Here is a look at new developments and upcoming events from national edtech organizations: CoSN releases an annual survey of school technology leaders; a recent SETDA report highlights impact of IT leaders; AECT accepts applications for early career symposium; ASIS offers new guidelines for hiring and training security personnel; and the ISTE19 Conference & Expo announces program for its June event.
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) identifies cybersecurity as the top priority for school system technology administrators. CoSN’s annual K12 Annual IT Leadership Survey Report says the top challenges IT leaders face include the lack of budget resources, the need for more professional development and the removal of department silos. Ninety-five percent of respondents expressed concern over closing the homework gap, whereas last year, 30 percent of technology leaders said that digital equity was not an important issue for their department. Read more.
The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) released a new national report, State K-12 Broadband Leadership: Driving Connectivity, Access and Student Success. This report highlights the powerful impact of state leadership in driving critical policy decisions at the state level to support broadband networks, bandwidth capacity, Wi-Fi implementation, and off campus access for low-income families. It includes examples of states providing leadership for effective and efficient broadband and Wi-Fi implementation and case studies for Connecticut, Kentucky and Minnesota and includes an online State K12 Broadband Leadership map.
The Association for Educational Communications and Technology’s (AECT) Research and Theory Division is accepting applications through May 10 for participants for its 2019 Early Career Symposium, which will be held at the annual AECT International Convention Oct. 21-22 in Las Vegas. The symposium will engage participants in career building mentoring and networking. Ten early career faculty applicants will be selected through a competitive application process. The symposium is focused on faculty members who have received their terminal degree in the last five years. Five advanced doctoral student applicants will also be selected. The symposium includes a pre-symposium webinar focused on funding and proposal writing followed by two half-days as part of the AECT Annual Meeting.
American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) released the ASIS Private Security Officer Selection and Training Guide (ASIS PSO-2019), a set of recommendations for establishing and managing a program for developing private security officers. The guideline focuses on three key areas of a private security officer selection and training program—its development, implementation, and improvement. The framework comprises establishment of policies and procedures, roles and responsibilities resources, selection criteria and more.
The International Society for Technology in Education’s (ISTE) ISTE19 takes place June 23-26 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The conference offers three days of active learning with more than 1,400 sessions, including playgrounds presented by educators and students that explore critical topics such as STEM, computer science, creativity and design. The event also features TED-partner sessions, a NASA makerspace, an educator hack-a-thon and experiential field trips throughout Philadelphia. The expo hall showcases over 500 vendors and hands-on edtech experiences—from artificial intelligence to 3D printing to virtual reality. 2018 National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning will discuss how edtech can help learning become more inclusive. In conjunction with that, artist Phil Hansen will discuss the impact that nerve damage had on his life and how it led him to see “limitations as a source for creativity.” Read more.
