WASHINGTON, D.C. – Educators from around the world will gather in the historic city of Philadelphia this summer to chart the future of learning in their schools and discover ways to reach all students. They’ll be challenged, emboldened and inspired as a dynamic group of accomplished speakers address the importance of creativity and the heart of resilience at the International Society for Technology in Education’s (ISTE) Conference & Expo, ISTE19, June 23-26.
“ISTE is about highlighting the stories of educators who are making incredible contributions to our practice and the world. Learning from one another pushes our thinking and increases our resolve to ensure all students have access to high-quality learning opportunities,” said ISTE CEO Richard Culatta. “This is an especially meaningful year as ISTE celebrates its 40th anniversary of ‘transforming education together.’”
Speakers include Pixar Animation Studios’ Director of Photography for Lighting Danielle Feinberg who has worked on 13 of Pixar’s films, directing the lighting for the Academy Award-winning films “Wall-E,” “Brave” and “Coco.” She also works with teenage girls, encouraging them to pursue coding, math and science by demonstrating the magic found by combining art and technology. Building on this theme, Sady Paulson will create a two-minute video to kick off her presentation about assistive technology and highlight her incredible journey of breaking barriers to become a cinematographer.
Mike Walsh, futurist and author, will share his thoughts on artificial intelligence and how leaders and learners can thrive in the current era of disruptive technological change, while Manoush Zomorodi, author of Bored and Brilliant and a media company co-founder, will present on “human skills for digital natives” and preserving our humanity in the digital age.
2018 National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning will discuss how edtech can help learning become more inclusive. This idea will also be highlighted by artist Phil Hansen, who will discuss the impact that nerve damage had on his life and how it led him to see “limitations as a source for creativity.”
Michael Bonner, an author and educator at North Carolina's South Greenville Elementary, will discuss the challenges of working in a school where students face food insecurity, difficult family dynamics and even homelessness. In 2017, Bonner was recognized by Ellen DeGeneres for his positive and innovative educational approaches.
Joining the conversation are additional remarkable educators, including Pedro Rivera, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education; Michael Hernandez, a media arts teacher whose work focuses on media literacy, digital storytelling and social justice; Kasey Bell, a former middle school teacher turned award-winning digital learning coach at Shake Up Learning; and Steve Dembo, a pioneer in the field of educational social networking.
ISTE19 offers three days of active learning with over 1,400 sessions in various formats, including dozens of playgrounds presented by educators and students that explore critical topics such as STEM, computer science, creativity and design, and featured content such as TED-partner sessions, a NASA makerspace, an educator hack-a-thon and experiential field trips throughout Philadelphia. Attendees can also participate in the expo hall with over 500 vendors sharing hands-on edtech experiences – from artificial intelligence to 3D printing to virtual reality.
The ISTE Conference & Expo is one of the world’s most influential edtech events. For more than three decades, educators and education leaders have gathered at the ISTE conference to discover leading-edge practices, share ideas and network with peers to transform teaching and learning. The annual event attracts over 20,000 educators and industry representatives.
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The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit organization that works with the global education community to accelerate the use of technology to solve tough problems and inspire innovation. Our worldwide network believes in the potential technology holds to transform teaching and learning.
ISTE sets a bold vision for education transformation through the ISTE Standards, a framework for students, educators, administrators, coaches and computer science educators to rethink education and create innovative learning environments. ISTE hosts the annual ISTE Conference & Expo, one of the world’s most influential edtech events. The organization’s professional learning offerings include online courses, professional networks, year-round academies, peer-reviewed journals and other publications. ISTE is also the leading publisher of books focused on technology in education. For more information or to become an ISTE member, visit iste.org. Subscribe to ISTE’s YouTube channel and connect with ISTE on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.