A tale of two Squeakfests

This is a guest post from Tim Falconer.

As I write this, I’m flying home from Squeakfest USA. Sitting here, staring at my laptop, I’m completely unable to find appropriate words to describe the magic and friendship of the last few weeks. So many passionate talks, so many stirring examples, so many last minute details and surprises.

As for the presentations, workshops, and hallway talks, there’s just too much to say. With dozens of sessions between the two Squeakfests, my mind’s a blur with memories of enthusiasm and insight, along with strengthened motivation to support and expand our vibrant Etoys community. Rather than summarize my recollections, I’ll instead point you to the video on the Squeakland website:

Scroll down to Squeakfest Brasil and Squeakfest USA. We managed to capture nearly all of Squeakfest USA on our live webcast feed, though we lost the first half of the presentation from South Korea. Also, the final roundtable wasn’t posted at the request of one of the participants. The sound gets better after the first morning. We will post better video in the future, particularly of the children’s workshop.
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Help Craft our NEW Mini-Deployment Guide

Community Invitation: Washington, DC – Sept 6-11, 2009
During the second week of September, the OLPC/Sugar Community will be coming together in Washington, DC to create a Mini-Deployment Guide.  Tentatively named “Class Acts,” this succinct book will provide technically curious teachers with plans and suggestions for jumpstarting 21st century learning in their schools using XO Laptops.  It’ll be an illustrated document, short and professional, focusing on success stories from smaller rollouts around the world.  This powerful idea came together from Support Gang community volunteers wanting to share our greatest classroom/support success stories, into one action-provoking document. Let us spur others to build their own success stories – with innovative solutions in turn driving more grassroots innovation!

Class Acts

Creating this Mini-Deployment Guide will be a massive and euphoric undertaking. We invite all those who want to take part in this Community Book Sprint to email holt @ laptop.org or grassroots @ lists.laptop.org, explaining how your bookwriting talents will catalyze teachers worldwide!  Business hours September 6th to 11th will be dedicated to intensive development of the guide, with evenings reserved for socializing and exploring.  Evening events will be open to non-contributors as well, please feel free to join us for some very memorable OLPC/Sugar Learning Environment Fun!

Jump in, this water is PERFECT… http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Class_Acts