The annual Future of Education Technology Conference has worked to connect education leaders and technology experts and solution providers for 36 years – and 2017 will be no different. Those who have attended in the past know that FETC promises a variety of sessions and workshops plus vendors exhibiting the most innovative ed tech solutions available. Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect in 2017:
Keynote Sessions
Kicking things off will be “Awesome New Technology,” which will spotlight new products available for classroom and district use. Focused on the latest and greatest solutions, this keynote will feature live product demonstrations by major education solution providers including Amazon Education, Discovery Education, EON Reality, Facebook and Microsoft. During “A Wake-Up Call: Breaking Down Barriers to High-Impact Instruction,” Michael Meechin, assistant principal, School District of Osceola County, will explore new ways to identify and implement technologies, while keeping students and parents engaged. The third and final keynote, will be the popular Tech Share LIVE! Session, providing a first look at the most exciting gadgets, apps, hardware and software in education technology. Lots of hot technologies and new ideas taking to the stage.
Focus on Special Education
A brand new addition to the conference, the Special Education track is designed to provide attendees the opportunity to take part in a series of special ed-specific workshops and sessions. This track is geared toward the needs of special ed directors, superintendents, Section 504 coordinators, assistive technology specialists, and special and general educators. These presentations will include advice to help attendees select technology to help students with disabilities access state standards and progress toward Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals. Select sessions will include: The Future of Special Ed: Promising Practices to Support Students with Disabilities in Online and Blended Settings; Special Ed Tech: Using Google Apps to Assist Students, Manage Staff and Monitor Caseloads; and The Assistive Technology Top 10: What Every Educator and Administrator Needs to Know.
New Information Technology Track
Another addition to the FETC agenda is the Information Technology track, which will spotlight the cutting-edge technologies and strategies that can take student learning to that next level. Designed with the needs of chief information and technology officers, IT directors, IT staff and network administrators in mind, the IT track will address issues of technology infrastructure, networks, data administration, security and internet access. Comprised of 12 interactive workshops and 18 engaging sessions all related to IT, highlights from the IT track include- Understanding Impact: Tools for Evaluating Your Technology Initiative; Leveraging a Digital Ecosystem to Transform Teaching and Learning; The “Rule of Two:” How to Eliminate Common IT Helpdesk Bottlenecks; and Crash Course: 10 Steps for Schools to Take Back Student Data Privacy.
STEM Excellence Awards
The FETC STEM Excellence Awards recognize innovation in the field of STEM education, with winners selected from the primary, middle and high school levels. Each award application is evaluated based on the STEM experiences offered along with the use of Interdisciplinary Curriculum, Collaboration, Design and Problem Solving. During the conference, finalists of the FETC STEM Excellence Awards will be asked to present alongside STEM experts from across the country on the best tools, strategies and solutions to inspire students. Winners will be formally recognized during the STEM Excellence Awards presentation. The application deadline for award entries is November 10, 2016. After this date, the awards advisory board will meet to select the finalists. This information will be posted online ahead of the conference. To apply, visit: http://fetc.org/stem_awards.html.
In total, FETC 2017 has more than 150 hands-on workshops plus over 400 sessions spanning five program tracks. The expo hall will featuring some 400 leading solution providers, offering demonstrations of today’s most innovative technologies. More information about specific tracks, session and workshops is available at www.FETC.org. Register now to save off the 2017 ed tech event at www.FETC.org/register.html
We look forward to hosting you this January in Orlando!
