Who better than Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD, to give you the lowdown of what to expect this week at ISTE 2025? In this exclusive interview with eSchool, Richard reveals significant changes coming to the conference that signal a major shift in how educational technology events operate, as well as the multitude of other intangibles at play in the world of edtech. Click below to listen and click forward for a breakdown of the conversation:
Key Takeaways
Industry Transformation
- ISTE becomes first conference to implement quality indicators as partial gatekeepers for vendor participation
- Plans to gradually increase requirements over coming years until full compliance is mandatory for expo floor access
- Five quality indicators developed collaboratively across multiple education technology organizations
Conference Innovation
- Dual-event structure combining ISTE Live and ASCD Annual Conference in same venue
- Cross-pollination of audiences and thought leaders previously separated by organizational boundaries
- Thematic organization around “transformational learning principles” to create more cohesive session experiences
Strategic Focus Shift
- Technology adoption debate has ended—focus now on learning transformation in technology-integrated environments
- Emphasis on “joy” theme addressing educator burnout and need for recharging
- Goal of attendees leaving with “new skill, new question, and new friend”
Practical Support Tools
- EdTech Index launch providing free, third-party validated product information
- Target of saving 1,000 hours per district annually in product evaluation time
- Immediate resource for schools to verify product quality without extensive internal review
Market Positioning
- Clear signal that educational conferences will increasingly prioritize educational value over vendor revenue
- Establishment of quality standards as competitive differentiator in EdTech marketplace
- Movement toward evidence-based product validation in educational technology sector
Kevin is a forward-thinking media executive with more than 25 years of experience building brands and audiences online, in print, and face to face. He is an acclaimed writer, editor, and commentator covering the intersection of society and technology, especially education technology. You can reach Kevin at KevinHogan@eschoolnews.com
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