Remember the joy of Christmas morning, unwrapping that dream gift or visiting with family? Now imagine that joy as an adult and an educator at the ISTE conference. Turn up the air so you can grab a cozy blanket and a cup of hot chocolate, and please let me tell you five reasons it has become my Christmas in June (move over Hallmark).
5. Expo Hall Extravaganza
Walking through the expo hall at ISTE is like wandering through a Christmas market-without the snow! Techie teacher and non-techie teachers alike can find countless treasures to enhance their classroom instruction. More than 400 vendors attended ISTE, and leaving with 19 pounds of swag in my suitcase, I think I probably visited most of them. Additionally, the expo hall is a fantastic opportunity for mini-sessions. Many booths like Bookcreator, WeVideo, Quizizz, Genially, and so many more offered 30-60 minute sessions from educator experts on a variety of ways to use their platform. The expo hall is a treasure trove of knowledge in so many ways.
4. Evening MeetUps & Mixers
After a long day of learning, educators need to let loose a bit. I’m here to say, ISTE meetups are the summer version of Christmas parties, y’all. I had so much fun sampling German food at the DiscoveryEd meetup, observing traditional games from Norway at the Curipod meetup, and enjoying dueling pianos with EduGuardians and Week of AI participants at the Brisk meetup. Just like Christmas parties, these mixers leave you feeling connected, rejuvenated, and ready to learn more the next day!
3. Meeting EdTech Heros
Do you remember standing in line to see Santa? Remind anyone else of that line at Quizizz to get Ken Shelton to sign your book? ISTE provides a perfect opportunity to meet, chat, and learn from your edtech role models. I had the opportunity to meet and hug Barbara Bray (you better believe I fangirled), I chatted with Carl Hooker walking down the hallway, I took one of my favorite pictures ever with Jenn Womble, and I had the opportunity to present with Erika Sandstrom. These are the people who continue to inspire me and many have graciously offered both friendship and guidance along my journey. Just like Santa, they bring a sense of wonder and possibility to the world of education.
2. Catching Up with EdTech Friends
Anyone else recall spending the first days of Christmas vacation anxiously awaiting cousins from distant locations to finally arrive? I remember how much I looked forward to my cousins arriving from Missouri, and I feel that same energy waiting for the arrival of edtech friends at ISTE. Educators from all over the US, and even the world, landed in Denver for this conference. Among many others, I was so excited to see Gerilyn Williams. Just like a cousin who lives across the country, we stay connected on social media, but I hadn’t actually seen her since the previous ISTE in Philly. This is just one example of many, but it alone proves the joy of catching up, sharing stories, and learning from one another is unparalleled.
1. Connecting with New Friends
With approximately 16,000 people in attendance, ISTE is a place not just to reunite with friends, but the perfect place to connect with new ones. Every element of ISTE from walking down the hallway to standing in line for a session offers the opportunity to connect with new friends. While trading cards with fellow EduGuardians at the Figma Booth, I was able to connect with so many new friends. Just like the carolers who bring seasonal joy to your doorstep, ISTE offers you innumerable opportunities to enrich your professional and personal life by expanding your professional learning family.
If you have not attended ISTE, I encourage you to contemplate the possibility in 2025. I know I’m already excited to discover San Antonio. Like Christmas, ISTE is truly a time of excitement, discovery, and connection for educators. The conference brings out a feeling of childlike wonder in me as well as reminding me why I fell in love with teaching in the first place.
-Christie Cloud
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