ISTE23 - The Power of Connections

Last month, I had the privilege of attending the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the third time. It was an amazing experience that opened my eyes to the latest trends, innovations and best practices in educational technology. I met so many inspiring educators, leaders and learners from around the world who shared their passion, knowledge and vision for transforming education with technology.

This blogpost will share some of my key takeaways, reflections and learnings from the conference. I hope you will find them useful and inspiring as well. Feel free to leave your comments and questions below. Let's keep the conversation going!

#1 – Putting the I into ISTE Putting the international back into ISTE: The need for authentic and equitable collaboration among teachers.

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. One of the ways that ISTE promotes its vision is by fostering global collaborations among teachers, students and leaders. However, not all collaborations are created equal. As with previous conferences, many collaborations seem superficial, one-sided or tokenistic, failing to respect the diversity and agency of bot participants. To put the international back into ISTE, we need to ensure that our collaborations are authentic and equitable, meaning that they are based on mutual trust, respect, learning and benefit. Authentic and equitable collaborations require us to challenge our assumptions, listen to different perspectives, co-create meaningful projects and share resources and responsibilities. By doing so, we can enrich our professional practice, enhance our students’ learning and contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable world.

#2 – The Importance of Connections.

One powerful reason I attend conferences such as ISTE is the ability to form connections with other educators. Connections between educators in global education are important for several reasons. First, they help teachers share ideas and learn from each other across different contexts and cultures, which can enrich their pedagogical practices and enhance their students' learning outcomes. Second, they enable teachers to collaborate on solving common challenges and addressing global issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and social justice. Third, they empower teachers to participate in decision-making and policy-making processes that affect their profession and their students' futures. ISTE allows me to find my tribe and continue to build a network of like-minded peers, educators that support each other's well-being, professional development, and innovation. Therefore, connections between educators in global education are essential for transforming school systems and creating a better world.

#3 – The Future is AI. 

Finally, if there was idea that was pervasive at the conference was the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform the future of education, by providing personalized, adaptive and engaging learning experiences for students. However, having listened to educational technology leaders there is also a risk of relying too much on AI learning tools, without teaching students how to critically use them and develop their own thinking skills. AI learning tools should not replace human creativity, curiosity and problem-solving, but rather enhance them. Students should learn how to use AI as a tool, not as a crutch, and how to evaluate the reliability, validity and ethics of AI outputs. By doing so, students can become more empowered, informed and responsible learners in the age of AI.

#4 – Listening to Others. 

One of the most valuable aspects of attending the ISTE conference was listening to other educators’ voices and perspectives on various topics related to technology and education. I learned a lot from hearing about their experiences, challenges, successes, and insights in implementing innovative practices in their classrooms and schools. I also enjoyed exchanging ideas and feedback with them, as well as discovering new resources and tools that they recommended. Listening to other educators’ voices at ISTE helped me to broaden my horizons, deepen my understanding, and inspire my own professional growth. Below are just a few of these voices.

Mark Sparvell:

"ISTELive23 attracted in excess of 10,000 educators, leaders and partners to explore what's new, near and next in edtech. Not surprisingly, AI, specifically the potential of generative Ai took the lion's share of attention with the allure if hyper-personalized learning pathways, intelligent insights, original content creation and time-saving curation of learning materials. Microsoft features packed sessions on AI ethics, learning accelerators and training."

Becky Keene:

"ISTE Live was a whirlwind for me. I presented ten times and had at least a hundred hallway hugs! It was an amazing experience and I wish I had more time to attend sessions and learn from others. However, I can say from the lines at the doors that the conference showcased several prominent trends in education. One of the notable themes was the integration of emerging technologies in the classroom. Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and especially artificial intelligence (AI) were showcased as powerful tools for immersive and interactive learning experiences. the growing emphasis on personalized learning. Many of the edtech apps were showing off their newest features to meet the diverse needs of students, leveraging technology tools and data-driven insights. Additionally, I saw a huge emphasis on esports. This is one of my favorite platforms and I was so happy to see it as a focus point in the playgrounds and immersive experiences. The conference also highlighted the need for equity and inclusivity in education, with discussions on closing the digital divide and promoting diversity in curricula and instructional practices. Of course, esports is a big part of inclusion in education - so I hope participants made that connection"

Andy Knueven:

"ISTE 2023 in Philadelphia, PA was refreshing! For the blissful, beautiful, and busy days that seemed to pass in a heartbeat, I am so thankful to still look back and smile because of the most innovative, enthusiastic, and inspiring educators and people I was able to connect with. I’ll be honest that much of my time during the conference days were sharing about Flip from the session I presented in and at both the Microsoft booth and live classroom area paired with the so fun and creative Make Code. Being in these high traffic spaces, I loved how I was able to see so many phenomenal people 1, 3, or 7+ times! Talking with them about where they were coming from, going, or excited about, AI in education was certainly a common interest. Even as I shared about Microsoft Flip, whether it was introducing it to an individual for the first time or a long time Flip family and community member, it was a joy sharing Flip’s Topic Copilot then seeing their eyes light up with either a smile or awed expression realizing how helpful this addition will be in their instruction. Saving the educator time and mental strain, Flip’s Topic Copilot helps quickly generate ideas for fostering meaningful discussion with students both with the title and leading discussion questions for the topic. Though AI, we’re able to spark new conversations and deeper learning with our students we hadn’t before considered. With AI leveraged in other powerful ways in Microsoft EDU like Reading Progress, Reading Coach, Search Coach, Speaker Coach, Dictation, Windows Live Captions, and so much more, I’m excited for the next school year ahead as we’re empowering every person to achieve what they otherwise couldn’t."

Luis Oliveira:

"As I sat at Midway International Airport in Chicago trying to get through a five-hour layover, I reflected on the whirlwind of ISTELive23. It occurred to me that there were some common themes that surfaced. One was that AI is everywhere. I saw it and heard it in just about every conversation. Not a surprise to me was the fact that connecting and reconnecting was evident throughout the conference. The ever-present sound or screech of two educators meeting, embracing, and carrying on as if they had known each other for a lifetime is one of the joys of ISTE. The “people” is by far my favorite part of the experience. I connected with members of my #OGC family and made memories that will last forever. The other common theme I found is we are all tired. Most educators I spoke to mention the same issues they are facing teacher shortages and burnout, increase in discipline issues, lack of engagement, etc. The good news is that having these conversations helped me to see that I’m not alone. Saying it out loud provides support and re-energizes us to keep going. This was so needed after such a stressful year."

Amanda Macias:

"The ISTE conference in Philadelphia was a compelling journey of learning and discovery, with my participation on a panel with esteemed global educators and Wakelet exploring Web 3 and the Future of EdTech serving as a particular highlight. Yet, across the wider conference landscape, there was a noticeable tension between the promise of progressive innovation and the propensity to repackage familiar Web 2.0 resources. Bright spots like Find Your Grind, Web3 tools such as Curipod and Nolej, and the nascent yet impactful decentralized discussions offered hope for a more innovative future.

However, the conference also spotlighted areas that require urgent attention. The buzz around AI felt superficial and often remained confined to marketing spiels, while voices from outside the U.S. and equity-focused sessions were disappointingly underrepresented. The real transformative moments emerged in the margins, in the communal exchanges as we wandered Philadelphia's streets, and in quiet but profound conversations with fellow educators. Despite some representation of Web 3 via meetups by Ed3 DAO, these discussions felt almost clandestine when they should have been front and center. Reflecting on these experiences, my hopes for future conferences include not only elevating these decentralized and Web 3 discussions but also ensuring our educational community reflects the diversity, equity, and inclusivity we aim to instill in our students."

Just like in my previous experiences at ISTE, the biggest piece of advice that I would give to anyone who attends is to make sure you are focused on connecting and listening to others. The best way we can improve the learning outcomes for our students we share ideas and grow together.

Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi

With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive