InstructureCon Reflection & Recommendation

[DiannaDK]

Who is getting excited for Spokane? I know I am.  If this will be your first InstructureCon experience, make sure you take the opportunity to meet as many people as possible.  This can happen by sitting with new friends at lunch or chatting in the swag lines.  Each year I meet more people who become part of my PLN.  Whether you are traveling in a group or will be a Solo Panda, like me, there will be a welcoming community of people to make you feel at home at InstructureCon.  

Meeting new people and bonding through our shared experiences is one of my favorite things about conferences.  Preparing for InstructureCon 2025 let me take a trip down memory lane.  Through the years I've acquired many priceless memories, a plethora of new friends, and photos galore!  Here are two of my favorite pics - though it was hard to pick just two - that capture the spirit of InstructureCon.  

For those of you who have attended InstructureCon in the past, share some of your favorite photos so we can reminisce and gear up for InstructureCon 2025.

2018 | Keystone, CO

2023 | Denver, CO

[valentinesking]

@DiannaDK 

Oh my goodness, I have so many pictures that remind me of so many great memories - my first INSTcon, first time meeting Kona (2018) & Lauren (2023) - both Canvas Queens, connecting with other friends I've made through the Community, and even starting a trend (last year we had a group of Trekkies uniting)! This year we're aiming for magic wands & broomsticks- which is definitely up Justin Keene's alley, as the Canvas Wizard. My cheeks always hurt after INSTcon because I'm smiling and laughing so much. I love learning from others on what they're accomplishing with Canvas. So, I'm looking forward to connecting with more people this summer and making new, awesome memories.

Can't wait to see other folks' photos!

First Time Starting a Trend - 2024Learning Safari - 2019 

Val King, the ID
Sr. Instructional Design Project Leader, Wharton at UPenn
Instructure Community Coach & Champion

[chriscas]

@DiannaDK,

Here is an oldie...  Who else remembers #blizzardcon (InstructureCon 2014 in Park City, UT)?  I don't have any photos of the snow coming down, but I do have the after-photo is this "awesome" selfie.

In full disclosure, I was going to post the same Trekkie photo as @valentinesking did, but since she beat me to it, I went with this one instead.

Unfortunately, I don't have much wizard-wear, aside from a few Hufflepuff shirts, so I may not be able to join in this year's trend, but definitely look forward to seeing everyone again!

-Chris

 

[BradMoser]

This was a good memory in 2017 when Jewel was going to play for us but it was super rainy, so... we pivoted and she played acoustic session for us inside. Shoutout to my team Kelly June and Jennifer Luzenske and Carrie Gardner. 

2017 Keystone 

In 2018, I got to present with my friends and colleagues about a fun way we approached rolling out and training our teachers about Canvas. Called Canvas levels of learning, shoutout out to Carrie Gardner and Hayden Galler.  

2018 Keystone

In 2023 - I joined the team at Cidi Labs which makes design tools for Canvas teachers and got to see my old team at Blue Valley - shoutout Casey Krouse and Lauren Slade and Jodie Johnston... oh yeah and Kenneth Larsen!  

2023 Denver

[DiannaDK]

@BradMoser 2018 was my first InstCon and I attended that session!  The other day when I was looking through all my photos, I actually have one of you and your team presenting.  That was back before I got to know you and learned what great humans you all are!  

Keystone, 2018

[BradMoser]

What!? How fun is that. Is that when we first met? I guess it must have been. 

[valentinesking]

@BradMoser 

Getting a picture with Kenneth is a fun thing to do, but also finding the inflatable Panda! So glad that @jsowalsk shared a picture of such a key tradition to INSTcon!

Val

[ProfessorBeyrer]

Thanks for the invitation, @DiannaDK ! My first InstructureCon was 2016 in Keystone, and the group of us who attended had a great time as we got started with Canvas:
Los Rios @ InstructureCon 2016

More of us attended 2019 in Long Beach, which was an in-state trip for us:
Los Rios @ InstructureCon 2019

And I got lucky to be in this photo with a bunch of all-stars at 2023 in Denver:
InstructureCon 2024

[BethCrook]

You belong in that photo, @ProfessorBeyrer !

[BethCrook]

I'm seriously supposed to narrow these down?

[DiannaDK]

It's tough, right?  I could post many more! 

[jsowalsk]

A mixture of Instructurecon years from pre and post-pandemic. 🙂

[Jeff_F]

The lady singing reminds me of Phoebe singing Smelly Cat. 

https://youtu.be/Mkuw7vdi-VA?feature=shared 

[jsowalsk]

It's Jewel @Jeff_F https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_(singer)

[Jeff_F]

Last year's festivities were terrific. Can you believe this performer is an attendee doing karaoke?

[BethCrook]

2015 Canyonlands with Olivia Newton John. This was my first year, first impression, and I was hooked.

2015 Canyonlands with Olivia Newton-John. This was my first year, first impression, and I was hooked.

2016 Keystone - After practically living on the Community website for the year, including all of our social antics, this year was all about finally meeting my favorite people that I now call friends!  Also, the start of #SoloPandas 

Also 2016 - My favorite theme "Camp Canvas". Need I say more?

2018 - Keystone #stepsforbeth photo. So many other rockstar people are missing from the photo.

2024 - I forget where we were. But it doesn’t matter because I was with this group of people! 

I have other years, but I'm having trouble uploading on my P2P internet connection at the house, so round 2 may be coming. LOL