My writings here on Authenticities will primarily focus on the education-related work I do at Edelman, taking a look at how social media technologies and online community principles contribute to the professional development of new and experienced comms pros alike.

Seems fitting that I'd start this on this particular week. I'm writing this in Atlanta just after the Digital Bootcamp our DC colleagues sponsored at University of Georgia this weekend. Spent most of my time talking about curriculum, careers, and technology in the educator's workshop along with Kaye Sweetser, Robert French, Karen Russell, Mihaela Vorvoreanu, and others. Later, we joined the general session, where other Edel-folk like Erin Caldwell, Steve Field, Monte Lutz, Stephanie Wasilik, Chris Broomall, and Jenna Kozel were working with several dozen students, delivering group workshops and lectures.

The main point I delivered in my closing remarks: There are things an instructor can reasonably expect to teach, and there are things that an instructor can only do his or her best to inspire in someone, where the learner's role in the process is far more critical.

It's the product of the latter category &mash; intellectual curiosity, omnivorous and critical media consumption habits, etc. — that distinguishes people in their careers. As I mentioned in a recent PR Newser interview:

If someone can't articulate *why* he or she consumes a particular mainstream or social media source, I can't expect that person to have any real sense of why someone *else* might. And, if someone can't do the latter, then that person is really not in this business.

A strong statement, yes, but a necessary one — especially if communications pros want to keep their careers (and their trade!) relevant.

There's plenty from the event — and on that topic alone — that I'll be unpacking in public here. In the meantime, enjoy this incredibly rough video wrap-up I threw together just a few minutes before showing it at the Bootcamp during my closing remarks.

And, of course, you can follow the photos on Flickr.

Great work, gang. Can't wait to do it again.