We’re in the home stretch of a tremendous 2012 MACUL Conference. I’d thought I’d share some of the comments I have picked up over the last day and a half.

“There’s a lot of people here!”

Yes, there are. This year’s conference is the largest GR conference in 12 years and the energy is in the air.  Of course, high numbers also mean full sessions and I’ve heard a few grumbles here and there.  You can be sure that the MACUL Board does put considerable time and effort into making decisions regarding sessions.  It’s a difficult job for sure.

“What a great place for a party.”

If you missed the MACUL Night at the Museum last night, then you missed delicious food, a rockin’ band, and a very cool venue for mingling and having deeper conversations. The carousel was open and spinning…it’s fun to see 25 adults on a carousel.

“That session rocked!”

Above all, the MACUL Conference is about sharing ideas and experiences and from the sounds of things, this year’s presentations were top notch. Whether you went to Featured Sessions led by Leslie Fisher or Doug Johnson, or a teacher-led session from people like Brad Wilson or Jason Valade, there’s a lot of expertise here. If your brain is not exploding then you’re not doing MACUL right!

After a great keynote session this morning, I wanted to sit in on another Leslie session.  So, I went to the Web2.0 You May Not Know session and my fingers are sore from typing notes on the different tools.  She has done a great job of highlighting useful tools that educators can use, the great thing about these tools is that many of them are free.  During the session, she highlighted tools that teachers, technology consultants, and students alike can use.  What is great about many of the tools is that they are interoperable among PCs Macs, mobile devices and tablets.  For more information on the session or links to the tools, click on the following link and scrolling to “The Web 2.0 You Might Not Know About”: Leslie’s Web 2.0 Tools

So, I arrived in Grand Rapids earlier today, got registered for MACUL 2012 and was so glad that I did this early after seeing the line for check in at the hotel.  Since I work with the person that planned the Social Media Cafe, I helped set that up, then realized that there are so many things going on behind the scenes before the event begins.  I went to a TechSmith event at the B.O.B. tonight and it was a great networking time and gave me a chance to meet others that are involved with technology in education.

Right now I am going over my presentation to see if I have it all ready for tomorrow.  Are we ever really ready?  I am looking forward to tomorrow with excitement for the keynote session and my own.  Looking at the schedule, I am overwhelmed by the large number of great sessions that are planned.  I have a couple that really stood out starred and those are the ones I will try to attend.  There are so many awesome things to do here at MACUL, the sessions, exhibitors, the Social Media Cafe, and the evening events as well.  This will be a fun couple of days.

As a MACUL member, you are eligible to vote online in the MACUL Board of Directors election, so check your email for a link and instructions.

The polls are open now through April 15 at 11:59 p.m. In this year’s election, you are asked to vote for up to 5 of the 7 candidates that are running for the MACUL Board of Directors for a 2012-15 term.