I Guess I'm Still a Punk......

This is my first post from NECC.

I've been in a few interesting sessions so far but I've just returned from a trip through the exhibit floor and I've got to say something that will completely ensure that I never get any kind of sponsorship from any ed tech company: I don't get it. i simply don't understand how a lot of these companies stay in business. Who buy's their stuff?

I admit that I usually love exhibit floors at conferences. I love the NCTE conference. I've had to buy a whole new suitcase to get all of my books home from different cities. But I took one (admittedly quick) tour around the floor today and left with not a single thing in my hands.

I get it. I understand that Dell, HP, Toshiba, Smart, etc., etc. are trying their very best to convince us all that they have latest and greatest things which we just need to buy. I also understand that there are many smaller companies where people are trying to make a living and break into what must be a massive, global, multi billion dollar market.

But it leaves me wondering why the market even exists.

Why do people pour their thousands of dollars from school budgets into these tools when there are a myriad of options that are online or open source, and available for zero dollars? What do their products do differently? How do they change the learning that is possible? I always take pride in the fact that I can say that for my entire classroom technology budget, I spend about $25. While my school certainly has had to buy me tools such as laptops, cameras, etc., they pay nothing for our blogs, our wikis, our hosting services for video and audio. We use Skype, Google docs, and RSS which cost us nothing. I pay for a pro flickr account to give us more upload space, but besides this, we don't pay for any services. As far as I'm concerned, a solid internet connection and some cameras and recorders leave you able to access any of the latest global content and produce any type of product that you could want.

Are all of these companies pumping out skill and drill software? Are people still buying that stuff? Even if you want to use something like that in your classroom, there's enough of it available online for free that you should not have to part with a dollar. I saw several companies today selling Google Earth curricula for example. Google has designed a beautiful resource that really has the ability to change our knowledge of lives and geography which they give away, and people build a bunch of photocopied worksheets for it, turning it back into something that it just should not be.

So I'm with the edupunks. The anti - corporate, DIY people who would rather build something themselves, that fits their space rather then trying to shoehorn a photocopiable program into their classrooms.

Tags: NECC08, edupunk, exhibit floor

Comments

[Melanie Holtsman]

I can't believe you're saying this because I spent 20 minutes down there myself today and thought the same thing! I don't really get the people that are spending a lot of time down there either! Edupunks unite!

[Ric Murry]

Good for you.

I wrote a comic about this very issue a few weeks ago.

Current decision-makers (who do not take time to learn and therefore base their decisions on persuasive salespeople) have the mentality that if it is free it will be inferior. After all, they say, "You get what you pay for."

And so education communities waste money and cry they are broke.

http://professor-marvel.com/blog/2008/04/sticklers_2286.html

Always appreciate your work.

[Jen]

I am so glad to see this post! When people who've not been ask me to describe NECC, I usually tell them it's a bunch of new teachers filling bags with junk to bring home, sessions that are either empty or overcrowded, and people missing each other when they try to meet up. It is so great to hear you talk about your school budget. It's what makes sense!

[Ann Oro]

When I had no other resources and I was new to teaching six years ago, it made sense to buy how to books like the Google Earth product you mentioned. There are so many resources online with people telling you what they did, how it worked in the classroom, and what they would change. I've gone to trade shows as a "computer professional" and there is not a single give away that I can point to that is worth the time on the vendor floor. You're going to come away with more from the connections with people than the vendors. This is something I need to remember when I make it to a NECC conference someday.
Ann

[Richard Schwier]

Thanks for your clear voice on this. I've resolved to do my best to meet your $25 budget with my own stuff, and I think a big part of that equation is offering everything I've got for free too. If I'm not willing to do it, I can't in good conscience expect others to let me graze on their hard work.

And I've had similar experiences at big conferences lately...a few exclamation points, but most of them being the chance to meet people in my network. Ironically, I guess, some of the best conferences I've been to in the last few years are the small ones -- and they have only modest displays at the most.

[Sue T]

Clarence I spent ten minutes in there today because my brain was hurting from two intense workshops and after all the hype of what a great display it would be I left thinking 'How do these companies stay in business? This is just one huge pile of marketing of highly disposable products that will be superceded next week. Noe one stand had a display that made me want to stop and examine their wares, it was a very depressing experience as evidenced by some disinterested and tired presenters. Why isn't there a good bookshop? Why isn't there a repository of good project materials from educators and contacts for those not yet able to access or grasp wikis and nings? Do the folks who run this only see this as a hardware and skill by rote software sellout?

[Janice Stearns]

Right on, Clarence! You say it so well! There is no longer a need for the type of software that vendors are trying to sell at EdTech conferences. I was glad to see that Apple didn't participate this year in the exhibit hall. I think they get it. Maybe others will follow.

Ric Murray above made a very important point: Decision makers in districts purchase software they think is going to solve a problem, spend great amounts of time and money for pd around the software, then drop support for it after a short time because it doesn't do what they wanted it to do. It discourages teachers from using technology for more collaborative projects and sends the wrong message to teachers that technology is the same as it always was - a babysitter that's not that useful. We all know it's so much more...

[Sheryl A. McCoy]

Yes, I agree. This was a great post. I love DIY technology, and I have worked diligently to document and explain how teachers can use it effectively in their classes or with students.

I was just thinking about your post when I went to my blog to capture my url and saw that WeatherPixie is down. This is a prime example of the downside of DIY technology. Teachers must prepare for the positive, as well as negative aspects of DIY technology in their classes.

WeatherPixie has been a pivotal widget for teachers and students. The developer of WeatherPixie is not the problem, but the company who owns the server that supports her website had a fire. This was a problem that she couldn't help, but it highlights a problem that tech directors and administrators can cite to keep teachers from using these free online tools. Teachers must be prepared.

Another concern associated with opensource products and online tools is that they are ephemeral. They may be here today and gone tomorrow, for any number of legitimate reasons. That makes it difficult for teachers to really go to the wall arguing for the use of this technology. They must be prepared.

I am saying use this developing technology, but a teacher must be VERY agile and have backup plans in case tools aren't available. Also, teachers should decide how they will console students if their projects are lost. They must be prepared.

It is great to be a DIY tech person, but you have to be prepared;D

[Rob Wall]

My feelings were pretty much the same when I was at NECC in 2001. That was before the growth of the edu-blogger community, so I didn't even have any connections to others through that means. At least now, you have the chance to meet up with other teachers and educators who are of a similar point of view about learning and technology.

The free options available to teachers are increasing in number daily, and we're able to share them and collaborate with each other in so many ways. These DIY tools are affording us amazing opportunities to DIT - do it together!

[S. Lister]

This quote did it for me…

“As far as I'm concerned, a solid internet connection and some cameras and recorders leave you able to access any of the latest global content and produce any type of product that you could want.”

If only I could get this message across within the developing countries that I deal with. But my voice is tiny compared to the Electronic Whiteboard, hardware, and software giants, with their glitzy gifts and promises, that have come before me in these impoverished lands. The focus is on the 'stuff' and not on the learning context necessary to make it all work for the students.

Connected computers in the classroom and a culture of social learning would go a long way to positively affecting learning at a fraction of the cost in teacher training, hardware/software purchases and maintenance.

We need more messages like yours, Clarence, coming from the trenches to help drown out the noise and rhetoric of high cost solutions for teachers just wanting to make learning central in their classrooms.

[Clarence Fisher]

Wow, this post seems to have struck a real chord with people. Thanks everyone for adding to this conversation. My feelings about this were only reinforced last night as I sat in the beautiful, quiet lounge of my hotel last night with my lovely wife and watched several teachers wallowing through the bags of free stuff they had acquired throughout the day on the conference floor. It was an amazing sight.

But really and truly, I'm interested to hear from anyone who might be using a pay tool and asking them two serious questions:

1.) Is there an open source or free equivalent to this product? Why are you not using it?

and

2.) How has paying for this product changed the learning (not the entertainment options) that is happening in your classroom?

[Dave Straker]

The only thing I find useful at the trade shows, are the pens they give away, sticky notes, etc. Things that I can give my my wife to use in her school to stretch her budget. Other than that not much else.

[Jenny]

I have to agree with just about every comment here.

The only thing I can add is some reasons I've heard from frustrated IT folks about why our huge school district has bought expensive software rather than use freeware options. The main reason they cite is that the district feels they need the technical support offered by the companies.

As to the drill and kill types of software, I think districts use that as PR. They can point to the use when talking with parents to illustrate what they are doing.

Neither of which is really a good reason, but that's not too surprising.

[Eric Grant]

I think Melanie pretty much nailed it with that first comment. But I'd add that not only do the decision-makers operate under that assumption, but many teachers and curric designers are not ready / willing / able to hunt for the free resources. Products offered by these vendors promise turn-key solutions (whether they deliver is a different issue).

[Lisa Thumann]

I chuckled to myself as I read your post and the many replies as this was the topic at breakfast earlier today. But from the other side. Some of the people I was dining with wanted to know why Apple didn't have a table and why Google didn't have more of a presence on the floor.

Then when I got to the Convention Center and checked in with the vendor I'm doing some sessions for (so that they would fund my trip) I mentioned to the other educators standing around that I was going up to the Blogger's Cafe and they said "The what?".

I guess there's something for everyone here. As usual I'm just short on time.

[Neil Hokanson]

I am glad to read your post. I was beginning to think I was the only one who held the same thoughts!

[Jody Hayes]

Can I add to your list of cool freeware .... skitch is it for me. I don't have a budget ... so blogging through classblogmeister, photos on flickr etc but skitch fills a gap for screen captures to embed.

[Dan Serrato]

I had the same feelings on Sunday morning as I walked the corridor leading to the Bloggers' cafe and peered through the windows down on the exhibition floor. I stood there just dumbstruck by the amount of money that must have been spent by some of these companies to set up for NECC. I just had this sick feeling looking at the big business of education.

[Dave Straker]

Open Source is fantastic, but trying to find good quality software which will replace some of the commercial software can be hard. I have been searching for software to run in a trial school. I have tried to make sure the software is current and being worked and developed. I also look for software with manuals and material that will help teachers get going.

Some of software that sites recommend are no longer being developed, which makes it really hard to recommend, knowing that there is no community there to help you

[Kent Manning]

I agree. My first and only NECC (so far) was San Diego 2006 and the most amazing thing on the Exhibit Floor [for me] was the Apple booth. It was huge. Two years ago the Apple booth was relevant as the Ed.Tech. world (and Apple) were beginning efforts in learning about Digital Storytelling, Blogging and Podcasting. Folks were gathering to learn tools/methods back then from A.D.E.s and it was all good. I can see why the Apple folks were not there this year. Richard's comment about sessions to learn web 2.0 stuff is a good one. Ning, Twitter, Wikis, and the like are still being used among the early adopters but sessions for beginner and intermediate folks would have been great.

Another thing I remember from the exhibit floor in San Diego was getting "scanned". I remember it well. As I approached the massive Canon booth, a rep. from the booth grabbed my name tag and scanned it with a bar code reader. When I innocently asked what had just happened the reply was, " Oh, now you are in our database". Yikes, and they didn't even ask. Sure enough several weeks later print materials arrived in my snail mail box at my home and office from Canon.

A couple of good things about the exhibit floor in San Diego a) one could walk around with a "beverage of one's choice" - - this would never happen at ECOO in Toronto, and b) I was able to talk-up the folks at the booths for software and environments that I do use: eg., the Techsmith folks [Camtasia] gave me a nifty extra large T-shirt and the folks at Edutopia gave me two DVDs and CDs of wonderful students doing amazing projects.

Thank you for the discussion.

[Wesley Fryer]

This reminds me of a conversation I had with one of the technology support staff members at Western Oklahoma State College in Altus several months ago. He observed that theoretically he isn't needed: All the web tools instructors need to teach their courses and make them more engaging and effective are available "out there" now for free. The problem is, only a few teachers in any given context are early adopter/innovators who will be self-directed in their digital learning and go find/use these tools on their own. The larger percentage of teachers/instructors in most contexts won't do this. They don't have time, they are comfortable with their current habits and routines, they have some aversion to new technologies, etc, etc. This isn't an answer to the feelings and thoughts relating to the vendor floor, but I think it is an answer to the question "Why do we need any commercial software?"

I think mindsets and habits have a lot to do with this reality also. Schools are used to paying for productivity software suite licenses. To suggest we should NOT pay that license anymore is sort of like suggesting we are going to stop serving lunch in the cafeteria. And, there is the age-old mantra "our students have to use the same tools they will use in the business world outside of schools." The mindsets set against change are plentiful.

I also found it very interesting that Apple wasn't on the NECC trade show floor this year. I was initially very disappointed by this, but Apple folks WERE at NECC sharing presentations and workshops-- they took a different approach in how they sought to influence educators, however, and maybe it was a more effective and cost-wise approach. I don't know.

I spent very little time on the NECC trade show floor this year, but did enjoy getting a demo of the new Lego "We Do" product that is due out in January 2009, as well as getting my hands on a ClassmatePC for the first time. Both were good experiences I was glad to have.