On Saturday (April 14th), we had our 2007 Teaching and Learning with Technology Symposium.


The idea of the event is to create a time and space for faculty to share the ways they use technology to improve teaching, learning, and research. I have no experience planning events like this, so when I was asked to take over the Symposium, I said “sure, why not”. I left my old job last year, mainly because I was looking for a real challenge and something that would give me the opportunity to stay on top of new developments in and applications of educational technologies.

So I put the Symposium together with a good team of planning and operations people. The result was very positive (based on feedback I’ve gotten from participants), but there were some things that could be done better. I’m not being a perfectionist either. I just want to put on an event with transparent logistical issues (mics, internet access, positioning, seating, etc…) and a few pleasant surprises here and there (mostly related to the look and feel of the event). I don’t want perfection, but I want people to have a Disney-like experience. An Apple-design experience. Where things fit together, the technology works, and people relax and smile and let their guard down and talk openly.

Adults need to play more. Maybe that’s what I’m after — creating an experience that is like playground chaos. Tag, you’re it. I don’t know your name, but I have an extra soda if you want it. Is that your dog? Okay, that’s the answer.

New Plan: I’ll top this year’s Symposium by bringing kittens and puppies to the next one.

Another thing about this analogy: no one cares who built the playground or who cleans up. That’s what I mean by transparency. I don’t need praise for doing my job. The challenge of the event is a reward in itself. I just want to sit back and watch everyone have a good time.

Revised plan: next year, puppies, kittens, and an invisibility cloak. Nothing is as transparent as invisibility.

After the event is over, what I really want is good, detailed feedback. Every challenge like this is a complex riddle and I am better able to solve the riddle if I have good information about the previous solution. Code optimization. That’s what I’m after.

Re-revised plan: puppies, kittens, invisibility cloak, and a slip-n-slide. [Yeah, I know, slip-n-slide has nothing to do with code optimization, but they're a lot of fun.]

I’m beginning to sound like a crazy person, but it has felt good to get this off my chest.

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