Confessions of a Conference Junkie

I love attending conferences, especially in the summer. For real.

I know some people might roll their eyes or do a sarcasm check when they hear that, but it's true. I've been surprised in the past by how many colleagues I respect in so many other ways and for so many other reasons are completely disinterested in this kind of professional development. While I completely understand the importance of protecting my time off on weekends and breaks, and the difficulty of planning meaningful learning opportunities for my students in my absence, the benefits of participating in a good* conference far outweigh those competing interests.

*Before I go further - yes, it's true, not all conferences are created equal. There are bad ones. Those are terrible. There's nothing worse than giving up that time off or with your students for something that doesn't offer authentic learning or inspiration. I'm sure that many of the teachers who don't pursue conferences now have been burned by bad ones in the past.

**A second caveat - I also know that there are tons of teachers who do want to pursue conferences but aren't in schools or districts that can support them financially in those endeavors. I am privileged to work now in a school that has demonstrated a commitment to self-selected professional development, and not all of us do. I'm sorry if you're not as fortunate right now.

So, why do I find them so rewarding?
First and foremost, I learn so much. At the best conferences I've attended, I have been exposed to technology tools, pedagogical approaches, and inspiring speakers I never would have learned about or from otherwise. Even when concepts or content isn't as brand new to me, other attendees share their own applications and integrations in fresh ways. I always leave with dozens of new ideas I'm eager to mull over or put into action.

That inspiration and reinvigoration of my practice is the second key benefit. It's easy to fall into routines, to do things the same way year after year; attending conferences helps me stay dynamic and evolving. It's been a long time since I've felt like I had to reinvent the wheel with my most beloved units; conversely, I haven't ever done them exactly the same in subsequent years, because there's always something I've learned about or seen done in the time that's elapsed that I want to try to bring in myself.

Third, I meet awesome people. I believe we're all better at what we do when we talk and exchange ideas with as many people as we can - it calls to mind a motto that hung in a dean's office at a school I once worked at, "All of us are better than any of us." The network of professionals I've met and maintained relationships with is an incredible resource.

Finally, in attending them, and presenting when I can, I model exactly what I want students to do - step outside my comfort zone, pursue my passions, and form connections with people and ideas. What could be better?