NECC 2008
By Kathy Ishizuka -- School Library Journal, 8/1/2008
I don’t know about you, but conferences for me are oftentimes a sleepless whirlwind. Too many stimulating ideas, conversations, and iffy meals on the run—not to mention the airport trauma—make it difficult to fully absorb all that these events have to offer. Now, Web-based venues can effectively extend the experience online, serving those who couldn’t be there, as well as those still grasping to make sense of it all.
Case in point: the NECC Ning site, a social network dedicated to the 2008 National Educational Computing Conference held last month in San Antonio, TX. Launched by event sponsor ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), the Ning page encourages users to share their experiences. Contribute a post or respond to one, upload videos and photos, or discuss and review conference sessions. Create your own profile and find like-minded colleagues—a great way to prepare for next year’s event. Discussions thus far: those little ribbons on participants’ badges and what they mean; Moodle; the best Firefox extensions; and much, much more.
