New ISTE CEO: It’s time to partner up

Part of ISTE’s future, Lewis said, involves finding other organizations with similar mission objectives.

Strong leadership to guide policy, and a voice to speak for education stakeholders nationwide, are essential to discussions about school reform, according to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)—and this fall, ISTE will turn to a new leader for these in Brian Lewis.

Lewis, who will take over as CEO of the ed-tech advocacy group for long-time CEO Don Knezek in September, has a 25-year career in both the public and private sectors as an association leader for a number of nonprofit organizations, an education advocate and reformer, and an elected school board member.

“[ISTE’s] unique work spans the entire education landscape, touching everyone who cares about, works in, or volunteers in education,” said Lewis in an interview with eSchool News. “Most importantly, ISTE is focused on the right thing: serving students. Because of all this, ISTE is well poised for its next chapter. That’s very attractive to a lifelong education advocate like me.”…Read More

ISTE 2012: Educators seek the brass ring of student engagement

Robinson pushes for more personalized education.

“Redefining horizons: Encouraging students’ passion to achieve” is the theme for this year’s International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference—but in what looked like a scene that was more appropriate for a rock concert than an ed-tech show, it was educators’ passion that was evident in the overflowing crowd that appeared for the opening general session on June 24.

Though ISTE traditionally has been the largest educational technology conference in the U.S., with dwindling school budgets and the growth of online options, attendance has been down at national education trade shows in recent years.

But at ISTE’s 33rd annual conference, held in San Diego, the surging crowd and squished-in volunteers holding signs reading “Hey, it’s crowded” outside the opening general session suggested that educators are eager for new ideas in their classrooms.…Read More

ISTE 2012 will expand horizons

ISTE expects 18,000 attendees at its 33rd annual show in June 2012.

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) will hold its 33rd annual conference and exposition, with a theme of “Expanding Horizons,” June 24-27, 2012, at the San Diego Convention Center.

Presented by ISTE in cooperation with Computer-Using Educators (CUE), the annual conference and exposition is one of the world’s most comprehensive education technology event. Last year’s conference in Philadelphia, Pa., attracted more than 18,000 participants and nearly 500 exhibiting companies. This year, ISTE expects 18,000 educators, tech coordinators, teacher educators, administrators, and industry and government representatives to attend from all over the world.

“We’re pleased to return to this lively, innovative, and beautiful city for our 2012 event,” said Leslie Conery, ISTE deputy CEO and conference chair. “San Diego offers an inspiring backdrop for the engaged, thought-leading educators who converge at ISTE’s annual conference and exposition.”…Read More

Major education organizations get leadership shake-up

"I'm pretty sure I'm not finished," Knezek said when discussing his future in education advocacy.

When things are going well, it might seem like a strange time for a leader to step aside—but according to one of educational technology’s most notable figures, that’s exactly the best time to give others a chance to take the helm.

Recently, two big names in education circles announced they’re stepping down: Donald G. Knezek, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), and Anne Bryant, executive director of the National School Boards Association (NSBA).

Both Knezek and Bryant will leave their positions in September this year.…Read More

Hewlett-Packard to end mobile businesses

The HP TouchPad was the company’s primary showpiece during ISTE's ed-tech trade show in late June.

In a dramatic reshuffling, Hewlett-Packard Co. is discontinuing its tablet computer and smart-phone products and might sell or spin off its PC division.

The surprise move comes a year after HP purchased mobile device maker Palm Inc. for $1.2 billion—and just seven weeks after HP touted its new TouchPad tablet as a competitor to Apple’s iPad at the nation’s largest ed-tech industry trade show.

HP’s Aug. 18 announcement is one of the most striking makeovers in the company’s 72-year history and signals new CEO Leo Apotheker’s most transparent move to date to make HP look more like longtime rival IBM Corp.…Read More

Demand for online learning increases

More than 40 percent of students now designate online classes as an essential component of their learning experience.

In just three years, the number of high school students who have access to online learning has tripled, while twice as many middle school students are now learning online, according to a new report.

These figures come from the nonprofit group Project Tomorrow and its most recent Speak Up survey on school technology use. Project Tomorrow first released data from its this survey earlier this spring, but the organization has teamed up with learning management system provider Blackboard Inc. to dig deeper into the results that pertain to online learning.

Project Tomorrow and Blackboard issued a report on these findings during the International Society for Technology in Education’s annual conference June 28.…Read More

ISTE conference is alive with social networking

ISTE attendees connected through social networking, as well as in person.

What better place to use social networking technologies to connect with fellow educators and school leaders than at the nation’s largest ed-tech conference? That’s what was happening at the International Society for Technology in Education conference in Philadelphia this week.

Websites, blogs, Twitter accounts, and other social networking platforms were abuzz with the latest news, reactions, and updates from the show floor and from conference breakout sessions.

The isteconnects Twitter feed organized an #edchat that explored topics such as science instruction, textbooks vs. technology in the classroom, and project-based learning.…Read More

Feds review progress on National Ed-Tech Plan

Developing communities of practice can help the National Ed-Tech plan become a reality.

The second day of the International Society for Technology in Education’s annual conference featured an hour-long presentation and Q&A session with Karen Cator, director of educational technology for the federal Education Department (ED).

Cator reviewed the nation’s progress toward implementing ed-tech projects and highlighted some of the plan’s top priorities.

“It really is a national education technology plan,” Cator said June 27. “How do people learn in the 21st century?”…Read More

How brain research might affect instruction

Brain research could help improve teaching and learning.

The 32nd annual International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference kicked off June 26 with a lesson relating brain function to teaching and learning, and attendees explored how brain sciences might influence how educators deliver instruction.

Educators must “help today’s students prepare for tomorrow’s complexities,” said new ISTE President Holly Jobe in opening remarks. This includes helping students learn to love learning, and simply helping students learn how to learn.

“Technology does, and can, provide a gateway” to a vast array of learning experiences, Jobe said. “The walls of the classrooms are coming down.”…Read More

ISTE 2011 will unlock ed-tech’s potential

Conference organizers expect close to 20,000 ISTE 2011 attendees.

Thousands of educators, technology coordinators, administrators, and tech industry reps from school districts, government agencies, and companies around the world are expected to attend the International Society for Technology in Education’s (ISTE) 32nd annual conference and exposition June 26 – 29, 2011, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

One of the largest national ed-tech events, ISTE’s annual conference and exposition typically attracts between 15,000 and 20,000 attendees. Last year’s conference in Denver attracted nearly 18,000 participants and 450+ exhibiting companies.

“Unlocking Potential” is the theme of ISTE 2011, which is held in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Association for Educational Communications and Technology.…Read More

Keynote: STEM should include arts education

Piontek said educators must adapt to students' cultures and desire to be connected through technology.
Piontek said educators must adapt to students' cultures and desire to be connected through technology.

Not only do global learners create global leaders, but the world’s future depends on education focusing on creative and innovative science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning, said ISTE closing keynote speaker Jeff Piontek.

“I think we need to focus on STEAM–science, technology, engineering, arts, and math,” Piontek said to loud applause from the conference attendees. “Arts and creativity are needed in the future.”

Piontek, a Hawaii-based educator, was selected as “the people’s choice keynote” after a five-month modified crowdsourcing project. Piontek was nominated for his attention to excellence and his approach to delivering digital age education to digital age education to digital age students.…Read More

Thoughts from the show floor

Interactive technologies can inspire classrooms.
Interactive technologies can inspire classrooms.

Which came first…the chicken or the egg? I sometimes wonder about that when I’m in the exhibit hall at educational technology conferences like ISTE. When you look around the show floor, I wonder if I’m seeing the latest trends that educators are interested in. Or am I looking at vendor booths offering hardware, software, and services that will become more prevalent in our classrooms in the near future? Maybe it’s a mix of both…or maybe I’m just over-thinking things again as I’m prone to doing.

Not everyone makes it to the exhibit hall because they’re busy in sessions. So like a hash tag watcher on Twitter, they experience the exhibitor booths vicariously through others. When people ask me what the exhibit hall was like, I enjoy answering by mentally playing some of the fun “what if” games.

For example: “What if you had to describe the exhibit hall in one word? What would it be?”…Read More