Now that’s a fucking program!

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Image credit: TheFunkyman’s Photostream “Fuck Your Money Bitch”

Man, does the Open Education Conference lineup of presentations ever look good! And while some fragile souls might be find Dave Cormier’s session off-putting, I find it absolutely refreshing. And from what I understand it is not simply about shock value (which I have no issue with, mind you), but actually framing the imperialistic approaches of some to open educational resources on the wider wide, often characterized by little or no consideration or recognition of the existing communities in these open spaces. A message and tone that I think is deeply embedded in this line-up, check out Bryan Alexander’s presentation title which deals with a topic near and dear to my heart 🙂

But beyond that, and even more exciting, is the fact that some many amazing folks within the edtech field will be converging on Vancouver this August to set what I believe will be an entirely different tone for the future direction of the open education movement. If the folks who have committed to this party can be thought of as a barometer, I would have to venture that this conference will be intelligent, irreverent, possibly raucous, certainly refreshing, and downright fun. And while I’m no clairvoyant, I also have a sneaking suspicion that the institution as definer, provider, and benefactor of open ed will play a far lesser than it has traditionally in this field, rather framing the individuals and ad hoc communities that have been working around the world to re-imagine open education as a nuanced and personal relationship, rather than a sterile and outmoded model of exchange for resources.

I can dig that! And I can also dig re-connecting with a ton of cool folks and finally meeting a bunch more like Leigh Blackall, Philipp Schmidt, Jon Mott, and Grant Potter to name just a few.  Let there be no mistake, this is a moment to redefine the open education movement, and but the talk of repository and suppositories to rest, and get on with the future. I can’t even begin to think about what it would mean to not be there, can you?

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8 Responses to Now that’s a fucking program!

  1. Tom says:

    I can think about not being there and it sucks. It sucks bad.

  2. Scott Leslie says:

    @ed and @tom, the only thing that would make it better than it’s going to be is if you could be there too. Well that and flamethrowers. But we’ll leave those up to the Reverend.

  3. Chris Lott says:

    I’m biased, I know, but the timing of this year’s Open Ed conference just feels *right*. The time is now for a discussion of what happens next… what kind of trajectory will the flight from the current plateau of open ed activities take?

  4. Cole says:

    I couldn’t agree more that we are living through one of those really interesting times to be part of something like this movement. What I love about this conference is that the session look as good as the things around the edges — that is so rare and refreshing. We all know the dirty little secret of most of these events … the after party is always so much better than the event itself. Not so with this line up … I’m sure the after party will rock, but so will the sessions! Can’t wait to get to hang out with a group of smart and engaged educators! The things coming out of this may be the start of something really big!

  5. “the institution as definer, provider, and benefactor of open ed will play a far lesser [role] than it has traditionally in this field”

    QFT…..this is the brilliance of the movement and the epitome of edupunk [in my definition]! Fostering creativity by breaking away from the conformity of group norms, turning the tables on those who control. To put it another way: “stability and predictability are enemies of the creative process”.

    Wish I could be there, but will be in the midst of an important local political campaign….

  6. You’re trying to lead me astray, Bavaman. I was planning on a reasonably moderate talk, a gentle provocation, a touch of future grounded in praxis. And now, you’ve got the engines running, the expectations ramped up.

    Naturally Tom, Ed, Peter, Chris, Scott, and Leslie have to pile on, pushing the temperature higher. Flamethrowers indeed.

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