Be present for learning

Colleagues,

I’m at ISDE/ASCD in Orlando this week. If you are there, use the conference app to connect with me! My session is the Motivation Equation at 3:00.

When I watch people at conferences, they fall into three groups:

• Dedicated: these people want to grow and are fully present (time + attention)
  
• Divided: these people want to grow, but their attention is divided (usually between the presenters and their phone)
  
• Distracted: these are the people who sit in a session on their phones or computers.
  

I don’t want to be dismissive – there are legitimate reasons why someone might be at a conference and be distracted. My advice if you are in this situation: get away from the conference so you can focus and get whatever it is done, then go back and be dedicated.

My wish for you: if you have learning opportunities this summer, appreciate them and work to be fully present. Put your phone away, leave your computer in your room. Listen, but even more importantly, interact with people. You could give somebody something they really need, or the other way around.

Cheers!

Frederick