It's that time of year again: the K12 Online Conference is about to start. It officially launches with the keynote the week of October 13 and will run through the rest of the month. Actually, it will run much, much longer... like forever.
The K12 Online Conference is not only my favorite conference, it has changed the way I think about conferences since its inception in 2006. Like past years, the conference is free, put together through volunteer efforts under the guidance of four co-conveners: Darren Kuropatwa, Sheryl Nusbaum-Beach, Wesley Fryer, and Dean Shareski. It takes place entirely online, bringing together outstanding presenters from around the world. The conference is open to anyone and centers around innovative ways that Web 2.0 tools can be integrated in order to improve learning. This year's theme is called "Amplifying Possibilities," centering on four strands: "Getting Started" (full disclosure: the "Getting Started" keynote is brought to you by Cheryl Oakes, Alice Barr, and myself), "Kicking it Up a Notch," Leading the Change," and "Prove It." Each strand opens with a keynote, followed by presentations. Though there are synchronous events (mostly held in Elluminate), you really don't need to show up for any of the live events in order to take advantage of the conference. Many people simply partake in the asynchronous offerings which are delivered via blog entries, audio and video right on the site, or through subscription via iTunes or other RSS agregators. The live events are an incredible component to the conference however, and take place in three "Fireside Chats" and a 24 hour global reflection, called "When Night Falls."
K12 Online puts other conferences to shame. All together, there are over 40 presentations that can be attended from your home, while in your pajamas, enjoying a cup of coffee... or plugged into your car stereo from your mp3 player on your way to work. In other words, you control how many presentations you're able to sit in on and when you view the presentations, giving yourself plenty of time for reflection and to work through all the supporting links that the presenters offer. You don't have to get a sub and miss a day of school. You can rewind and listen to the presentations again and again and again. It's yours for keeps. And if you find yourself in a presentation that doesn't fit your needs or interests, simply hit the "next" button and go on. How many workshops/conferences have you gone to the trouble of getting a sub, writing a sub note, traveling to, and then finding out that you've hit a "stinker"? But you're trapped and still have to pay for the conference, the hotel, the gas...
There are plenty of great conversations and support on the K12 Online conference blog to keep your professional development expanding and evolving. On top of that, all of the presentations are preserved on the Internet indefinitely by the generosity of the College of William and Mary, so by all means, go back in time and enjoy the presentations since 2006. AND (don't order yet!) you can even get professional development (CPE) credit for attending the conference. In past years, K12 Online has collaborated with Plymouth State University and Shangai University in offering college graduate credit for your attendance and reflections, however that's no longer available this year. The K12 Online committee is presently working on agreements with several universities and hopes to be able to offer graduate credit after the conference.
A new facet of the K12 Online experience this year is the "NotK12Online" site. According to the site, it's been added "as one way to expand, and amplify, the possibilities of the K12Online Conference, to ensure that everyone has a way to add to the conversation(s) started by, inspired by, or missed by, the formal conference." Think of it as the "un-conference" or the great learning that always takes place outside of the scheduled program: in conversations with other professionals, or impromptu workshops that suddenly pop-up. Participants are invited to submit presentations or critiques.
Head on over and start checking out the teasers that most presenters have submitted and I hope to see you at a Fireside Chat!
 Bob Sprankle has been a multi-age teacher in Wells, ME for 10 years and has served as the school's Technology Integrator for the past two years.
POSTED ON HOTCHALK.COM
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