Eugene, OR

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Mark your calendars! ISTE's NECC, the world's premiere interactive educational technology event, is set for June 28 through July 1, 2009 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Reduced, super-early-bird registration is now being offered for the conference, which is sponsored by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE(r)).

This year marks the 30th anniversary of NECC, the National Educational Computing Conference. Presented by ISTE in cooperation with the Maryland Instructional Computer Coordinators Association (MICCA) and the Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE), NECC has become an annual meeting ground for more than 18,000 teachers, teacher educators, technology coordinators, library media specialists, administrators, policy makers and industry representatives.

"As we build this year's program we're exploring fundamental questions about what it means to be a digital citizen in a digital age," says Leslie Conery, ISTE's deputy CEO and NECC conference chair. "How do we prepare students for living and working in a global society and increasingly complex world? What new knowledge and skills are needed for productive collaboration in the 21st century? And what types of learning environments foster the development of those skills?"

NECC 2009 in Washington, D.C. will leverage ISTE's 30th anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate the past, honor the present and envision the future of technology-supported education. Some of the themes being explored at the conference include the role of technology in school improvement, the use of technology and the ethics and equity of equal access, and the construction of a technological infrastructure that supports effective teaching, learning, and administration. ISTE's NECC features myriad interactive learning formats from hands-on workshops to bring-your-own-laptop sessions, special interest playgrounds, and multi-faceted networking opportunities for participants. NECC is designed with community in mind and provides many ways for attendees to teach and learn with each other even after the face-to-face event is over.

For registration information and a complete schedule of events and topics, go to www.iste.org/necc/.

For 30 years, NECC has provided K-20 education professionals with an annual forum to learn, exchange, and survey advancements in the field of educational technology. Through hands-on and discussion-based workshops, lectures and interactive sessions, discussions with key industry speakers, and the largest vendor exhibition of its kind, ISTE's NECC offers participants the unique opportunity to discover and share what they need to develop the appropriate use of technology in their classrooms, districts, and universities. More than 700 local, regional and national volunteers are involved in the event.

Online registration and a preliminary schedule for NECC 2009 are now available at www.iste.org/necc/. Housing reservations are available online now. Conference updates, including travel information and keynote speakers, will be posted as soon as they become available.

Full registration materials, including workshop titles and a schedule of social events, will be available in February, 2009 at the Web site or by phoning toll-free (800) 280-6218. International inquiries should be directed to (541) 346-3537.

Applications for exhibit space are available online at www.iste.org/necc/, or by phoning NECC 2009 Exhibit Management at (800) 280-6218 or (541) 346-3537. The fax number is (541) 346-3509; e-mail is neccexhibits@iste.org/.

About ISTE

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the trusted source for professional development, knowledge generation, advocacy and leadership for innovation. ISTE is the premier membership association for educators and education leaders engaged in improving teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in PK-12 and teacher education. Home of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS), the Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET), and the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), ISTE represents more than 100,000 professionals worldwide. We support our members with information, networking opportunities and guidance as they face the challenge of transforming education.

Visit www.iste.org to learn more about ISTE and its new initiatives -- including the next generation of NETS for Students, Teachers and Administrators.

ISTE is the registered trademark of International Society for Technology in Education.

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Marlene Nesary

Media Contact

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

Eugene, OR

541-302-3789