Reflections from ISTE 2014

Last week I had the privilege of attending ISTE 2014. If you are passionate about educational technology and have never attended, you are certainly missing out! I highly encourage you to bribe, beg, and plead with your administration to send you next year.

This was my 2nd year attending. Last year, I was very overwhelmed by the enormity of the confernece, but quickly found myself addicted and hungry for more edtech knowledge. When the opportunity came available to attend this year, I jumped at it. I diligently planned which sessions I hoped to attend and was eager to talk to all the vendors to see what new resources were out there. I certainly was not disappointed with the conference this year. I mostly stuck with the concurrent sessions and the exhibit hall. There were certain highlights for me this year and things I was looking to gain.

Highlight number one was attending sessions by Leslie Fisher. She is such a joy to listen to. I always leave her sessions smiling and excited about the latest web 2.0 tools and gadgets. She adds a level of comedy to her presentations that make you enjoy being there. It's no wonder she always draws a crowd and has to present her sessions in big auditoriums. There are three new tools I am walking away with from her sessions.

• The first tool is a website called Delivr (http://delivr.com/). This website allows the user to generate a QR code and then edit what they link that code to as needed. Normally, we have to create a new QR code for all our different sources. With this website, you create one QR code and change where it takes you to. For example, I can tape down QR codes to my science lab stations. One day that QR code may link to a website about cells. I can use this website to change it and the next day the same QR code could link to an article about cloning.

• The second tool is a website called Kahoot (https://getkahoot.com/). This is probably hands down one of the most fun review game tools I have seen. You preload questions into the website, get a code, and tell kids to go to website, https://kahoot.it, and type the code in. Teacher directs students through the questions. The quicker the kids answer the more points they earn. If they get it wrong, no points. It is a highly addictive way to review content with kids. It all becomes a race to answer the fastest. As an added advantage, this tool works on iPads, which is perfect for my 1:1 classroom.

• The third tool is a science based tool called Elements 4D (http://daqri.com/elements4D-mobile/). It uses the power of augmented reality to make the periodic table come to life. The user can either purchase cubes or download and make them cubes themselves. These cubes have various elements on them. With the app, the cubes seem to come to life and provide valuable information about the element. This is better viewed than read about. Watch this short video to see the app in action, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beodWECIzpo.

Highlight number two was attending the exhibit hall. Despite the allure of all the free things being given away, there are many exhibitors that are promoting the latest tools and resources in education and should be checked out. I found several new resources I want to get more information on (many of them content based). 

Highlight number three was the big trend that seems to be moving in education right now, Makerspace. There were so many sessions, poster presentations, and playgrounds that were featuring this concept of Makerspace. The entire idea revolves around students designing, creating, and building things. Basically, students are beginning to manufacture goods that can be used. 3D printing is providing a lot of opportunity for this movement to take off. Students can build their prototype in a computer program and watch it print on a 3D printer. The entire idea of Makerspace is teaching our students key 21st century skills. We are moving beyond just basic facts. Students are applying these facts to manufacture new ideas and products. They are becoming better problem solvers. For more information on Makerspace, visit http://makerspace.com/.

There is so much more I could share about ISTE. I am still debriefing in my mind all that I took in this year. If you were unable to attend, I hope that these few highlights help or inspire you to find out more about the leading tools and trends in educational technology today!