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You Had Me at “China”

It is an understatement, but I was extremely ecstatic when I got an email in January from Jeff Utecht asking me if I’d be interested in speaking at the Learning 2.008 Conference in Shanghai. Must details got fuzzy as I thought about going to China.

So I paused an appropriate amount of milliseconds before replying with my “hell yes” message.

Last year was the first iteration of the conference, and I remember reading bits of the blog coverage, and liking the different ideas they had packed into that first version.

I was just listening to Jeff’s podcast with Ken Carroll:

Learning 2.008 Podcast

and am liking even more they ways they are trying to make this a different kind of format, with mixes of un-conference activities, hands on experiences, some Second Life-age, no paper, every session recorded/podcasted, and lots of social interaction. Oh, and they are asking the 8 presenters to do (among the 8 sessions we are supposed to do, is there a theme of “8”?), is to prepare a 7 minute “inspiring” opening session a la Ted Talk style presentations.

Oh, yes, I will pull out Al Gore.

Have I mentioned it is in China? I’ve never been, and just trying to think about an entire nation I know relatively little of is a bit.. well daunting an exhilarating. China…. Shangahai… I dipped into Tag Galaxy for an image taste:

This is all very exciting, because its going to be a swath of new educators I’ve never met before or have not swam in the exact same online circles, plus I am going all the way there to meet people I’ve read via blog but never met, like David Jakes, Ewan McIntosh, David Warlick, Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach , etc.

Have I emphasized this is China? There’s something going on there over the summer, some other gathering. Must be a popular place.

If the conference rings any interest, check it out; it’s on “The” Ning http://learning2cn.ning.com/.

I’ll be there wearing a grin and snapping a bazillion photos. And I ought to take up Ken Carroll’s message in the podcast to get in a few ChinesePod lessons before September.

China!

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An early 90s builder of the web and blogging Alan Levine barks at CogDogBlog.com on web storytelling (#ds106 #4life), photography, bending WordPress, and serendipity in the infinite internet river. He thinks it's weird to write about himself in the third person.

Comments

  1. Alan, I’m glad you’re excited about coming to China; Shanghai is a stunning place. I think it will really be an eye-opener. I look forward to meeting you at the Learn 2.008 conference.

  2. So where is all this happening??? 😉
    A 7 minute “inspiring” opening sounds like a challenge…I imagine it’s a bit scary presenting outside your normal group/comfort zone.

    I hope you enjoy the experience!

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