#ADE2017 was different. It was special. It was exhilarating and inspirational. It was shorter, but with the same amount of content crammed in. However it was different for another reason. It became a movement.
I've now been fortunate enough to attend 4 of the Apple Academy/Institute events. My first back in 2013 was one filled with a feeling of 'not being worthy' of trusting in my story and wrestling with statements like 'was I good enough' to be there. I formed a PLN of brilliant educators including Paul Hutton Chris Carter Ghislain Domine Evelyn O'Connor Andy Dickenson who continue to provide support, friendship and inspiration. The work following the Institute was isolating. While the PLN was a massive support, content creation was solitary.
By 2015 I was back as an alumni, fully aware of my role and value to the community. The new class of 2015 was full of talented individuals with whom collaboration was so simple and lifelong friendships were made. I became part of an innovative group with Nigel Wright Sarah Jones Jon Neale Steve Bambury Benji Rogers James Gibbons all of whom had a passion for AR and VR. We worked together supporting each other, but the work following the Institute was still quite solitary. I produced a book Interactive Institutions: Blippar in the classroom and put it on the store. The group stayed in touch and Nigel Wright came to support an event at my school while I met Sarah Jones several times to work on VR material and eat vegan food! Benji Rogers sends me pictures of sunrises over the moors to brighten my dull London commute and Jon Neale continues to be an inspiration in our work with Blippar.
The difference with 2015 was that friendships were also formed quickly and deeply as the Institute gave more time to networking and developing relationships with like-minded folk. The family ethos was easier to grasp as an alumni. People like Deborah Ní Cheallaigh Catherine Jessey Catherine Mangan Mat Pullen Rachel Smith Sarah Jones Nigel Wright became people who were more than 'new class' or 'alumni'. There are so many more, but no time here and you know who you are. Along with the innovative AR/VR group we had momentum and would lean on each other for support, inspiration or just a good laugh.
After Global in 2016 over in Berlin where these friendships grew into moments; collaboration was now integral. The existing groups continued to function but now people were contributing globally to the Keynote Film Festival and I was showcasing the work of other amazing educators. 
2017 was then fast approaching. As a member of the Advisory Board this really took on a different meaning altogether. There was much to be organised, much to discuss and with the added complication of splitting the EMEIA region into two events, the message and email stream was constant. Thank goodness for the guidance of Peter Ford and the support of existing board members such as Greg Hughes Catherine Mangan and Miriam Walsh (there are many more) the job was done.

So what made 2017 so different. The impact. The collaboration. The language. The communication. The social movement.

During our time at the UK Academy #ADE2017 #UK was trending at number one for the entire duration of the Academy. Whether it was the live #ADEChat or the #ADEMeet people were interested and the volume of tweets was monumental. I shouldn't be surprised. Once the new class of 2017 was announced it became clear this Academy would be packed with experienced Tweeters. The #ADEChat in the lead-in was full on new class, full of alumni and the relationships were building. And so social media is keeping the energy alive long after the Academy doors closed.

As a result the collaborative projects were always going to be a have huge potential. And so we find ourselves with projects such as One Small Clip, Gimme 5, and Clips Tours, all of which are engaging the services of multiple ADEs, from different classes, across the globe to create and curate content with the sole aim of making a dent.

And there are more projects. Whether you are Gavin Smart Martin Coutts Mat Pullen Laura Dickinson Pamela Algie or Claire Jones Ruth Smith or Alan Frame you are part of a movement that social media is embracing and will mean the the dents will gain momentum and may well ripple shockwaves around the education sector. I am thrilled to be able to offer my experience when required to provide a little more force for the dents. The videos made for Clips, Keynote and Travel Bios are fun, will have an impact and I hope will be celebrated when Global arrives in 2018.
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