uLearn conference reflections

After day one my head was so full of ideas, I didn't quite know how I was going to retain any more of the information I was to receive over the next two days!

The uLearn conference was a definite experience, the amount of information was enormous.  The inspiration given by the presenters and keynote speakers was phenomenal.

One of the biggest things I'll take away from this conference is the different ways to gather student voice using digital tools.  The breakout by David Kinane was full of different ways to achieve this.  I have already tried the Audioboo app, and now that I have figured out how to embed them into the blog I'll be able to introduce it to the rest of the class.

Pam Hook's breakout about SOLO taxonomy provided my lightbulb moment of the conference.  I finally understood the SOLO taxonomy idea, it was not as complicated as I thought - that was confusing me I think!

The other breakout that left the biggest impression was the last one that I attended.  Two teachers from Pt England School shared their blended elearning programme.  They showed us how they used their blog and the different ways they used their ICT tools to motivate students and capture their learning.  Some of their ideas were so simple, I wondered why on earth I've never thought of them.  I must email them to thank them for sharing their ideas.  If he internet had been working properly this week we would have already been emailing work to be posted.

All of the keynote speakers were fantastic.  Each one had their own highlights and touch me in different ways.  Kevin Honeycutt was impressive as always.  His message of creating a positive digital footprint has really struck a chord, both for my class and for myself.  Also the message of using ICT tools to CREATE something struck a chord too - already one reading group is going to learn how to create animations using iMovie (hope it works).

Khoa Do gave us all a lot to think about.  Especially about how people/society can judge people, yet if given a chance and the right mentor, anyone can do anything.  Again, creating something positive can change your life.

Attending this conference has definitely reinvigorated me in regards to how I use ICT tools for teaching and learning.  It has given me a definite sense of creating more of a digital classroom, and how to do it so that students are using these tools more effectively for their learning.  Three days worth of holidays is leading to years of ideas.