FETC 2012 has officially begun and PLP is very excited to be in Orlando for this year’s conference.  Throughout the conference (January 23-26) this blog will be updated with new information and pictures.  Be sure to check back often for updates and additional chances to win prizes!

FETC logo

January 24th (8:35pm) Our night started with a bang, literally!  With less than ten minutes prior to the opening of FETC our booth came crashing down on Sheryl and I (due to no fault of our PLP staff).  Although we were not excited at the idea of rebuilding our display, I just kept thinking and saying what an exciting start this will make to my blog.  🙂  We met some really great people tonight and are looking forward to meeting more of you tomorrow!

January 25th (10:00pm) Today I started the day by attending Michael Wesch’s keynote.  Michael is a cultural anthropologist at Kansas State University and discussed how to help move kids from being knowledgeable to knowledge-able by inspiring wonder.  His speech resonated well with me because it ties directly to the philosophy of PLP’s co-founder Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach.  Her message of bringing passion based learning and wonderment back into the classroom was directly in sync with Michael’s message to this audience. Throughout the day, I meet a few PLPeeps (educators currently going through our year long professional development) and others who were ready to get signed up for this experience!  I also enjoyed hearing Sheryl speak about her passion for creating connected learners and how her book “The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age” can help bring about change during her book signing. My day ended with a good dinner with colleagues and getting off my feet for some rest! Tomorrow will be our last day and I look forward to meeting more future PLPeeps!  Don’t forget to enter our virtual giveaways, winners will be announced on Monday (see the Prizes tab below).

January 26th (10:00pm) Today we wrapped up our visit to Orlando by giving away three virtual eCourses (from the badges we scanned throughout the conference).  Congrats to Donna Dolan, Kristin Strong & Jennifer Chadeayre – I’ll be contacting you tomorrow to find out what course you’d like to take!  For those that would still like to win, entries for our virtual contests will continue through Sunday night (see details below).  Please note attendance at FETC 2012 is not required to win one of our virtual contests.

We had a great time soaking in the sun, knowledge and laughter and can’t wait to come back again next year.  In the meantime we look forward to working collaboratively with everyone online and remind you to mark your calendars for next year’s conference  (January 28 – 31st)!

Are you interested in winning a Virtual Giveaway (even if you can’t be with us at FETC this year)?  Here’s how you can win:

Facebook Entries:

1.  Like Powerful Learning Practice on Facebook (if you haven’t already)!

2.  Write your favorite all-time conference memory (this can be inspiring, humorous, or anything in between)

3.  Get your friends and family to like your memory

4.  The memory with the most likes will receive a FREE eCourse from PLP

5.  Winners will be announced on Monday, January 30th!

Twitter Entries:

1.  Tweet why you’d like to win a free eCourse from @plpnetwork.  Be sure the hashtag #plpgiveaway is in your tweet.

2.  Using a random number generator, we’ll select one person to win a FREE eCourse from PLP.

3.  Winners will be announced on Monday, January 30th!

Blog Entries:

1. On the bottom of this post,  leave a reply about what eCourses you’d like to see Powerful Learning Practice offer in the future.

2.  Using a random number generator, we’ll select one person to win 50% off any eCourse.

3.  Winners will be announced on Monday, January 30th!

This year FETC has over 80 workshops, 200 sessions, 22 Hot Topic Focus Areas, and 500 exhibitors all featuring the latest technologies and expert speakers!

We’ve been asking people at our booth, what’s been their favorite thing they’ve seen, heard or done at FETC this year.

 “The Epcot night was good for reflecting on the day’s events” -Dean Benko, Ed Technology, Regina, Canada
 “The quality and number of sessions has been great” -Leanne Forrest, Ed Technology, Regina, Canada
 “I’ve never been here before so I’m enjoying it all” -Michele, 1st grade teacher, Jacksonville, FL
 “Meeting people that I only know online” -Jill Kolb, 1st grade teacher, Jacksonville, FL
 “The weather’s been great” -Chris White, Primary teacher, Nova Scotia, Canada

Our newsletter, Top Shelf, goes out about once a month and is chock full of valuable resources for teachers, teacher leaders, and administrators:

  • Social Media in Schools: What’s new in the edusphere?
  • Leadership Topics: Resources by leaders, for leaders
  • Conversations From the Edge: with Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach and Will Richardson
  • Meet the PLPeep: an in-depth profile on a Powerful Learning Practice Community member
  • Favorite Links
  • Top Tweets
  • and more
Add Me to Your Newsletter

Fun times at FETC 2012

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Christen Dodd

Christen is a Connected Learning Specialist for PLP. After earning her MEd. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Virginia, she began her career as a K-5 Computer Resource Teacher. She enjoyed collaborating with staff and creating technology lessons that engaged students, but caught “the bug” for presenting to educators on a national level. For eleven years, Christen trained educators both face-to-face and virtually with Verizon Thinkfinity. She also served as their Distance Learning Coordinator and Vice President of Professional Development. Christen has enjoyed working with Powerful Learning Practice since 2011 and continuing her work with educators, parents and students alike. Currently, she is also an instructional technology specialist at her children's JK-8 Catholic school.

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