#SOLSC24
Saturday is my day off from teaching. It’s my time when I can take a mental break from the long week and focus on me, my husband and my family. I treasure the break from planning, executing, worrying and sitting in front of my computer. But, today I decided to attend the Teachers College Reading and Writing Saturday Reunion, which was virtual on zoom. I have gone to this conference in prior years, trekked into the city, pushed my way through the crowds and sat among what felt like thousands as I tried to learn something new that I could bring back to my classroom and enrich my teaching with. The fact that the conference was virtual, that I didn’t need to register, that it was free, that I could choose amongst a buffet of a gazillion classes, that conferences were often just 15 minutes long, helped my decision to attend easy. And I wasn’t disappointed. It was an amazing experience. I went to several conferences and even joined two (one on my phone and one on my computer) at one point when I realized the conference I had chosen was material I knew already but didn’t want to insult the presenter by leaving the conference early. Later, after the conference, I began to think about how wonderful this experience was and that zoom made it so seamless to attend and get excited about teaching. It got me thinking that there is always a silver lining to everything that happens in life. Who knows how the changes we’ve gotten used to lately, like conferences going virtual, will change once life resumes normality, but I hope some changes remain.
2 Comments
Lydia Dudenas
3/20/2021 06:19:50 pm
Couldn't agree more- this last year has opened our eyes to many things that could happen in an easier way.
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3/24/2021 05:32:48 pm
Yes! The ease of conferences is something I have truly appreciated this year (though I do miss travel too). I do hope to be able to attend conferences in person too in the future, but so much has only been accessible to me this year because it's virtual. I've been thinking a lot about accessibility for those who can't travel and need access to virtual offerings, and I do hope that conferences continue to offer some kind of virtual format for those who can't travel.
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Eva KaplanSea glass, found on beaches, is naturally worn and smooth by tide and time,. As a wife, mother, Bubbe, teacher, reader & life-long learner, and of course, sea glass collector, I aspire to use writing to help me understand myself and the world around me. Archives
March 2024
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