FETC, Here I Come!
January 13, 2008
I am so excited!! Just last week I got permission to attend FETC 2008!
A colleague, MaryAnn, and I are able to go because of the wonderful Discovery Educator Network. Being a part of such a great network not only gives me access to other educators around the world, but it also has given me many opportunities to advance my education with some Professional Development.
Since our district has allowed us to attend, we do have to do some work for them too 
We will be speaking with several of the vendors and attending sessions to aide us in our future trainings in the schools. We are going to check out 1:1 laptop initiatives, technology camps for students and teachers, and working with Word 2007 and beyond.
This will be my first conference outside of South Carolina so I am excited to see what Florida has to offer. Now I know it has The Mouse, but unfortunately I will not see him. This will be my first trip to Orlando that doesn’t include the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. We are going to Downtown Disney for lunch one day, so I guess that will be my Mickey fix.
Lots of things to plan before I leave, I don’t know where to start!
Look out Orlando, Richland One is coming to town.
Stay tuned for my thoughts on my first out of state conference…
Entry Filed under: conference,Professional Development. Posted in conference ,Professional Development Tags: DEN, Discovery Educator Network, Disney World, FETC, FETC 2008, MaryAnn Sansonetti, Richland One.
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2 Comments Add your own
Julia, it is wildly overwhelming and fun. Not on the same level as NECC but really close. I went in 2006 and 2007, actually presenting in 2006. I went alone then (while my family went to the Magic Kingdom) and was extremely concerned when I saw 1) how large the facility was, and 2) how unforgiving the attendees were. If a session was not what they thought it should be they had no qualms about ditching to find another or go back to the exhibit hall. During my session (which had 15 rows of 10 chairs each–i nearly had a stroke) all I could think was that no one would come, and the ones that did would soon be hitting the doors in search of better. I was pleasantly surprised (and very nervous) though to discover every seat filled, and from about a fourth of the way through to more than half way, attendees filed in late, loineing the walls and the back, and some even at the fron sitting on the floor to join us. I almost went again this year, but decided instead to attend Chris Lehmann’s Science Leadership Academy Educon 2.0. So I’m excited too. I will probably be star struck once again by Will Richardson and David Jakes.
Hey Julia!!!
I’ve been to the last 2 FETCs and I’ll be there again this year. I can tell you that my first was completely overwhelming. One could literally spend all 2 1/2 days in the exhibit hall alone. I’ve been a little disappointed in the sessions though. Although this is a technology conference, the sessions are all at a very beginner and basic level. Aside from a few web links here and there, I typically don’t come away with much more knowledge from these sessions. You’ll love it though. Hopefully the weather is nicer than what we had last year (I’m not sure it the temp rose out of the 50′s.) Enjoy it!! Maybe I’ll see you there!!
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