Shared Thoughts on In-Person Conferences
Shared Thoughts on In-Person Conferences
After recently attending and presenting at the FLAM (Foreign Language Association of Missouri) St. Louis Regional Conference, I had a chance to reflect on the experience.
It was a great experience, not only motivating and inspiring. It was wonderful to see familiar faces and also get to know new educators. It was also rewarding to see my colleagues from right here in the St. Louis area presenting! They were all great presentations, and I took away so much to implement in my own classes. Overall, it was a fantastic experience – and a much needed one! The energy and comradery really helped invigorate me!
The FLAM conference also got me thinking about the upcoming 2024 ACTFL conference that I will be attending. But more specifically, I started thinking about in-person conferences and I found myself reflecting on why in-person conferences still matter in a digital world. I mean, in the age of virtual meetings and online networking, why hold in-person conferences at all? It is easy to connect from anywhere via digital platforms. Do we even need in-person conferences anymore?
- Let me also say here that I understand there are benefits to online conferences, but face-to-face events bring unique benefits that are difficult to replicate online.
As I reflected on this, I bounced my thoughts about this topic with my friend and colleague Keith Toda. We shared our thoughts and we decided to write about them. Below you will find our unique (and different) perspectives why we believe that in-person conferences remain incredibly important in today’s digital world.
Eric Richards’ Thoughts
Authentic Connections
In-person conferences offer an environment where participants can genuinely connect. The spontaneous conversations that happen in hallways, during lunch foster, and before or after the conference create a sense of comradery and connection that is difficult to achieve over a screen. These moments can lead to lifelong professional connections, mentorships, unexpected insights, and collaborations that often feel more meaningful and lasting.
Focus and Engagement
Attending a conference in person brings a level of focus and engagement that can be hard to maintain in a virtual setting. In-person participants are less likely to be distracted by home or work tasks. They’re more likely to immerse themselves in presentations, workshops, and discussions, gaining a deeper understanding of topics and finding more value in the event.
Atmosphere
Attending a conference in person is energizing. The chance to step away from daily routines – and surroundings – and join a community of like-minded individuals can spark new ideas and inspiration. In-person events offer an atmosphere with a tangible energy that can help participants to think creatively, set new goals, walk away with a sense of accomplishments, and bring a renewed energy back to their classrooms.
Hands-On Learning & Immersive Experiences
Finally, in-person conferences allow for hands-on workshops and immersive experiences that online events can’t always match. Whether it’s attending live demonstrations, or participating in interactive sessions, these experiences can enhance learning and make it easier to apply new knowledge. (Plus, I enjoy physically thumbing through a book or reader at the vendor tables!)
In any case, I believe that virtual events have their place. However, I still believe that in-person conferences are still the best way to connect, grow, and get inspired – and re-energized!
(And for the record, I never want to see in-person conferences go away!)
Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Keith Toda’s Thoughts
This weekend in Philadelphia is the ACTFL Convention, the national conference for World Language teachers, and I will be attending. It has been YEARS since I last attended one (it was in 2017 in Nashville). I had been on the fence about attending this year’s convention, because one of the downsides for me is the sheer size of it – THOUSANDS attend the ACTFL Convention, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed by that. However, this past summer’s CI Summit’s headquarter hotel was in the downtown Philadelphia area right across from City Hall and not too far from the convention center where ACTFL will be located. Since I was already kind of familiar with that area after this summer, that was a major factor in my decision to attend.
However, what is my main reason for attending ACTFL this year after not having attended since 2017? Quite honestly: I need my CI/ADI cup filled. My cup is low, and believe me, there are only but a few drops in it. In the world of education, the months of late September, October, and November are HARD and can suck the joy out of teaching (I just recently learned that this time period is known as DEVOLSON – the Dark, Evil Vortex of Late September, October, and November – and let me tell you, this is REAL! It finally has a name!). This is the time of the year where I hate being a department head, cannot stand students, and everything related to work feels like such a chore and a burden. I do not feel like I have/am exhibiting any joy in my lessons, and it is so toilsome to teach. In short, I am weary.
I need to be around my CI/ADI people: people who get me; people over whom I still fanboy because they are seasoned, experienced teachers; people who by their sheer example and friendship both motivate and encourage me to be a better CI/ADI practitioner; people whose presentations I attend and walk away feeling refreshed and reinvigorated. And going to an in-person conference like ACTFL where I will see many of these people is my incentive.
Although many conferences are heading towards being digital in nature (and I completely understand the reasons why), there are some aspects which can only be achieved by attending an in-person conference:
Personal – There is something about sharing a common learning experience together with other people in the same room and being able to interact with the presenter and others who are there. Blogs and digital environments can only go so far in experiencing this.
Reflection – On a recent blog post, Eric Richards says it best:
I also find that many times when I attend a conference, something “unexpected” sticks. It is usually something that I heard, saw or experienced that I was not necessarily expecting or anticipating. Many times, this “unexpected” really sticks with me, and I find myself deeply thinking about it for a long period of time.
Distraction-free – In-person presentations force me to be present in the moment and allow me to take it all in, while during a digital talk, I will multitask (send emails, watch videos, complete a Wordle, check sports scores).
Connections and Community – Many of the CI/ADI people whom I am hoping to see at ACTFL are those whom I met first previously at in-person conferences. As I said, I still fanboy over them and cannot believe that they know my name! Over the years, we have “talked shop,” discussed our lives over coffee or dinner, and have learned from each other during these times. This is not to say that this cannot happen digitally – I think that it would just be different though.
At ACTFL, I am looking forward to just being Keith Toda, attendee, and not Keith Toda, presenter or Keith Toda, trainer/coach. I am looking forward to being able to attend sessions being “present and all there” in the moment and not half-heartedly thinking about my own upcoming presentation during a session. I am looking forward to learning from others either from their sessions or over a meal as we discuss and process what we learned that day.
So if you see me at ACTFL, please say hi, and feel free to enjoy a chat over coffee! I hope that your cup will be refilled there too!
Again, we would love for you to join the conversation! Share your thoughts in the comment box below!
