Why districts must share their edtech successes

As new technologies emerge with new opportunities for widening our perspectives and education methods adapt and transform, it is essential that successful districts share what works.

Education is a practice. It is through practice, pedagogy, and intentional strategies that we improve teaching and learning to be constantly improving. The role of educational leadership is to guide this practice to maintain the focus on constantly improving student outcomes, access, equity and achievement. K12 education is at an inflection point, driven by technological advancements, and cultural and economic shifts. Districts and schools are looking to create resilient learning ecosystems, supported by digital teaching and learning to prepare all students for the future. Due to this constantly evolving nature of education, education is constantly striving to learn from practices that work. Sharing your professional work with others in the community provides evidence that demonstrates effective best practices.

Jennifer Womble, FETC Conference Chair.

The Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) is an annual meeting where those who are constantly learning and leading have synthesized new methods and technologies into classroom instruction and share their best practices to improve the entire ecosystem. It is essential, as educational leaders and educators, that we share and constantly support and encourage evolving pedagogy. As new technologies emerge with new opportunities for widening our perspectives and education methods adapt and transform, it is essential that successful districts share what works, and as continuous learners, those in the education space must continuously listen and implement successful practices, reflect and strategize about ways to incorporate new technologies and methodologies into schools to improve for the future.

I recently heard Barnett College President Suzanne Walsh reflect on the current state of the world and our education system by using the military term VUCA: volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. This acronym is often used to describe the challenges of operating in a turbulent and rapidly changing environment, one for which leaders require navigation skills. Volatility represents a condition where events unfold in unexpected ways and with uncertain frequency. Uncertainty describes a lack of event predictability, making it difficult to apply lessons learned in the past to predict future outcomes. Complexity refers to problems with multilayered, intermingled causes that drive ineffective reactions and counter-reactions. Ambiguity limits clarity and makes the one-size-fits-all answer of yesterday ineffective today. A critical defense to VUCA environments is leadership that empowers change—understanding and clarity require leaders to often leave their comfort zones and defer to the expertise of others. When done with an open mind and a clear heart, this can earn trust and is viewed as a strength. FETC provides the expertise needed to thrive in a VUCA climate.

During this precarious time in education, it is more important than ever that people converge to have conversations about successful implementations and share strategies that are effective in the modern age. When schools and districts share what works (and what doesn’t) with others, learning ecosystems flex much like our adaptable brains where leaders and teachers experience plasticity to adapt and apply new tools and technologies to learning practices. In order to personalize learning, you must first capture the interests and curiosities and passions of those seeking solutions. FETC captures that information through our attendees to design content annually that is intentionally aligned with the people who attend to improve practice in every district.


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FETC is a place where continuous learners can communicate and partner with the latest educational technology companies to produce outcomes that meet the needs of their students. Building community happens on the investigative trail for designing curriculum strategies methods and best practices. FETC offers senior decision-making strategies to administrators as they discover emerging edtech trends, skills and education technology vendors with the opportunity to build connections. We aim to provide thought leadership, world-class content and networking opportunities to our communities with the ultimate goal of driving real-world implementation that solves current and future classroom challenges.

Now is the time to submit your best strategies for improving district, leadership, and classroom learning. Through ideation, other educational leaders can learn and adapt, and modify their own programs to match the success and student outcomes. Speakers at FETC are selected with the goal of sharing how to build skills, strategies and implementation techniques so that what is learned at the conference can be immediately used to impact student engagement.

The request for proposals is currently open on the FETC website (www.fetc.org), and we are asking that those on the journey of transforming education submit their application to present to lift up the entire education community with knowledge, skills, intentional practices, informed pedagogy and transformative implementations. There is no learning without joy and play, so FETC encourages presenters to share sessions and engage the education community in the hopes of bringing together diverse minds and experiences to help create a path forward for the future of education.

FETC invites K12 education professionals representing all content areas and specialties, as well as industry leaders and technology experts, to submit cutting-edge education technology presentations to the Request for Proposals for our 44th Annual Future of Education Technology Conference to be held on January 23-26, 2024, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The most dynamic and creative minds in the learning landscape—superintendents, administrators, district leaders, state and national policy leaders, IT directors, CIOs, instructional and technology coaches, media specialists and educators—will gather at FETC to take part in this four-day exchange of ideas and techniques about how technology is unlocking new ways to teach and elevate learning.

We’re looking for charismatic, innovative and articulate speakers to deliver original presentations addressing the latest trends in emerging technologies, leadership strategies for driving organizational change, innovations in pedagogy and proven practices for inclusion, equality, security, skill-building and well-being for school districts to utilize as they ensure impact, efficacy and the use of technology. Share your educational technology methods, tools and implementations in compelling thought leadership sessions, skill-building hands-on workshops and interactive presentations for senior-level strategists and education professionals committed to the future of teaching and learning.

Curious about how district leaders transform schools preparing students for the future? They learn from others, share best practices and encourage adaptation. If you are chosen to present after submitting a proposal, you will not only gain the respect of your peers and an opportunity to network with the nation’s leading education technology experts, you will also receive FREE registration and the opportunity to fuel inspiration for forward-thinking teaching and learning with your session topics producing a better future by transforming education.

Don’t delay, submit your proposal today! The deadline for submission is June 5, 2023.

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