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I wasn't expecting to get a link from the official NECC blog (thanks, Steve), but as we all know, it's a small world wide web after all. So let me take this opportunity to clarify a couple of things.

First, my last post was a bit of a venting session. I wasn't intending for it to be published to a wider audience (especially to people that are actually at NECC), so my thoughts are anything but comprehensive or even formulated. I apologize if I offended anyone ... my experience was admittedly isolated and extremely short. Even if the presentation itself wasn't that good, the published materials are excellent (they're linked below).

Second, this is my personal blog. Sure, I'm an educator, but webeldotnet is not intended to be an educational weblog. If you want to read more about the webeldotnet philosophy, read this page.

Third, I haven't responded until now because I simply haven't been online. I didn't bring a laptop to the conference and have been spending time the past couple of days with the other 6 NECC attendees from my school. Now I'm back at the summer camp where I play work, so there's a good chance I won't be online very often at all through the end of July.

I'm definitely going to explore the possibility of investing myself a little more in promoting blogging in the educational world. I realize that I'm not a pioneer of any sort ... many educators out there are using blogs on an everyday basis to change lives. I don't necessarily "know more" than other people, I'm merely one guy with a lot of ideas in my head. If I do eventually decide to get more involved in this, I'll undoubtedly start by connecting first with some of the other people who seem to be breaking ground and already heavily promoting weblogs in education. For now, however, the ideas are going to percolate in my cranium.

And finally, for all the skeptics out there, Don't bust my chops.

I just left a workshop on educational blogging. It was the only one on the schedule, and it was absolutely awful. The presenters didn't know what they were talking about, and were very unclear on pretty much everything they tried to cover. They didn't even know how to handle their presentation technology ... a huge no-no at a technology convention. In fact, it was so painful that I just walked out in the middle. Hopefully their online information and handouts (1, 2) are a little better.

Wow ... I'm still twitching from the experience.

You'd think that the world's biggest educational technology convention would have the most current and best information available. Not so. Perhaps I should consider putting together a presentation or two on educational blogging, to kind of nudge the upcoming wave of weblog publishing in the educational world. It seems that few people here understand the power and simplicity of this sort of publishing ... plus, it'd be an easy way to get full-rides to technology conferences all over the states!

So I'm here in New Orleans at the National Educational Computing Conference, the world's largest convention of its kind. CHCA sent me and 5 or 6 other people here to gather the latest and greatest information and contacts in the world of school technology.

This is my third major convention (my first NECC), so I pretty much know how to get around and where to focus. On the freebies. I think I have 9 or 10 shirts, a couple hats, I've won some binoculars and flash drives, and I've got more pens and folders than I'll ever need. I'm hoping to win a grand prize or two as well (computers, handhelds, motor scooters, etc). Bring it.

[ok, it's not all about the freebies, but I'm a Webel ... give me a break.]

Getting here was quite an adventure. My flight, which I thought left yesterday around 6pm, actually left at 12:15pm ... without me. After talking to various Delta reps on the phone for about an hour, running like a madman through the airport, getting bumped two more times, flying through three cities, taking only what I had with me in my car (thank God for the free t-shirts, eh?), and an interesting cabbie who tried (unsuccessfully, I might add) to rip me off, I finally arrived at my hotel at midnight last night. And it's nice ... I've only stayed in one nicer hotel (when I was stranded in Amsterdam) in my life.

It's pretty hard to be away from camp right now. There are [supposedly] people doing my jobs, so it's not like they need me, but I feel like I'm missing a huge portion of the summer (even though it's only 4 days). 10 of my students are at camp this week (in Rez, Paintball, Monster Garage, and Rock Climbing), and it's gonna be weird to join them only for their last two days. But it'll work out ... I'm definitely getting some much-needed rest, and this conference is going to give my next couple years of teaching much more direction.

Ok, I'm gonna get going. Perhaps I'll post more tomorrow or something. It's not like there are important things (like kids) that I'll have to sacrifice or anything. :)

My dad and mom visited me at camp yesterday. It was fun.

I took a personal day on Tuesday to be out at camp with the counselors. My substitute teacher was switched at the last minute, so I thought up a simpler lesson plan to give to the substitute substitute. I just had the 5th graders write short little notes to their teachers. I didn't, however, anticipate being blessed by my own assignment! Here is a selection of some of the notes I received:

Thank you for teaching me computer. I am happy that my WPM have gone up.

-- Joe

The best part of the year is when I am with people that take care of me. you have been one of those people.

-- Elena

I'm glad I got to be in your class and I hope I see you lots next year and we will have just as much fun. I will always remember the laughs we had. You are so funny.

-- Abigail

Dear Mr. Webel,

I really liked when we played Bible Jeopardy and the other fun games. I hope you have a great year and summer.

-- Nicole

DEAR MR. WEBBLE
THANK YOU

-- TOMMY

You are the best teaher. Thank you for making 5th grade a blast.

In Christ,
Meredith

I learned so much in your class. Thanks for being a fun filled teacher. You were the best teacher ever.

Thanks
Ellyn

IM SO GLAD ABOUT THIS YEAR! And I'm going to the camp you work @. IT'S GONNA BE SO MUCH FUN LIKE IT WAS THIS YEAR!!!! I AM going to miss you and every other teacher. I hope U have a good summer working @ the camp and the other stuff you do ver the summer.

SO much fun this year,
Ali

Thank you for such a wonderful year. You've taught me so much about myself, about God, and about computers. I loved your class it has inspired me in more ways than you will ever know.

thanks again,
Meredith

Dear Mr. Webel

Thank you for being my Digital media teacher and showing me the different forms of media and helping me get better at typing.

I never knew that there were so many options on the computer! The projects that we did were interesting.

-- Mark

I love being your student. I know I've been a little trouble in class, but I am going to straiten up these last 2 and a half days of school. At least I learned a lot!

Love,
Abbie

I think you are a good teacher because you think positivbe and you help us work things out when something goes wrong. I really enjoyed having you as a teacher. You helped me learn a lot. You teach my very favorite subject. I think you do great at teaching it. Thanks.

-- Taryn

I LOVE dig media. I Think you are so funny. I can't wait till next year.

Love,
Kailey

Word. I'm so glad I get these kids in class next year. And the year after that. Oh, and the year after that. :)

Hey there ... I know it's been a while since I've posted. You'll probably have to get used to it. Summer, you see, is a time to escape from technology, so I don't see myself taking extra time to post. Hey, you should go out and get some fresh air anyways.

While I'm here, though, I might as well tell those of you who know me what's going on with my life. This is the second-to-last day of school, so I'm running around trying to get my classroom cleaned, all the paperwork completed, and my "house in order". The eighth graders are on a class trip, so I have a lot more free time than expected today to do this stuff (praise the Lord!). Tomorrow is a half-day, then I'm back for a few meetings on Monday (then it's home-free!).

I've been living out at camp since Wedneday ... the staff arrived then and started Crew Training. They really are a great group of college-aged kids ... I'm impressed most of all by their teachability. They have an insatiable desire to learn and grow, and that attitude is really going to trickle down into the kids. I'm excited to see them in active ministry, to see their hearts blossom as they love the campers.

Here are some other miscellaneous details ... Sprint replaced my old phone for free; I upgraded plans to now have free nights after 8pm (instead of 9pm); My apartment is now clean and ready for the summer; Louie is getting an oil change today; I'm living in a trailer all summer with Matt Wicker; I shaved my head the other night; about 25 kids are signed up for cross country next year; I've been learning a lot about the fruit of the Spirit (and teaching my 6th & 7th graders about it in turn); I finally got to quell my desire for paintball on Tuesday when we played as a staff; the 8th Grade DVD is done and out of my hands; I'm trying to find a way to get Bibles in the hands of all the campers this summer (wanna donate?); I put in a petition to get warmups for the track and cross country teams; we have a record number of registrations for camp (610 already, last year the summer-long total was 605).

Alright, time to go get cracking on the paperwork once again. Peace out, homeslice. Word.