Thoughts and Musings from My MACUL 2015 Experience (Part 1)

Last week, several of the administrators and teachers from Holland Christian Schools and I descended upon the MACUL Educational Technology Conference in Detroit. I didn't exactly know what to expect from the event because the corresponding CUE Conference in California had always been a favorite of mine--meaning MACUL had some big shoes to fill.

We had a great experience.

Something magical happens when you put over 5,000 enthusiastic people together in a building to talk about the landscape of teaching and learning.

Not only was the conference filled with inspiring speakers, useful information, and interesting connections with fellow educators; but we also had ample opportunity to just hang out, share ideas, and dream about the future of education at our school.

. . . Oh, and play a little pick up baseball on the actual base paths of the old Tigers Stadium.

What I like about today's Ed Tech conferences is that they are less about specific devices and software and more about overarching principles behind the way students and teachers can work together, how to unleash people's potential, and how to imagine ways technology can help with that process. We can't hitch our wagons to a particular machine or one program that will be obsolete in a short time. It's better to develop broad philosophies of learning that can adapt to an ever-changing landscape.

So what did I take away from MACUL 2015?

Oftentimes in education, there is a distrust--either subtle or overt--of too much technology. We might worry that devices isolate our students from each other or that too much screen time is somehow de-humanizing. 

During his keynote address, George Couros (@gcouros) reminded me that technology--when used well--has the potential to connect us in ways that weren't previously possible and to help us tap deeply into the very fabric of our humanity. If you don't believe me, check out these clips:

I mean, seriously . . . How can you not get goosebumps watching those and thinking about how your own school can provide similar experiences for students?

Couros' talk also reminded me that while it's a good idea to provide teachers with the HOW--like professional development in the specific tools they will need to execute a new strategy, we shouldn't forget about the power of big ideas and inspiration to remind us about WHY we're doing what we're doing in the first place.

So going into this weekend, take a moment to remind yourself of what first drew you to your job. Tap into that spark and see if you can help a student or a co-worker discover theirs. In doing so, you'll stir something deeply human inside and feel the joy that comes from living into exactly who you were created to be.

More to come in the days ahead . . .