WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 1, 2013 – The world’s premiere education technology event today announced the three provocative speakers who will headline ISTE 2013 this June in San Antonio. Jane McGonigal, Steven Johnson and Adam Bellow will challenge and inspire conference participants as they address nearly 18,000 educators and industry leaders from around the globe, June 23-26.

“Whether it’s Jane talking about how games impact us and the work we do, or Steven addressing the influence of peer connectivity, or Adam sharing how web tools are changing what happens in the classroom, we’re in for three extraordinary experiences,” said ISTE CEO Brian Lewis. “They promise to challenge any preconceived notions we have of the world we live in, and the power of technology to transform it.”

Jane McGonigal, recognized around the world for her ground-breaking work applying game-based principles to real-life challenges, will open the event on Sunday, June 23. McGonigal has created games for the World Bank, the Olympic Games, the American Heart Association and the New York Public Library. Her New York Times bestselling book, “Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World,” is considered the definitive modern work on gamification and makes the case that the gamer spirit – an attitude of fun, dedicated, collective problem-solving – is society’s greatest asset as it faces the social, economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century. In the conference opening address, McGonigal will share her experiences as a designer of reality games, where a real-life activity is framed as a game.

McGonigal said, “There are more than a half a billion people worldwide – including 183 million in the United States – who play online games at least an hour a day. Why? Because games do a better job of provoking our most powerful positive emotions, like curiosity, optimism, pride and a desire to join forces with others.”

On Tuesday, June 25, Steven Johnson, a foremost thought leader of today’s interdisciplinary, collaborative and opened-minded approach to innovation, will kick off the conference’s second full day. A bestselling author of six books on the intersection of science, technology and personal experience, Johnson’s ideas have influenced everything from urban planning to the battle against terrorism. Chosen by “Prospect” magazine as one of the Top Ten Brains of the Digital Future, Johnson will explore themes of creativity, innovation and idea generation. His presentation will make the case that our world is getting better – much better – through the power of peer networks.

Educator, technology expert and social entrepreneur Adam Bellow will present the closing keynote on Wednesday, June 26. Bellow is best known as the founder of both eduTecher and the newly launched eduClipper, free web tools that help students and teachers discover the best resources to enhance learning in and out of the classroom. As the author of “Untangling the Web,” Bellow’s keynote will explore how technology can transform teaching and learning to make a difference in students’ lives.

Available until March 31, 2013, super early-bird registration for ISTE 2013 is $344 and includes a one-year standard membership to ISTE (a $99 value). Current ISTE members can register under super early-bird registration for $239. For more information or to register for ISTE 2013, go to http://www.isteconference.org.

About ISTE

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) is the premier membership association for educators and education leaders engaged in advancing excellence in learning and teaching through the innovative and effective use of technology in PK-12 and teacher education. Home to ISTE’s http://www.isteconference.org/2013/http://www.isteconference.org/2013/ and the widely adopted NETS, ISTE represents more than 100,000 professionals worldwide. For more information, visit iste.org.

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