Insights and observations from this year’s ISTE conference. Here’s what we learned
It goes without saying that for us, ISTE is at the top of our list of events for the K-12 industry. Nowhere can we connect with such a diverse and enormous group of insiders and experts. As you may have already heard, D2L is proud to partner with ISTE in their upcoming ISTE U project that will offer high quality professional learning content to K-12 teachers using Brightspace, which has been fully customized to support the ISTE U offering.
Words have power. We use the word "scholars" because we want them to understand that they are lifelong learners. "You are continually in the space of learning." @TheLopezEffect on her use of the word "scholars" to describe her Ss #ISTE18 #empoweredlearners pic.twitter.com/IX2k2LOIh8
— ISTE (@iste) June 27, 2018
The timing couldn’t be more perfect since the many attendees who stopped by our booth were extremely excited about the future of professional learning and advantages that technology can provide in delivering the ISTE U program.
Great take on how we might rethink telling stories to boost #visualliteracy #iste18 #SketchISTE #sketchnotes pic.twitter.com/iIJ2CXLyjw
— Tarah Tesmer (@TarahTesmer) June 27, 2018
A drive to reach more learners
There is a huge amount of passion in our industry to help teachers connect to professional learning in order to inspire and engage with students back in their classroom. ISTE U will offer a number of highly engaging courses that speak towards exactly the topics that teachers and administrators are considering right now.
“Industrial Revolution 4.0 has officially begun. Here’s the reality: 90% of the world’s data has been created in the last 2 years”-Margo Day. What are you going to do to leverage data in the classroom and address the physical and digital divide? #ISTE18 pic.twitter.com/rC2JOGg8DB
— Darren Clay (@DarrenClayEDU) June 27, 2018
Educators are eager to understand how new technologies like Artificial Intelligence can have an impact in their schools and communities. They’re interested in how they can better serve the next generation of student using the next generation of technology through online spaces, blended classroom settings, and anywhere the future learner might exist.
“Everybody has different minds. We all learn differently.” – discussing the approach in the Learning Differences course in #ISTEU. #ISTE18 pic.twitter.com/zoRA2Tgyez
— D2L (@D2L) June 27, 2018
Learn more about the courses that will be offered by visiting www.iste.org/ISTEU.

What we heard from attendees
There was obviously a lot of talk around the new ISTE U program, as well as questions about how Brightspace is being used to deliver the program. There was also a lot of buzz from teachers who were currently using Brightspace. They were interested in being able to use the same LMS for professional learning as they use in the classroom and how this could potentially save them tons of time not having to learn new technology.
Great session with #D2L user, @ProfHsieh, on using Twitter for education! 😊 #ISTE18 pic.twitter.com/bMNVc3jhfF
— D2L (@D2L) June 27, 2018
Announcing the winners!
Attendees were delighted by the VR experience we had at our booth as well as the contest that went along with it. Speaking of which – here’s who ended up walking away with some premium swag.
- Mike Mattingly
- Miranda Kerr
- Chance Harding
- Jennifer McGraner
- Travis Paulsen
- Amy Arbogash
- Danielle Brostrom
- Christie Turbeville
- Debbie Johnson
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