Philadelphia, The City of Brotherly Love.
Home to Benjamin Franklin, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and many underachieving sports teams.
This summer, Philly was also home to the largest and the most comprehensive educational technology conference in the world. Hosted by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), it is globally recognized as a mega event that offers a myriad of professional learning opportunities for all types of educators and educational leaders.
And I was there.
A rookie you could say, surrounded by EdTech superstars and wannabes alike. It was an edtech conference and expo like no other I have ever attended. With almost 16,000 educators coming from 76 countries around the world, ISTE 2015 embodied learning and collaborating in a connected world. They say big things happen at the ISTE Conference & Expo. Groundbreaking ideas are shared, new learning technologies are unveiled and seeds are planted that will impact education for years to come. No doubt, it’s just that big.
Just chew on this for a moment…it’s a conference where:
- There are more than 1,000 sessions, informal learning environments and social activities.
- Entry to an interactive expo hall features more than 500 companies.
- Three thought-provoking keynotes with seating for 5,000+ educators.
Together we have 127,000 followers on Twitter! @web20classroom
For me it really was a great week of learning, connecting and getting lost. And eating Philly cheesesteaks!
I had the opportunity to attend a wide array of educational sessions and hands-on learning environments, to build my content knowledge while learning new strategies, and to gain exposure to the most timely and relevant topics and trends in educational technology. That learning experience equipped me with valuable knowledge that I took back to my school and shared with my colleagues as a technology ambassador. By passing on the information and resources I gathered, I am helping to position our school as leaders in the development of digital age learners.
But I need help.
I need help from the management and staff members at my school to take on these measures that I have learnt and passed along. And continue to pass along. I want them to understand that all core content teachers are responsible for authentically embedding technology within their curriculum. Not just the ‘tech’ guy/girl on campus.
I want them to understand that they too can effectively, practically and authentically embed technology within their curricular areas…if they want to. It takes effort. It means asking for help. It means stretching yourself beyond your boundaries and taking risks.
What I witnessed in Philadelphia was incredible on many levels. I saw educators from all walks of life, working in very different schools from me, but there in attendance, taking notes, filming, connecting, collaborating, and just eager to learn more about educational technology and its use in THEIR classrooms. Not everyone was there advocating for their district or representing some body. Many of those in attendance, like myself, travelled from around the world to take part in this event because they believe in edtech and its place in education moving forward.
Re-reading Living and Learning with New Media: Summary of Findings from the Digital Youth Project” made me think more about my time as a newbie at ISTE. In the findings, the authors state the ability to engage with media and technology in an intense, autonomous, and interest-driven way is a unique feature of today’s media environment. They go on to say that ‘geeking out’ involves learning to navigate esoteric domains of knowledge and practice and participating in communities that traffic in these forms of expertise. One of the best examples I have of this is all the educators and individuals who couldn’t physically make it to Philadelphia, but participated in twitter chats using the hashtag #notatiste15. Even I, in attendance, was in awe of all those dedicated educators who were continuing and adding on to the conversations initiated at ISTE15. Very powerful.
Whether we’re ‘hanging out’, ‘messing around’ or ‘geeking out’, it’s about extending ourselves and reaching further. By connecting, sharing, collaborating, and applying ourselves, we can build onto the framework of communities like ISTE and move the conversations forward.
Maybe then I wouldn’t need as much help. Wouldn’t that be nice.
Have you been to ISTE before? What are your thoughts?
All photos owned by Jamie Stark