Classroom Connections: Trade Shows and Conferences Not to Be Missed

In our busy, social media crazy world, we often forget the importance of being in a live face-to-face setting with others from the education community. Being active in both your industry trade association of choice or other key conferences can bring with it many benefits. 

FETC 2017 is just around the corner! This four-day event, held on January 24–27, is a fantastic opportunity to greet old colleagues, meet prospective collaborators, and learn from the pros—including hands-on explorations of the latest hardware, software, and successful strategies for integrating technology across the K-20 curriculum. As always, the conference will be held in The City Beautiful: Orlando, FL. From city attractions to workshops and the booths (don’t miss Boxlight at booth 114!), here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect:

We thought it might be interesting to step back before we jump into a new year and see what numbers and statistics are indicating about various aspects of K-12 education. There’s no lack of resources in which to gather intelligence on the current state of everything K-12 from the National Assessment of Educational Progress—the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas to State Education Reform results.

But by no means do the numbers tell the entire story. Share your thoughts below on what these resources and reports mean to you!

After a long semester of shaping the minds of the next generation, teachers certainly deserve some time to relax and unwind over the winter break. So, just how much do educators love this time off? And how do they spend it?

It’s hard to believe the year is coming to a close. 2016 was a year with exciting new product launches, collaborative learning events, and the merger of Boxlight and Mimio, and we are poised and ready for great success in the coming year.

In order to embrace the new, we have to first reflect on the old. Each year, we ask ourselves questions such as:

1. What did we accomplish? (Including a list of our wins and achievements.)
2. What were the most significant events of the past year?
3. For what are we particularly grateful?

Workplace stress can be hard on employees in all industries, but dealing with increasing class sizes, budget cuts, and the lengthy hours spent planning and grading coursework can leave educators feeling like they’re spread too thin. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays and end of year demands added on top of all that, we need some tips and techniques to bring back our spirit!

The “growth mindset,” popularized by Carol Dweck, has become a hot topic in the education world—and rightfully so. The concepts outlined in Dweck’s book resonate with much of what teachers already know, and challenge some of the current practices of the educational system. 

Teachers know that through encouragement, goal setting, and hard work, students can develop grit, determination, and self-efficacy. Some kids walk into the classroom with their mind already “set” to be unsuccessful, but teachers have watched students who persevere become much more successful adults than other students who don’t have this trait.

We all have our favorite go-to sources for professional information—those specific education technology magazines, in-the-know influential bloggers, or even “hottest of the hot” social media sites. Each has their own unique take on the latest teaching trends and methodologies across all subject areas and instructional levels. They may review new products and services for everything from literacy to professional development. Or, they may publish the latest research studies on everything from the social-emotional factors influencing student learning to whether devices are engaging students effectively. All, in one way or another, can help us do what we do in our particular corner of the education world.

What will 2017 hold for education? We’re hitting that time of year when there will be no shortage of articles and reports with predictions describing what to expect for the coming year. So, we decided to get a jumpstart on it.

Of course, it’s tempting to be dismissive—scanning the headlines knowing that predictions (or polls!) are far from a sure bet. Yet for educators, considering trends across industries in conjunction with current developments in education is constructive, strategic, and provides an edge. It gives us insight, helps us prepare and be proactive, and makes sure that whatever we choose, it needs to help our students be college and career ready—and able to compete on a global level.

Staying informed on current developments in education—whether you’re a teacher or an administrator—will help you to expand your knowledge base and allow you to better anticipate changes, innovation, and opportunities that are on the horizon. Yet your schedule, like ours, is likely already overbooked with a combination of work, family, and social commitments.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." So, to help push the knowledge train down the tracks, we’ve compiled a short list of seven survey results, reports, and studies that we think will be beneficial to you and your colleagues.