In partnership with JDL Horizons, eSchool News produced video interviews with ed-tech luminaries.

The rise in mobile technologies, how to lobby Congress successfully for more ed-tech support, and how Baby Boomers can help meet the need for 21st-century teachers: These were some of the topics illuminated by leaders in education technology during sit-down interviews with our eSN-TV video news crew at the 2009 National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) in Washington, D.C., recently.

In partnership with JDL Horizons, eSchool News produced several wide-ranging video interviews with ed-tech luminaries at this year’s NECC. You can view these interviews at www.eSchoolNews.tv by clicking on the subject heading “NECC 2009.” Here are some of the highlights…

- Don Knezek, chief executive officer of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), which organizes NECC, talked about some of the ed-tech trends he has noticed at this year’s conference–including the use of smart phones and other mobile devices to get technology into the hands of more students quickly and inexpensively. Knezek also discussed some of the areas ISTE will be focusing more attention on in the future, such as ensuring that teachers get the ed-tech training they need to succeed.

- Hilary Goldmann, director of government affairs for ISTE, described the Ed Tech Action Network and how it lobbies for more support of education technology. Goldmann also discussed the “Storming the Hill” event at this year’s NECC, which sent more than 500 educators to Capitol Hill to highlight the importance of federal funding for school technology–and she revealed the advice participants got as they prepared to meet with their lawmakers.

- Tom Carroll, president of the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF), talked about his organization’s efforts to move teaching and learning into the 21st century. A key part of these efforts is enlisting the help of the nearly 78 million Baby Boomers who have retired or are preparing to retire in the next few years, Carroll said–many of whom have expressed an interest in teaching.

- Keith Krueger, CEO of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), discussed his organization’s newest effort, which aims to help school leaders set smart policies for dealing with Web 2.0 technologies in their schools. Kreuger also explained why he thinks the Obama administration’s proposed ed-tech budget cut for fiscal year 2010 would be a huge mistake–and what CoSN and others are doing about it.

- Ann Flynn, director of education technology for the National School Boards Association, previewed her organization’s 23rd annual Technology + Learning (T+L) Conference, which will be held in Denver Oct. 28-30. A keynote speech from international “innovation consultant” Frans Johansson will open the conference, which also will feature a panel session on how to scale up ed-tech initiatives, Flynn said.

- Nonprofits and corporations provide much-needed resources to school districts, educators, and students. Verizon Thinkfinity provides classroom content and professional development to help teachers and students excel in school and beyond. Interviews with actor Eric Close of the television show Without A Trace, and Patrick Gaston, president of the Verizon Foundation, show how valuable such help can be.

Also, if you haven’t seen them already, check out our many video news reports from NECC 2009:

- Meaningful learning environments

Best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell explains what educators can learn from the rock band Fleetwood Mac about creating meaningful learning environments.

- New ed-tech standards for administrators

ISTE has released an updated version of its educational technology standards for school leaders.

- Clicks vs. bricks

Experts debate the relevancy of brick-and-mortar schools in an internet-connected world.

- Storming the Hill

Advocacy was a key part of NECC 2009, as more than 500 educators lobbied their senators and representatives to support educational technology in what organizers said was the largest ed-tech presence ever on Capitol Hill.

- NECC Sights and Sounds

A glimpse into the excitement and activities of NECC 2009.

Link:

NECC 2009