I Met Connie…

I had a singular experience at CUE (CUE2006) this weekend, that those of you who have seen my Literacy & Learning (Redefining Literacy for the 21st Century) keynote will identify with. It was shortly after 9:00 AM. I had just finished my spotlight address and was gathering my computer and stuff for my next appointment. A few people had come up with questions and to share what they were doing, and a young woman was hovering at the edge, with a notepad. After a moment, she walked up, and said that she was doing short interviews for the conference, and would I mind answering some questions.

I said that I needed to get my equipment out of the way so that the next presenter could set up, and “…what are your questions?”

She replied, “What was the main point of your presentation? and What do you think is the best thing that people, who are attending CUE, should walk away with?”

I started answering the first question, but she interrupted me pointing back to the back of the room, “We would like to video your answers!”

I looked back — at a young man with a hulking video camera resting on his shoulder, and that customary tremor of terror ricocheted through my body. I don’t like cameras.

I went back with them, and started answering the questions, with my computer bag on my shoulder, and my good friend, Sara Armstrong, ready to walk with me to the exhibitor’s area where we could talk and catch up. I answered the first question by briefly describing how content is changing, as a result of Web 2.0 applications, and that our notions of literacy must also change. Then I started answering the second question, that I’d like for participants to leave not only with new ideas about using modern technologies, but also, and perhaps even more importantly, that they leave with new stories, to take back to their schools and their communities and tell, inspiring people to think differently about teaching and learning.

It was then that she asked if I knew Marco Torres, and I said yes, and then it hit me. I looked down at her name tag, back up at her face, down at her name tag again, and blurted out, “Your Consuelo Molina!” “You made the Sweatshops video!”

She blushed and said, “Yes!”

“You’re Consuelo Molina!” I looked around at the people who had gathered, and said, “This is Consuelo Molina! I’ve met Consuelo Molina!” “I don’t believe it!” I couldn’t contain myself.

“Yes!” She said, obviously becoming embarrassed.

“This is what I’m talking about. It’s a story — a compelling story. I show your video to illustrate to educators how students can now learn, process, and then take what they learn, and turn it into a compelling story. It’s what we need to retool education. ..a compelling new story.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the wits about me to suggest that someone take a picture of me with Ms Molina, so I do not have the proof. But it just goes to show how a simple classroom assignment can affect people around the world and how just looking down at a name tag, can put you in the presence of a very important person.

I’ll not forget that meeting, even if I can’t prove it.

Way more than 2¢ Worth.

8 thoughts on “I Met Connie…”

  1. You know what is cool about the new conversations we are having? Regular people are celebreties (without even knowing it sometimes) because of the things they have done. Not who their parents are or how much further they can hit a baseball after doping up like crazy, but because of their intellectual and artistic creations directly stemming from appropriate use of technological tools as part of a supportive educational environment. That is just cool! I have seen your presentations with that video a quite a few times now, but every time I still get goosebumps from the music, the fading of the words, and the powerful images.

  2. Having been most impressed with the sweatshops video it is so cool that you were able to meet Consuelo! I had a similar experience last year with a local icon. Upon meeting him I practically did the stereotypical, “Do you know who you are?” So meeting Consuelo must have been a hoot!

  3. I would have been right in line behind you to get my picture taken too, Dave! For those who haven’t seen Consuelo’s video it’s at http://www.sfett.com/ican2/sweatshops.html . And there is a good article and video interview (of course!) with my fine, Irish hermanito, Marc O’Torres explaining the world-wide impact she had. It is at http://www.edutopia.org/php/article.php?id=Art_980&key=137

  4. I found myself smiling as I read this post. Mr. Warlick, not too long ago I became a fan of your blog. I tell my co-workers that I reserve a certain amount of time each day to read my “bible”. (2 cents)

    I had commented on one of the posts some time ago, and was excited that you had taken the time to send me an e-mail! I ran over to my boss with a “look what I got”.

    You’ve become a valuable resource for me, and the information and comments that are presented here keep me coming back for more. I feel I learn more here than sitting in a valueless inservice meeting room.

    Thank you for being a pioneer in our changing world!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *