalnative @rdelorenzo @msjweir @katgoodale @aforgrave @trulygreenfish @timisusually Liz Clarke Joe Romano Susan Watt @iYantho Catherine Andrews @markwcarbone @hniezen @rogerlem @kimsten @windsordi @MooreDe @sig225 @sadone @ron_mill @mikemcilveen

ECOO 2009 Blog Posts
@brendasherry http://bsherry.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/ecoo-2009-reflections/ @baded http://badeducation.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/stao-vs-ecoo/ @msjweir http://msjweir.edublogs.org/2009/11/14/ecoo-2009/ @dougpete http://dougpete.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/the-power-of-conferences/ @aliringbull http://tinyurl.com/ykay77u @windsordi twECOO pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/windsordi/4101588115/ @redfearn http://mcluhansghost.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/inspire-connect-teach-ecoo-2009/ @markwcarbone http://markcarbone.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/reflections-on-ecoo-2009/ @katgoodale http://katitude.ca/2009/11/ecoo/ @marclijour http://www.lijour.net/xwiki/bin/view/Blog/ @peterskillen http://theconstructionzone.wordpress.com/

@courosa http://couros.wikispaces.com/ecoo @ijakes http://committedsardine.com/blogpost.cfm?blogID=493 @benhazzard http://benhazzard.com/?p=123 @dougpete http://dougpete.pbworks.com/ECOO2009 @mrdspencer http://www.educationalinnovations.com/teachers/index.html
 * Conference Handouts Online**