Comments on: NECC – No Internet in Blogger’s Cafe, NECC Unplugged – WRONG ANSWER

By: Kevin Jarrett

Kevin Jarrett — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Scott,

Totally agree with the sentiments expressed and the words you’ve chosen.

What’s the old military expression … if you need a unit, send in a division … if you need a division, send in a brigade … or something like that … point being … overplan … oh, I’m sending this comment using my broadband wireless card!

I know the wireless isn’t cheap but it’s simply not something we can do without. Who said it first … technology is like oxygen … well, we’re dyin’ over here!

-kj-

By: J Clark Evans

J Clark Evans — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

I agree 100%. I am at home in Fredericksburg, VA trying to access #neccunplugged with nothing. Very frustrating. This was also an advertised part of the conference experience.

By: Rho

Rho — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

This experience tells you more about teachers trying to incorporate technology in their classrooms and the frustrations when the system crashes and lesson plans go out the window; kids are in the middle of a great project and technical problems aren’t addressed by the one tech guy who serves our entire district; filters that block the blogs and internet resources teachers want to use…I could go on and on, but I still keep trying in my classroom, no matter what. Often the powers that be give lip service to 21st century skills but they don’t get what they need to do to help the teachers and students have the tools they need.

By: diane

diane — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

I agree with Rho that this experience mimics all to closely the reality of teacher & student frustration with lack of access or filtered access.

I’d like to see some sort of standard “guarantee” posted on conference sites stating that connectedness is a top priority and a team will be in place on site to swiftly & efficiently deal with Internet issues.

By: Tom Hoffman

Tom Hoffman — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

otoh, wifi wasn’t designed to do giant conferences, so making it actually work is genuinely difficult.

By: Carrie Trudden

Carrie Trudden — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

I agree Scott! It was especially frustrating when you are attending a BYOL Lesson and not only can you not get to the online resources but neither can the presenters. This is a technology conference for goodness sakes.

By: mrsdurff

mrsdurff — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Technology should be invisible, seamless, & ubiquitous. Sorry it wasn’t.

By: Diane Moline

Diane Moline — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Amen, amen, amen. I’m a different Diane than the other reply post but share her sentiments. I blogged my own comments about the frustrations of classroom technology. I didn’t hae any problems getting online, but wasn’t at blogger’s cafe either (tho wish I had been.)