This week my wife and I were at the National Association of Independent Schools annual conference. I was giving a talk on contemplative computing and efforts by schools to promote mindfulness and wiser technology use; my wife was part of her school's delegation.

This is the second education-related conference where I've spoken about my work, and talking to such groups always a very interesting time: they're very interested in issues of technology and distraction, and I think independent schools in particular are very well-placed to tackle them head-on, and to move past efforts that focus just on individuals and involve families and communities as well.

The conference is huge– about 4000 people from all over the U.S., and from Canada, Latin America, and even Africa– and this year it was in Orlando, Florida.

I confess despite the fact that it's so clearly landscaped and carved out of (or floated on top of) swamp and pine forest, I really like Orlando.

We were staying at the Swan and Dolphin, a hotel on the edge of Disney World and EPCOT.

While I go to these events to work rather than to sightsee, we did steal away to attend an opening reception at EPCOT.

Over the next week I'll post some of the key ideas from my talk, as I want to think more about the question of how independent schools (and other schools) can use contemplative computing to improve the lives of their students.

One other note: my talk was sponsored by National SEED Project on Inclusive Curriculum (SEED is short for Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity), and so I owe them thanks for the chance to think seriously about these issues.