This page serves as a sort of journal for Geoff’s doctoral program, separate from the Emergentmath blog. Here, Geoff will share thoughts and reflections on classes, insights into literature and other PhD-related musings. While you’re here, feel free to explore Geoff’s main blog, various “miniseries,” and select blog posts. Here is Geoff’s About Me page.

Journal: I miss conferences

Next week I’ll be going over a runthrough of an upcoming NCTM presentation. The presentation, like the conference, is entirely virtual. I appreciate that it was certainly the correct decision. I’m also quite bummed that it’s not happening in person.

I get so much out of conferences. I invariably learn things that I wouldn’t learn otherwise. I’ll stumble into sessions from presenters I haven’t seen before. I’ll journal about the things I’m learning. I’ll hang out and have a beverage with people I haven’t seen in some time.

I’m still learning how to learn virtually. It’s not my natural way of being. It’s going to be challenge to attend a virtual conference. I already spend too much time in front of a computer screen. But it’s hard to imagine in-person education conferences happening for at least another full year. I’d be surprised if I attend one before 2022. So it’s probably something I should get used to.