AERA 2012: Lessons Learned

Against the backdrop of the spectacular Vancouver Harbour, the AERA 2012 proceedings unfolded.

Photo courtesy of Angi Shelton

 My schedule was very full and so, regrettably, I had limited opportunity to take in the magnificent sights, sounds and tastes of Vancouver. However, I can attest that what I saw this time around - I was in Vancouver in 2007 -- was an improved Vancouver; cleaner, with a subway. My reflections that follow on AERA 2012 are attempts to think of how future conferences can be improved and what I take away from it.

1. Missed opportunities on Twitter. I am in two minds about siting AERA beyond American territory. I understand the need for AERA to be culturally responsive and this might stir up controversy, but I speak as a poor American doctoral student. With a majority of graduate students not being able to use their mobile phones, the dissemination of social media bytes on the conference was limited. WiFi at the conference was wonky. I used the free Textplus app to send texts to my friends but the texts weren't getting out or I wasn't always receiving them. Bummer! I missed appointments. With approximately 13,000 conference attendees, I think AERA missed the opportunity for trending on Twitter. The next conference organizing committee definitely needs to leverage the power of social media. Come on, AERA, let's get #aera2013 to trend on Twitter!

2.  Stellar programs not packing them in. I know there are debates for and against mass trainings/conferences. There are so many good sessions to attend and so many that are scheduled at conflicting times. I had at one particular time slot 3 sessions that I had to go to at the same time as a Division student representative. No, I'm no bigwig; just the opposite. Is it a sustainability issue? Enterprise issue? There are 12 divisions and more than 160 SIGS. It was impossible to benefit from all that brain power with so much going on at the same time. A shame to waste all that good work!

3. Having said that, I'm very grateful to share a few highlights of my trip.

#3.1. Division C's Fireside Chat with Dr. Richard E. Clark.

Introducing Dr. Clark. Photo courtesy of Angi Shelton.

Session Title: Turning research into results: Handling the complexity of learning.

Dr. Clark is a genius; he can.not.be.duplicated. He challenged us to rethink how to translate research into practice, from stage 1 to stage 4; descriptive > predictive > generic technology > situated technology. Check out his slides here.

It was an honor for me to have the opportunity to organize this Fireside Chat session. Previous speakers included notable scholars like Albert Bandura, Dale Schunk, Richard Mayer, Paul Cobb and others. To have the privilege to interact with Dr. Clark who once taught at Syracuse University and learn from him was priceless! 

Captive audience. Photo courtesy of Angi Shelton.

Yin Wah Kreher, Richard E. Clark & Angi Shelton

He is an elegant speaker and an excellent teacher. He shared pertinent content and deep perception of the topics he presented to us. Several attendees left saying he made them "think" even though they were not from the same field as him. He addressed some of our concerns in advance, for instance, gently telling us to expand our territory; to work with people who are different from us by politely inquiring about the differences and learning from them.

#3.2. Division C Graduate Student Seminar.

With my partner-in-crime, Dr. Angela Shelton

 I was fortunate to be selected for this two-day preconference that provided advanced doctoral students with an opportunity to receive mentoring and advice from current faculty members and to begin developing professional relationships with current and future leaders within the field. Panel speakers touched on developing a research program, job search, negotiating a contract, funding, and publishing.

This is definitely well worth coming in earlier for the conference. I met doctoral students who were passionate about their research and oh-so-energetic! In all, I was in Vancouver for slightly more than a week. Exhausted but rejuvenated.

With my mentor, Dr. Erica Halverson

With some of my GSS cohort members and Dr. Gale Sinatra (third from right).

#3.3 The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. 

The UBC campus was gorgeous. Thanks to the Graduate Student Council for organizing this guided tour. Visual stories below:

MOA - First Nation Art

Listening to Reed, our tour guide

Mixed media art by annie ross, Asst. Professor, Simon Fraser University. 

Professor Ross used cedar bark, old wool yarn, and discarded objects and materials to create this artefact. She creates works to present the "continuing impact of dispossession, resource extraction and pollution on peoples and homelands, with the artwork as a hope towards remediation". A powerful message! Kudos!

More of the interior.

As we walked along and had lunch, I had the opportunity to meet some graduate students from other universities. On the bus back, we also had the chance to joke and chat a bit. The best part of going to a conference for me is to meet people; new and old, and to experience the camaraderie. To connect with other graduate students who get what I am going through as a doctoral student. The journey becomes less heartbreaking.

Bill Reid's Raven and the First Men at the Rotunda.

Despite minor hiccups, I declare the conference a success. I learned a lot from getting to talk to so many people. Mind.culture.design? All criteria met. Thank you AERA! 

What no course can teach me?

Someone asked me what it is I learned at AERA that no formal course can teach me? It was a good question -- I began to think a bit more about it beyond the big idea that I had learned a lot, things I could never get from a structured, formal learning setting for PhD students.

1. I got to watch how AERA operates from the inside -- from one view -- Division C.There is this humongous machinery that churns out different sorts of activities and events to cater to a large range of educational interests, and I am a teeny bit of this well-oiled machinery. I help to schedule, plan, coordinate and get a host of activities running.

2. I got more practice in interacting and mingling with established faculty and research scholars, in an intensive period of time. No kidding, THIS sort of interaction needs practice! More than 90% of the time these days, I'm a grubby dressed-down graduate student. At this meeting, I assume the role that I might and hope to become one day, a researcher and/or maybe a faculty member (who knows). Being in Division C, I meet a big number of motivation scholars at the meetings. And I dress up somewhat in business casuals -- no grubby jeans with wild hair.

3. I watch these researcher-models and listen to them talk -- about their vision and plans for the Division. Albeit for only a few days, I watch them come together to serve and it was fascinating. As I'm in Div C, I had the chance to meet up and talk with a number of motivation research scholars I had only read about -- Dr. Lisa-Linnenbrink Garcia, who is of course our GSC faculty adviser; Dr. Karen Murphy the chair-elect of Div C; Dr. Christopher Wolters; Dr. Richard Mayer, and Dr. Dale Schunk (who was sitting behind me, and the Fireside Chat speaker last year).

4. I believe I have become more confident in relating to new people and strangers in a large conference. This year was different from last year - I was the incoming junior rep then, and things were confusing. This year, after all the planning, interaction and apprenticeship with the student committee, I knew a bit more about what to expect. Going to AERA is definitely different from going to AECT. I go to AERA not just for a presentation, I go there to serve/work and really meet people. Going to AECT was a more unplanned, unscheduled experience and I don't really meet new people because I tend to hang out with my group. At AERA, I have friends from other universities.

So these are some of my thoughts. I'll jot down more as I recall them.

AERA 2011 Learning Experience

AERA NOLA Apr 7-12. It is taking me a while to resettle into Syracuse. I feel out of touch with my dissertation writing after all my professional duties at AERA. But I wouldn't have given it up for anything. This is an experience no formal course can ever teach me. I love meeting and working with people from other universities who are now my friends. When I go to AERA, I don't feel alone or lonely; I belong to a community. Being a GSC rep will definitely count as a positive highlight of my doctoral student life!

GSC Div C reps and co-chairs at AERA with Dr. Paul Cobb

For the record, no one pushed me to serve; no one advised me to do it to add an extra pretty line to my CV, :). I just did it because I wanted to have the learning experience. For some time, when the calls to serve came, I ignored them because I didn't want to get involved in purely "busy" work. Having been in leadership positions before (yes, I'm old!), I didn't want to do something just for a name, award or title. When I committed myself to serving eventually, I thought about the people who had let me into their lives generously to let me learn from them. With that attitude, I applied to serve and remember asking my senior chair (who interviewed me) how much time it might incur. Even though I'm really busy at the Annual Meeting, I absolutely have no regrets about serving in the AERA GSC.

To get invited to attend the executive business lunch and watch the Div C exec committee operate was an eye-opener. It was an honor. I look forward to the rest of my term as the senior rep and will treasure the time left till Vancouver when I hand over duties to my junior rep. :)

At Div C Exec Biz Lunch with the Div C Student Committee

Looking back, I count myself blessed to have such great learning experiences in NOLA and in Milwaukee in recent months!