High Tech Organizations Can Facilitate High Touch Networking Margaret Johnson Assistant to the Chair Curriculum and Instruction Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL Professional organizations are special keys to unlock multiple doors that lead toward professional growth. Most teachers are familiar with content organizations in their fields that provide a variety of opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills. For example, high school English teachers belong to and attend state and national conferences sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE: http://www.ncte.org); middle school teachers might attend meetings sponsored by the National Middle School Association (NMSA: http://www.nmsa.org). Each organization has its own guiding principles, standards and recommendations for best practice - all available now online. Most organizations also have their own journals, materials, and special interest groups. Many K-12 teachers, however, are not aware of, nor do they benefit from, technology organizations. A number of technology-related professional organizations exist that can provide useful information and professional growth opportunities for teachers. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE: http://www.iste.org). is perhaps one of the best-known technology organizations with strands for K-12 teachers. ISTE is a primary partner in the development of the NETS (National Education Technology Standards) and is a strong force for technology integration in the classroom. ISTE presents NECC (National Educational Computing Conference) annually, a well-attended forum linked to the NETS. How to Benefit Professional technology organizations such as the two listed above provide a wide variety of professional growth opportunities and activities for K-12 teachers interested in exploring, and touting, the use of technology in the classroom. Conferences Conferences are one of the best ways for new teachers to get involved in and benefit from professional organizations. Below are brief summaries of tech conference highlights. Exhibits: The exhibit room is sometimes the most exciting aspect of the conference! Large conferences, like NECC, have hundreds and hundreds of exhibitors eager to show you the latest technologies for use in the classroom. New equipment is showcased, and new software always makes its debut in the exhibit room. Teachers can walk away with freebies, such as software demos, mousepads, retractable telephone cables, briefcases and more. Fun activities, like a scavenger hunt, sometimes ensure multiple day attendance in the exhibit room. Some conferences have sign-up give-aways, but be prepared to be contacted by a salesperson later in the season! It's so easy for vendors to swipe your registration card and download your contact information at a tech conference! Your group will undoubtedly find something your school just can't live without. The ISTE site provides a month-by-month educational technology conference calendar with sites throughout the world. Presentations: As teachers we've all been to, and made, presentations in different venues. Presentations at technology conferences usually center on best practices - what works. If you attend a presentation, it will likely be themed and contained within a 50-minute period. Different strands run throughout the sessions; meeting technology standards, assessment, and e-portfolios are just a few of the strands that might be addressed. If you are presenting, you will probably only need bring a CD or "stick" to make your presentation. Equipment is usually provided for conference presenters. Tours: Some tech conferences offer tours as part of the registration package. You can sometimes visit schools in the conference vicinity and see how technology is used to teach students at all levels. These tours generally last at least a half day and must be registered for in advance. If you like to visit other school sites, meet with other teachers, and maybe even begin an e-correspondence, tours are the activity for you. Hands-On: Hands-on opportunities abound at tech conferences. Not only will you be shown the latest in hardware and software, but you'll also have ample opportunities to try both. Stations may be set up in a heavy-flow area where you can try software for the blind; or you may experiment with new art-ware. Blue-Tooth software is usually used to transmit conference programs and information to conference attendees who have their PDAs and pocket PCs with them. You'll find e-mail rooms or stations to check your e-mail if you didn't bring your laptop, but you'll also find that the conference site has been wired for airport access to the Internet. Whatever your tech interest, you'll most likely find a way to have a hands-on encounter. Workshops: Half-day or all-day workshops are sometimes available before the main conference begins. Workshop topics, fees and dates are available online. Keynote Speakers: All conferences have keynote speakers, experts who address the general audience about issues and organization agendas. Technology conferences bring in a wide range of technology professionals, some of whom are educators with first hand experience in the K-12 classroom. These experts can not only provide you with valuable insights, but also give you a shot of enthusiasm that can help you return to your own classroom with renewed vigor. Continued on the next page . . . © The Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Board of Higher Education, and Illinois State Board of Education, in conjunction with a Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers To Use Technology (PT3) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, funded this project to infuse technology into the core curriculum at Illinois Community Colleges and Universities.