For those of us still energized and inspired from attending the ISTE 2020 Reimaged Virtual Conference, we will have another opportunity to engage, experience, and connect at ISTELive 21 - Designing a New Learning Landscape, June 26-30, 2021.
Again, ISTE is proven to create a virtual conference experience that models what educators across the country have implemented in their hybrid and remote classrooms - engaging, personalized, collaborative learning experiences. With live, interactive, and immersive learning sessions, featured voices, playgrounds, poster sessions, and an expo hall, this second virtual ISTE conference exemplifies that “the show must go on!”
As an innovative and forward-thinking conference, instead of the usual keynote speakers, ISTELive 21 will highlight powerful voices with inspiring stories that impact education. During the five-day event, featured voices will include educators, thought leaders, and authors such as Brett Salak, Regina Gonzalez de Cossio, Patricia Brown, Dominic Caguioa, Alberto and Mario Herreaz, and Dr. Henry Turner. Critical topics such as inequity, anti-racism, global collaboration, and the pandemic’s impact on our students will be addressed by these experts, who will look to inspire us to lead change.
No matter the roles of the attendees, they will be hard-pressed not to find sessions tailored to their challenges, areas of interest, and future initiatives. ISTE has crafted 39 professional development topics that include relevant and timely challenges such as online and blended classroom models, social-emotional programming, and student-driven game-based learning. In addition, unlike in-person conferences during which attendees must choose between sessions, the live recording and media-rich on-demand sessions ensure that attendees can fully experience all that ISTELive 21 offers during and after the conference.
Fourteen topic-based session lists curated by the ISTE Professional Learning Networks allow attendees access to high-quality presenters and learning experiences. Not to be missed are the 80 international content sessions whose theme is “listen, learn, share and stay connected globally.” Global change-makers such as Sandra Chow, Dr. Kelly Grogan, and Dr. Jessica Hale will present “Pathways to Tomorrow: Building Global Competencies through Intercultural Experiences” to expand perspectives on competencies for our students’ future. In the “Best tools for Global Collaboration” ISTE Global Collaboration, PLN leaders Margret Atkinson and Anne Mirtschin will explore tools that can help provide successful connections, interactive problem-solving, and professional networking and development in virtual environments.
If you are a district or school leader, it is worth the price of admission to attend the Leadership Exchange. This recently added pre-conference event brings together worldwide educational leaders such as Ken Shelton, Temple Lovelace, Kumar Garg, and Adina Sullivan-Marlow. The focus of the Exchange is to provide edtech leaders with collaborative opportunities to accelerate transformational practices and explore emerging models of post-pandemic learning.
As we are closing the books on this school year and looking ahead with hope and possibilities for the upcoming school year, ISTELive 21 is the event that will highlight, support, and rejuvenate our commitment to our students. So, take advantage of the collaborative experiences, connect with colleagues doing the work, and end this year with renewed energy and enthusiasm for a new learning landscape of SY 2021.
