Why I can't sleep (EduCon)

I can't sleep.

The NFL Pro Bowl has ended and here I sit knowing I should be asleep by now, but...

I cannot sleep.

I just spent 30 hours in a car with two inspirational and innovative educators (@kschmitzlms and @teach4aliving), traveled to Philadelphia (for the first time), and experienced a conversation like no other #Educon.

I'm wondering if I cannot sleep because my brain is still trying to digest the challenging information from the sessions I attended on Saturday, or if I'm still in awe from sitting at a table with Will Richardson and shaking hands and chatting with Chris Lehman?

Still not sleeping...

Maybe, it is because I am so excited for our Edgerton community, Edgerton Middle School, and the Edgerton School District as a whole?  The supportive community, empowering school board, dedicated leadership, hard working staff, and inspiring students are a mix that few others have.  I truly believe that Edgerton is on the right track to being a district of choice and facilitating a world class education.

Here are some thoughts from EduCon:

1. The Building Principal needs to be the Lead Learner.  I have tweeted Joe Mazza as he is known as the original Lead Learner and I would like to duplicate that term (I have heard from Joe and he has gotten it from George Couros)
2. During the Changemaker session by Ashoka we talked of Changemaker days where students choose what they would like to change and then create a product/plan to pursue that change.  Could this be a project for an entire school for an entire day?  Im picturing an unConference feel with a keynote and a brainstorming session on what students would like to change, creating sessions from their ideas, and then allowing the students to talk and pursue the change they want to be in the world.  With a building full of caring teachers, a device in the hand of each student, and a robust wireless network I am excited about the possibilities of such a day.
3. Sharing the experience...someway, somehow, we need to allow more of our educators the opportunity to experience an event such as EduCon.  In the immediate future EdCampMadWI will inspire, but I am believing more and more each day that our district will be a hub for these types of events and conversations.  20 minutes from Madison, 60 minutes from Milwaukee, and a short drive from Illinois, our campus and community is positioned perfectly to be a hub.
4. Twitter, many educators are aware of Twitter and many are using it to communicate with other educators, their students/families, and learn; however, it is evident that there is still an enormous amount of educators who do not understand Twitter, are overwhelmed with the sheer amount of information on it, and confused at its purpose.  Someway, somehow we need to continue to encourage the use of Twitter as a tool to learn and network.  

OK, thanks for allowing me to get some of this off of my chest...I think I'm finally ready to get some sleep.

Thanks for helping me look forward,

Phill