As we gear up for another great year at one of the largest education technology conferences in the U.S., everyone’s wondering what the 2015 ISTE Conference & Expo has in store. ISTE offers many opportunities to get inspired, meet colleagues, and learn about some of the most interesting trends in the educational technology industry. This year, the conference and expo will be held in the “City of Brotherly Love” – Philadelphia. From the sights of the city to the booths and workshops at the conference, here are ten things you surely won’t want to miss.  Take note to enjoy the full experience of ISTE 2015:

Imagine a school so great that children pop out of bed begging to go there. A school that fully engages its students, who excel in every subject because they’re having fun. A school where the final bell of the day makes the students sad, because they have to leave. 

The feelings I just described are what children experience when they play a great video game. They are excited to play the game, they have a great time working through the puzzles and challenges, and they are sad when mom says, “Dinner is ready! Game time is over!” As a former video game fanatic, I like to use this metaphor to explain why student engagement should take priority over high stakes testing in the classroom.

June Content Pack is Here. Say Good Bye to the School Year in Style!

Helping You Rejuvenate and Retool in the Summer Months Ahead

For educators, the summer break is a time to relax, rejuvenate, and retool. You finally have the time to reflect on what went well, what needs to be improved, and how you might alter things to better accommodate curriculum or class changes. But for many, it’s a short-lived break from reality before the professional side of your chosen career path kicks in once again.

Does it seem like every year there’s some new initiative you are asked to get behind and implement in your classroom to help students achieve? Is the introduction of new classroom technology prominent in the mix of upcoming expectations that you have to contend with – or the pressure to better integrate in your teaching the technology tools your school already has?

An Interview with Christopher Leonardo, Director of R&D

It's been an exciting year for Mimio. We released several new interactive devices (the MimioProjector™ interactive and touch projectors) and made major updates to our classroom software and educational app, which really expanded the capabilities of classroom collaboration. In this interview with Director of R&D Christopher Leonardo, you’ll learn what he thinks about the newest products and get some hints about what’s to come. You’ll also find out what has him excited about education technology.

Summer Fun & Summer Learning: Had Me a Blast!

Like most teachers, I look forward to sun, cookouts, and some relaxation for my summer. I also look to summer for a chance to recharge my mind along with my body.

April Showers Are Gone So Celebrate with a NEW Spring Content Pack

The Benefits of Touch-Enabled Technology for Education 

Touch displays and mobile devices, the next generation of technology available in the classroom, are driving group learning to a new level of relevance and engagement. Use of this technology has seen a fivefold increase¹ among children under age 8, and is becoming the norm for these students of tomorrow. The state-of-the-art touch displays and projectors allow all students – including those with disabilities – to become more engaged with the curriculum being taught. These interactive solutions are another major step in education for intuitive technologies that allow students to experience imagery, touch, and gestures, and engage with the content, the learning, and each other.

NEW MimioProjector Superhero Joins Forces with the League

Our team of Mimio interactive displays has super powers that can rescue a classroom from any educational archenemy! No matter what your foe may be – a budget that’s too small, bored students, or students who are reluctant to collaborate – the League of Interactivity will send the best superhero to the rescue. Now we are introducing our newest member!

The following blog comes to us courtesy of Eric Sheninger, a Senior Fellow and Thought Leader on Digital Leadership with the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) and Scholastic Achievement Partners (SAP). It originally appeared on Eric’s blogspot column, “A Principal’s Reflections.” Eric also serves as the K-12 Director of Technology and Innovation in the Spotswood School District (NJ). He was previously an award-winning principal at New Milford High School, which became a globally recognized model for innovative practices under his leadership. His latest book, Digital Leadership: Changing Paradigms for Changing Times, focuses on leading and learning in the digital age as a model for moving schools and districts forward.

Digital Learning Prospers with the Right Culture

As of late I have been doing a great deal of work with schools and districts on how to effectively implement digital learning across the curriculum. When it comes to technology in general, the overall goal is to support learning, not drive instruction. Where digital learning initiatives miss the point is a focus on how technology actually accomplishes this.