The economic recession doesn't seem to have dampened enthusiasm for the 2009 National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) in Washington, D.C.: At a time when tight school budgets have left little room for travel expenses, conference organizers report that a record 18,000-plus educators and exhibitors converged on the nation's capital June 28 through July 1 to share strategies and success stories for integrating technology effectively into instruction.

Hosted by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the 30th annual NECC drew attendees from 71 countries--and paid registration was up by nearly 1,000 attendees over last year's figures, organizers said. ISTE deputy CEO and conference chair Leslie Conery called it an "odds-defying" event in difficult economic times, and she praised educators for their energy and commitment.

ISTE marked the 30th anniversary of its conference with the theme "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Envisioning the Future." In kicking off the event on June 28, ISTE President Helen Padgett revealed that NECC will be known simply as "ISTE" beginning next year, when the conference will be held in Denver.

With a new administration in Washington that understands the need for 21st-century school reform, "the future truly is now," Padgett said, adding that now is the time to effect lasting, systemic change in education.

"Schools have made progress" toward meeting 21st-century curriculum goals, she said, but the results from the most recent Speak Up survey reveal how much work still remains: Students in the national survey said they "step back in time" when they go to school.

"We won't be doing our job until students say they're stepping into their future, instead of our past," Padgett warned.

Here are highlights from the four-day conference...

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.