I recently attended the 2024 conference with the International Society for Technology in
Education (ISTE). It’s the last time ISTE, with its long running ed tech conference, will
merge with another organization, Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development, (ASCD) next year. That merger is still happening, and I could see how
the different staff and strands of the conference reflected both missions.
Like last year, the hot topics at ISTE were AI. But unlike the year before it was less on
tools or what the emerging trends were than how to integrate them. I felt there was a
deeper look at the implications of AI—and the number of vendors promoting AI-related
products attested to that.
Another way I felt ISTE was different than the years I attended was a focus more on
leadership. I saw this in my session, presented with a talented New York educator Lisa
Blank. We spoke about how education leaders can create policies and influence culture
around AI and digital citizenship. While the main audience of ISTE still is mostly in the
digital realm, there is a need for leadership to understand and navigate educational
technology. They are so integrated it’s hard to create policies without considering these
other factors.
At ISTE I was able to keep in touch with friends, colleagues, acquaintances and see
people face to face who I had only corresponded with digitally. One thing I admire about
the attendees there is a sense of optimism. Despite the doom and gloom of the media,
politics, climate change, AI and more, these educators are truly excited about the future
and dedicated to teaching the next generation. I appreciate that optimism. We need
more of it. Educational leaders need to create guidelines and policies without fear and
anxiety. And any educational policies need to include the ethics, the rights and
responsibilities, all of which are covered in digital citizenship.
