You’ve just learned about a wonderful conference. You feel that it offers opportunity for professional - and personal - growth. How do you convince your supervisor of the value of this opportunity?

1. by Diane Cordell
“TVintage Luggage Parmiters Antiques Southsea Reduxext” http://www.flickr.com/photos/geishaboy500/3217701386/
You’ve just learned about a wonderful conference. You feel that it offers opportunity for
professional - and personal - growth.

2. Because
sometimes...
“virtual” just
isn’t enough.
“dream on” http://www.flickr.com/photos/gi/2953550/
You’ve connected with people online, you participate in online conferences, webinars,
Elluminate discussions...but you realize that you’re missing out on a lot of valuable face-to-
face interaction.

3. You may encounter some “resistance”
to the idea.
“what?!?!” http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbecause/291874981/
Your supervisor isn’t convinced of the value of such a request. Money for fees, travel, a
substitute, and other expenses can add up.

4. Don’t just sit back and hope for the best!
“Help for some decisions” http://www.flickr.com/photos/no-luogo/199372215/
If this really matters to you, you need to present a reasoned and compelling rationale.

5. Use some persuasion points:
“A prickly personality” http://www.flickr.com/photos/mharrsch/49790191/
Here are some points that you might want to make in stating your case:

6. Inspiration
“forever joy...” http://www.flickr.com/photos/santacrewsgirl/3204628014/
You will be exposed to - and inspired by - new ideas, theories, philosophies of teaching and
learning.

7. Networking
“Happy crowd” http://www.flickr.com/photos/alesk/356136498/
There will be networking opportunities that can benefit both you and your district. You will
have the chance to interact with professional colleagues, respected experts in many fields,
authors, visionaries, vendors, movers, and shakers. People will “put a face to the name” and
be more willing to interact with you online, once the conference is over.

8. Presenting
“Visual Tools for Public Speaking” http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonnygoldstein/3877740779/
You may have an opportunity to present in front of your peers and benefit from their
feedback. Preparing a presentation is a great way to clarify your ideas.

9. Exploring & Gathering
“ALA Conference 2009 Exhibition Hall” http://www.flickr.com/photos/vees/3727151140/in/photostream/
There will be vendors eager to showcase their newest products and services. You’re sure to
come home with Good Stuff (anything from pencils to software, posters to books) for your
district. And those business cards you collect may come in handy, when you need
information or technical assistance later on.

10. And when you return home...
And when you return...
“The Flight Home” http://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa/2263853533/
Remember: the conference shouldn’t end at the Closing Session. Stand-alone PD, in any
form, usually doesn’t lead to meaningful change in understanding or practices.

11. Sharing
“Sharing” http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanr/142455033/
When you return, utilizing what you’ve learned is paramount. Your supervisor will expect
evidence to justify your conference attendance.

12. ...with students
“Skyping in Mr. Silversides’ Classroom” http://www.flickr.com/photos/57634636@N00/2869677077/
“AASL 2009 Gaming with Chris Harris” http://www.flickr.com/photos/82712595@N00/4077595141/in/set-72157622629562751/
“Civil War Sallie” http://www.flickr.com/photos/71634097@N00/3696521643/
“Geocaching” http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-w-locke/2638586231/
“The Alice Project” http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcordell/4320885492/
Use ideas generated by the conference with learners in your school (Skyping; Civil War Sallie;
Geocaching; Gaming; The Alice Project).

13. ...with staff, administrators, the BOE,
parents and community members.
“Faculty Meeting” http://www.flickr.com/photos/editor/2652425435/
Offer to do inservice trainings, workshops, and presentations in your district. Take every
opportunity, formal and informal, to make what you’ve learned available to others.

14. Take time to
reflect
on your
experiences.
“The self image” http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmsmidt/3657956504/
Was the experience social, inspirational, transformational?
Document your professional growth and how what you’ve learned at the conference has
affected others, particularly students.

15. Continue the conversations.
“Frosty Morning Web” http://www.flickr.com/photos/foxypar4/2124673642/
Don’t let your experience end on the last day of the conference! Maintain contacts, continue
conversations. (Twitter, Facebook, Plurk, Delicious, RSS, Flickr, Skype, Diigo, Wikispaces,
Ning).

16. Should you attend
on your own nickel?
“Business and Pleasure” http://www.flickr.com/photos/kisho_h/4278896830/
If you decide that the experience would be a valuable one, but your school district is unable
to fund conference attendance, consider going on your own. Think of it as a working
vacation, with self-directed PD.

17. Weigh the
possibilities.
“Large set of balance scales” http://www.flickr.com/photos/30084068@N08/3813864085/
Decide: Is there significant value in real life attendance, or will virtual attendance suffice?
How much does “being there” matter to me, personally and professionally? Which conference
best fits my needs, desires, schedule, budget?

18. Is there a conference in YOUR future?
“Pandora” http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick_q/235242470/

19. Image Credits
Slide 1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geishaboy500/3217701386/
Slide 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gi/2953550/
Slide 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbecause/291874981/
Slide 4: http://www.flickr.com/photos/no-luogo/199372215/
Slide 5: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mharrsch/49790191/
Slide 6: http://www.flickr.com/photos/santacrewsgirl/3204628014/
Slide 7: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alesk/356136498/
Slide 8: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonnygoldstein/3877740779/
Slide 9: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vees/3727151140/in/photostream/
Slide10: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa/2263853533/
Slide11: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanr/142455033/
Slide12: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57634636@N00/2869677077/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/82712595@N00/4077595141/in/set-72157622629562751/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71634097@N00/3696521643/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-w-locke/2638586231/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcordell/4320885492/
Slide13: http://www.flickr.com/photos/editor/2652425435/
Slide14: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmsmidt/3657956504/
Slide15: http://www.flickr.com/photos/foxypar4/2124673642/
Slide16: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kisho_h/4278896830/
Slide17: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30084068@N08/3813864085/
Slide18: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick_q/235242470/

20. On Twitter, Plurk, Flickr: dmcordell
Blogging at Journeys: http://dmcordell.blogspot.com