BlogHer ’09: The Geek Lab Sessions

Photo by veesees on Flickr

“Wow! I now know how to solve the issue with my site!” Is exactly what I like to hear as an instructor…knowing that someone is connecting with the information that I am sharing.  So, I was thrilled when I heard that exclaimed from the back of the room in one of my sessions.

I had the privilege of teaching four sessions at the BlogHer ’09 conference this year. I was slated for three: HTML for bloggers, PHP for bloggers, and Apache and was asked to conduct a fourth when the original presenter of the htaccess session had an emergency come up and couldn’t make the session.

Each year the BlogHer conferences get better and better and each year they are getting geekier and geekier…hmmm, I wonder if there is a correlation. As a true geek, I would have to say “of course”. I have been on the BlogHer Tech Committee since 2006 and I am happy to see the progression of geekiness at the BlogHer events.

This year, all of the technical sessions were called “Geek Labs” and were focused on providing quick hands-on tutorials on many topics surrounding blogging and were for those bloggers who wanted to get their hands a little dirty and find out what’s under the hood.

This being a blogging conference, I was concerned that no one would show up to my sessions but to my surprise, I had full rooms for the HTML and PHP sessions and a goodly crowd at the other two more technical sessions. It really continues to show a real need and strong desire of many of the attendees to understand more about technology and learn the skills they need to help them succeed as they adopt the tools that will make them more efficient in their efforts.

Watch Wren from Wrenassaince & Jill from scarymommy.com share their Geek Lab experiences in these short videos.

Also, check out the recaps from Virgina Debolt & Liz Henry, who taught some of the other Geek Lab sessions.

Thank you to all who attended the Geek Labs this year and I hope to see you all again next year at the BlogHer ‘10 conference in New York City.  If you have any suggestions on Geek sessions for BlogHer ‘10, please let me know and I will be sure to pass them on to the BlogHer team.