SXSWEdu Thoughts, Part II

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Wednesday was the day I went to 4 sessions, since I only really had time to go to one on Tuesday.  Sure, the speakers and panelists were incredible people with great ideas about education, but that wasn’t actually what I found most impressive.

What amazed me the most about these people is how altruistic they were.  They really seemed to remember their roots—where they had started—and were eager to help individuals and companies just starting out. 

After panels, I found myself talking to panelists, who listened intently to what I told them about what I work on, about Practomime. They answered my questions to the best of their ability, and we always traded cards.  By the end, I was sure I could play some kind of “Card Pokémon,” or maybe even CARDTamen, with the number of cards I collected! 

Everyone I met was fantastic about getting me in touch with “the right people,” whether they were the right people or they had to do some extra work to get me in touch with those who could help me. 

From the conversations, the panels, the people who tracked me down to ask me questions, and the people who were so receptive when I tracked them down to do the same, I learned 3 things:

1) In order to make the future of education go in the right direction, we must all bring a piece to the puzzle.  Sure, maybe this seems obvious, but in today’s world, full of grades, pitting one person, company, school, whatever against another, sometimes, I find, we are blinded by that competitive mindset, taught to us early on.  No one individual or even group is going to solve everyone’s education issues—we innovators need to band together and get going as a team. 

2) We aren’t crazy.  Friends, we are doing something right.  Now, we need to “prove” it.  The hunt for those who believe in what we are doing isn’t as hard as we think it is.  We just need to dive into the sea head first and find the right islands, or at least other fish seeking the same goal. 

3) Don’t wait.  Got a cool idea?  Don’t be afraid of it and don’t wait for a “sunny day” to get to work on it.  Just do it.  Even if you lack funding, and are literally doing this as a volunteer, as my 2 co-panelists and I have been, it is worth it. 

I know I’ve said it before, but I will say it again: Altruism gains respect.  Time to find some kindred spirits and start swimming together.