San Antonio, one of America’s fastest growing metropolises, is about to get a whole lot busier. Starting June 24th, thousands of educators, entrepreneurs and edtech enthusiasts will flock to Alamo City for the annual International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference. This year will feature over 1,000 “personalized” sessions ranging from keynotes to campfires to interactive product demos.
Not sure where to start? We’ve put together this quick cheatsheet of the keynotes, workshops and events the EdSurge team is most excited about. A gaggle of us will be there all week, ready to talk STEAM, school choice, and whatever other trends tickle your fancy.
Happy ISTE!
Saturday, June 24
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Hack Education: The Unconference—For those looking to dig in early (and all day) start off ISTE by participating in this all-day unconference that begins the day before the conference. The event, now in its 11th year, has no set schedule, and will be hosted by Learning Revolution’s Steve Hargadon.
Sunday, June 25
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Swing by the Maker Playground, where participants can make, design, program and play while learning about what a makerspace is and why they’re so darn fun. Not a STEM teacher? Don’t fret: Humanities people welcomed—and needed.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Global Education Day—Feeling trapped inside your school bubble is inevitable, so take the opportunity to branch out at this three-hour event, which will feature international edtech educators from around the world talking trends and sharing cross-continent insights. The event is hosted by Chicago educator Lucy Gray and Steve Hargadon.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Open the Curiosity Door—Curious about what presenters Adam Bellow and Steve Dembo mean when they urge us to “open the curiosity door”? So are we—which is why we plan to check out this session. We hear a rumor it’s about thinking outside the box when designing lessons, which makes sense considering Breakout EDU CEO Bellow is at the helm.
5:45 PM - 7:00 PM: Keynote—My boy Jad Abumrad, host of the delight podcast Radiolab, closes off the weekend with a keynote on the changing face of education.
Monday, June 26
7:15 AM - 8:15 AM: ISTE 2017 Tour—For those arriving late, kick off the week with a tour of ISTE. You can mingle with the early-risers and get a lay of the land. Trust us: Getting lost is no fun. 8:00 AM-11:30 AM: Once you have your bearings, take a peek into what digital storytelling looks like today. Whether it’s a session on helping students create their own podcasts, design video games, or host a student film festival, these sessions have got you covered.
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM: Show the Evidence: How Do We Find What Works in Classrooms?—How often do you get a skit along with a panel? Join Katrina Stevens, (former Deputy Director of the Office of Educational Technology) Dr. Christina Luke of Digital Promise, and EdSurge’s very own CEO Betsy Corcoran as they we role play how educators currently find tech tools—and how the process can work more effectively.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Using Improv to Inspire Classroom Creativity—Studies show that 5-minute “brain breaks” do wonders for learning—but what about for conference fatigue? Check out this midday session about the power of “brain break” activities and cross your fingers you leave feeling revitalized.
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Rethinking Literacy for All Learners: Reading, Writing and Communication for Today—All these gadgets and STEM presentations are exciting and everything, but let’s not lose sight of one of the biggest predictors of student success: literacy. Check out this interactive panel on the topic.
Tuesday, June 27
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Google for Education Playground—Hang out with the big dogs at this interactive session led by keynote speaker Jennie Magiera and Dr. Chris Craft. It will showcase how Google Apps for Education and Google devices allow teachers to increase productivity, collaboration and access. Hands-on stations as well as short presentations will be offered.
9:30 AM- 5:00 PM: Although you’re probably not going to spend all day there, make at least one stop at the Expo Center I Maker Space, hosted by Microsoft. The booth will provide hands-on experience with some of the best #hackingstem projects. You can build a project and follow up with…
10:15 AM- 11:15 AM: ...Integrating a Maker Mindset Into Your School and Classroom.
2:30 to 4:30 PM: EdSurgents Molly Levitt and Mary Jo Madda will be hosting “Office Hours” to answer any questions you may have about edtech in schools, offer ideas around best practices, or talk about some of the going-on’s at EdSurge. Want to book a slot? Click here to schedule a time slot, and then at ISTE, head over to the Bloggers’ Café (on Level 3 outside the Stars at Night Ballroom 4).
4:15 AM - 5:15 PM: Literature Circles 2.0: Technology-Infused Book Clubs in the Digital Age—Lit circles are many an ELA teachers' bread-and-butter but it may be time for a revamp. This talk promises to make chatting about last night’s reading more relevant to today’s students.
Wednesday, June 28
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Snapping, Gramming and Scoping Your Way To Engagement—Steve Anderson leads a talk around how to snapchat, instagram and periscope your way to a more engaged classroom (only had to look up 1/3 of those). He’ll explain how educators can use social media for good rather than evil in the classroom.
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM: Keynote—Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Girls Who Code, delivers the final keynote of the conference. The talk will revolve around how to close the gender gap in technology.
Final word: Most of us at EdSurge have, shall we say, big personalities. But for all those introverts out there (guilty), check out this guide to getting the most out of the conference without getting overwhelmed. And don’t forget: stay hydrated, people. Highs in the upper 90s forecasted.
