So, where are you coming from???

[julian]

Each year I love to start up this thread to see where everyone is coming from. Instructurecon has become such a great international event over the past few years.

4 years ago I attended my first and I was one of only three from Australia. Last year saw over a dozen.

And it is not just Australia. Now they come from all over Europe, Asia, the Middle East and even Canada (I was informed that it is NOT a northern US state or America's Top Hat last visit).

So, where are you from? Are you road tripping in from the east coast? Flying in from the west? Travelling by husky from the north or swimming in from over the seas?

This thread gives a chance to not only share your port of origin but also will allow you to connect with others from the same region. Maybe you can also connect up at Instructureconcarn and make some new connections.

I will start, for those who don't already know I am based in Sydney Australia (you know, the country where everything is trying to kill you) and have been a long time Canvas user, advocate and now staff member.

Looking forward to reconnecting with all those I have met over the years and keen to meet all those I haven't.

OK, now it is your turn. Post your origin here and tag 3 others to do the same. Let's see just how many we can get here.

Julian

[Chris_Hofer]

I'm from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA.

Tagging  @stuart_ryan ‌,  @kona ‌,  @kenneth_rogers ‌, ericwerth‌,  @rseilham ‌, and  @kmeeusen ‌.

[kenneth_rogers]

I'm coming from the great state of TEXAS. San Antonio to be more precise.

I'll be driving up this year and takin' the scenic route!

Tagging:  @tdelillo ‌  @kschneider25 ‌ and  @BethCrook ‌

[laurakgibbs]

Hey  @kenneth_rogers ‌ all this time and I didn't even know you were from Texas! I've been spending a lot of time in Austin this past year taking care of my dad. Austin is fun, and San Antonio is also such a great city. 🙂

[kenneth_rogers]

laurakgibbs‌ - Yes Ma'am! Just a couple hours down south from Austin (depending on traffic. You technically can make it shorter than that, but I-35 is a bunch of 4-letter words!). If you're ever down this way, let me know! Or if you're in Austin and need something, I'd be happy to help out. We are all family after all

[ysmalls]

 @kenneth_rogers ‌,

I'm out in Houston, we are neighbors!  I'm flying out with my team and hope to see you there.

[kenneth_rogers]

Sounds great, ysmalls‌! I'd love to connect with anyone - but especially if they're from Texas!

[kmeeusen]

I am coming from Bremerton, Washington, USA.

I guess I should add that this year will be my 7th InstCon! Yes, I did say 7th!

Last year I met with a contingent from Brazil, a nice gent from Peru, two from Germany, a whole pack of great folks from Great Britain, a Frenchman, and a virtual army of Ausies. We decided to keep one of the Aussies as a Community Coach, right  @stuart_ryan ‌! Well, technically Ryan wasn't at InstCon last year, but he will be there this year - representin'!

I think my coolest meet-up was a Brit, who taught on a Chinese campus for an Australian University - now that's global!

Tagging Stuart Ryan, Kona Jones, Kenneth Rogers, Eric Werth, Ryan Seilhamer. Deactivated user‌, stefaniesanders‌,  @Renee_Carney ‌,  @scottdennis ‌, erinhallmark‌,  @KristinL ‌, awilliams,  @Chris_Hofer ,  @Robbie_Grant  , and anybody else I might have forgotten!

[scottdennis]

Hey Kelley,

(Literally counting on my fingers...) Wasn't the first one in 2011?  That would make this your 7th, right?

[kmeeusen]

2012 = 1

2013 = 2

2014 = 3

2015 = 4

2016 = 5

2017 = 6

2018 = 7

(virtual finger counting)

Yep, you are correct!  Seems like they are correct, "we did learn everything we need to know in Kindergarten", including counting on our fingers. I must have skipped that lesson.

Kelley

[scottdennis]

Glad to know I can count!

[scottdennis]

This will be my sixth year going as an employee and eighth total.  I find it interesting to think about the corollaries in how far have you come geographically and how long ago are you coming from?

[kmeeusen]

I wonder if there is any data on that!

[scottdennis]

Yeah, data would be interesting.  I think that first year I was one of only 4-5 of us from outside Utah who came.  I bet that every year since the attendees have come from farther and farther afield.  Exciting to see someone coming from China and all the A'nZed folks coming this year.

[kmeeusen]

Even in 2012, the geographical spread of attendees was rather small. Last year was amazing with the numbers of international attendees. I learned soo much in my conversations with these folks from all over the globe.

[kmeeusen]

At least as far as 7,  @scottdennis ‌

We will need demonstrable evidence for any higher figures. Don't feel bad, you did better than I did!

Kelley

[natalie_norton1]

I am coming from Winchester, UK and looking forward to my second Instructurecon!

Tagging a few fellow Brits I think are coming!  @joel_mills ‌   @paul_towers ‌  @g_bowie ‌   @james_trueman ‌

[paul_towers]

That's Brilliant news Nat!!! I'm coming to InstructureCarn too!!! All the way from sunny Wolverhampton, UK

[kmeeusen]

I also met you last year,  @paul_towers  ,  and loved the videos you made for your school!

Hope we cross paths again in July!

For those of you who are wondering, What videos?", here is a nice sample...........

InstCon 2017, Wednesday 26th July Presentation Recap - YouTube 

Kelley

[paul_towers]

Looking forward to catching up while i'm out there. I'll be helping our at the Canvassador booth as well.

Might do some more video's but this time using twitter (less post production = and time)

[kmeeusen]

Let's just see if a young Englishman will get this reference, Paul.  I will even give you a hint............... "Woodstock".

"Coming in from London, from over the pole
Flyin' in a big airliner
Chickens flyin' everywhere around the plane
Could we ever feel much finer?"

Kelley

[paul_towers]

I get the Woodstock reference, but not the song. I'm more of the Who and Hendrix fan! ha

[kmeeusen]

Hi  @natalie_norton1 

I don't know if you remember, but we met last year! So happy you are returning for round two!

See you in July!

Kelley

[natalie_norton1]

Hi - I do remember and look forward to seeing you again  

[admin]

Dear Natalie, 

I met you last year at the unconference after the official Instructurecon had concluded. Just wanted to say how much I learned from you there, but also in following your participation in the Canvas community. Since I hadn't ever expressed my thanks before now, this seemed like a good time to stop and say how glad I am you'll be there this year, as well. 

B

Bonni Stachowiak | Director of Teaching Excellence and Digital Pedagogy | Vanguard University | www.teachinginhighered.com |  @bonni208

[bstachowiak]

Whoops. I guess I wasn't logged in for that last message. Had to clear my cookies yesterday and didn't realize I was going to post as an anonymous guest. 

B

Bonni Stachowiak | Director of Teaching Excellence and Digital Pedagogy | Vanguard University | www.teachinginhighered.com |  @bonni208

[laurakgibbs]

So excited that we will get to meet in person,  @bstachowiak ‌!

[natalie_norton1]

Thank you so much  @bstachowiak ‌ - it was great to meet you last year - I learnt so much at the unconference too! I  look forward to seeing you again this year

[Shar]

I'm coming from Washington state with torsem‌! Just teeny tiny bit north (on a map) of  @kmeeusen ‌. That counts as a tag though he's already posted in this thread.

Tagging:  @mtuten ‌ and laurakgibbs‌.

Cheers - Shar

[kmeeusen]

You can tag me any time and any way you want, ishar-uw‌!

Us Washingmachines gots to stick together!

Kelley

[laurakgibbs]

This is going to be so great, ishar-uw‌!!! Now I will finally get to give you a big hug in person in thanks for helping me find my way through the world of Twitter files and javascripts... I never would have figured that out without your help and also  @James ‌ so I will tag him here (although I see Kona is here already), plus  @mpb ‌ and  @kbv7001 ‌ who are bringing all the energy of California CCCs and CSUs to Keystone. Yay!

Plus a chance to meet  @jrboek ‌ in person: whoo-hoo!

[kim_vincent-lay]

Thanks for the shout out laurakgibbs‌! Super excited about InstructureCarn this year. Hope you join our session on morning on July 26 that highlights (and models) our work as a Canvas Community 🙂 

[laurakgibbs]

That's how I knew you were coming: I saw your name on the schedule! Yay!

[kim_vincent-lay]

Oops - coming from Arcata, California!

[Boekenoogen]

It will be nice to see you in person.  I enjoyed last years conference and I will be bringing someone new to online learning.  I am sure he will get a lot out of the conference. 

[mpb]

I am looking forward to my first InstructureCon -- and meeting you, Laura,

in person for the first time!

[mtuten]

I'm coming from Clemson South Carolina to my first InstructureCon!

I'll actually be presenting with a couple of folks (tr_jbates,  @karen_tinsley-k ) from University of Central Florida about UDOIT too!

[fosterl]

That's awesome  @mtuten  I'll probably come to your session; we have UDOIT installed at OSU, but probably could be using it more effectively. We don't really advertise it to our faculty yet.

[orwinr]

Hey ishar-uw‌. Hoping we can catch up while we are at InstructureCon. I will keep an eye out for you.

[kona]

The Jones family will be driving in from the scenic flat cornfields of central IL!

Tagging:  @James ‌ and  @mjennings ‌