Education Conferences or Marketing Machines?

Over the last decade or so educational conferences seem to have devolved from collaborative learning events to marketing events. Typical conferences of the past, I did over 100 of them, would pay speaker’s fees and pay their travel expenses because they wanted to choose speakers according to their conference’s learning values – according to what would contribute to conference learning. Today the average county, state, and national educational conference seems to have become a marketing machine that assumes that its speakers stand to gain so much (either in sales, brand value, or grants) that they should no longer be paid to speak. Instead, speakers should be charged for the opportunity value of being chosen to speak.

What happens to the quality of learning at conferences when their speakers’ are motivated by profiting from their attendees rather than educating them? What about the speakers who have important things to say but don’t want to sell anything and because they have nothing to sell can’t justify the conference fees as a marketing investment?

Making matters worse, a new kind of conference is emerging. One in which conferences try to sell speakers on participating. I must have received a few dozen of these kinds of pitches from conferences in different parts of the world:

January 4, 2024

Re: Your Commitment Inspires Us

Hi David,

Our education event is on the horizon, and we’ve identified a golden opportunity for you to shine even brighter.

Would you be interested in hearing more about this?

I’d love to set up a time to connect.

Best regards,
Jane
Copyright © 2024 The Education Summit

I replied:

Hi Jane,

If this is real and you want me to participate and bring my perspective and work (https://learningstewards.org/feedback/) even if you ask me to waive my speaking fees, please let me know. If my participation will cost me anything (so many scams) take me off your list.

Thanks and all the best

I next received:

Hi David,
Your impressive achievements continue to shine brightly, leaving a lasting impression on us.

We’re convinced your expertise can bring a new level of excellence to our upcoming education event.

Can we connect next week to discuss this?

Best regards,
Jane
Copyright © 2024 The Education Summit

I replied:

Hi Jane,

You didn’t address my previous message. If you want to discuss my participation in your event, please assure me that your offer will not cost my organization anything. For good non-profit causes, I consider waiving my speaking fees, but I never “pay to speak” – that kind of conference is a marketing machine, not a learning event. If you are reaching out to me sell me on why I should spend money to speak at our conference we are in different ethical universes.

These are a sample of the conferences that have contributed fees to the Learning Stewards non-profit in exchange for my keynotes or seminars.

Science of Educating Conference – National School Mental Health Association – 21st Century Learning Initiative – World Futurist Society – PBS: New Science of Learning – Future of Learning Keynotes for Apple – New American Schools Design Team – National Technological University – California Education Summit – Dalian Medical University (China) – International Dyslexia Association – Nebraska School Psychologists Association – South Carolina Education and Business Summit – Scientific Learning’s National Circle of Learning – – Wyoming State Education Leadership – Lindamood-Bell Conference – Carus Foundation – Contra Costa Literacy Coalition – Convocation for New Britain Schools – Burnaby School District – JP Associates – University of Greenville SC – ACE of Florida – Michigan Council for Exceptional Children – Florida State Literacy Coalition – United Way – Rotary International – National Center for Family Literacy – Fundamental Learning Center

Anyone asking me to participate in an event who isn’t offering to pay all the expenses if non-profit, and willing to contribute something to Learning Stewards if for-profit, doesn’t understand or value my work.

Jane if you are not representing a marketing machine and truly are representing an event created to cross-pollinate learning disciplines and if you are not going to ever charge anything, I would welcome a conversation next week. If so, please confirm, I will reply with some dates/times.

Thanks, David

I do not expect to hear from her again regarding this conference, but might get a variation of her “ads” when she engages in another conference marketing campaign.

As of posting this on January 9th, I haven’t heard back from them.

However, I did receive this unrelated message yesterday (January 8th):

Hi there David

Remember that message from last month? editors still have some asks. Give me a shout soon!

Hope you’re doing well! My research team shared your details with me, and I wanted to reach out as a media researcher with a ‘pay on results’ PR firm. I found Learning Stewards to be incredibly newsworthy, especially your dedication to improving education through technology.

As an expert in the education industry, I noticed some interesting trends on your website, particularly the growing demand for personalized learning solutions. I’d love to share a media request with you that aligns perfectly with this trend.

But wait, there’s more! I have a few other media requests that could be an even better fit for Learning Stewards. Would you be open to discussing them?

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Best,

Donato P.S. Thought you might like to know we skip the whole initial charge or ‘retainer’ process. I’ve brought a colleague into this email conversation. When you get a chance to reply, hitting ‘reply all’ would be great. Keeps us all synced up.

To which I replied:

Thank you for your message, Donato.

What do you mean by “media request”? Please provide an outline of what you mean and have in mind and after I am clear about your intent we can arrange a meeting if that makes sense.

If this kind of ugly marking is having enough success to fund its growth, it is a bad omen for the quality of learning in the education community.

Mass Scale Economic Predation