Journey of Delight: Reflections on Kevin Honeycutt at NCCE 2016

Kevin Honeycutt plays his steampunk guitar

He spoke from his own custom podium (the Godium) that sported a disco ball and a portable light show. He played a custom steampunk guitar and wore a headband that read his brain waves. Around his neck hung an Antikythera Mechanism pendant. He’s Kevin Honeycutt, and his keynote speech at NCCE 2016 was an inspiring, entertaining, and thought-provoking journey of delight.

Wikipedia says that Kevin is “an international keynote speaker on technology, education and cyber-bullying prevention,” and for ninety minutes on Thursday, February 25, 2016, he held 1800 teachers spellbound with his stories, songs, and colorful personality.

Kevin challenged teachers to take chances and be vulnerable in front of our students, to be global and not “sno-global,” and to tell our stories. He also said:

“Caskets don’t have luggage racks.”

“Our kids are growing up on a digital playground and no one is on duty.”

“Teaching in juvey is just like professional development: a room of people who don’t want to be there and one of them may shank you.”

“Perfect is the enemy of done.”

“Your biggest weakness is your biggest strength waiting to be told well.”

My biggest takeaway from the keynote is an increased desire to get students creating and sharing, to help them build and write and draw and speak and then share their work with the world.

Thanks, Kevin, for the encouragement and inspiration.

Note: Kevin shared several fun apps, including Voice Band, which allows a person to create multilayered music tracks using only their voice. He played a bit of “Smoke on the Water,” and I caught just the last bit of it on video:

The following video will give you a better idea of how Voice Band works: