Beyond Pokemon: Virtual and Augmentative Reality for STEM, Instructional Demands of Digital Assessments, What to Expect From Artificial Intelligence in K-12. These are some of the thought-provoking sessions I’ll be attending at ISTE 2017.  Almost 20,000 technologists and educators from around the world will be in San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center for the annual conference. From Sunday, June 25 through Wednesday, June 28, we’ll have access to over 1,000 sessions on how technology creates the most engaging learning environments possible. 

The ISTE conference team has lots of new things planned this year. Here’s a run-down by EdTech Focus On K-12 editor Meghan Bogardus Cortez. 

You can always expect discussions about the role of the federal government in funding education, and with all the happenings in Washington this year, those discussions will take on added significance. Based on my discussions with other leaders planning to attend, the Federal Ed Tech Policy & Funding in the Trump Era session will be well-attended. We’ll all be fathoming what to expect in terms of federal technology funding, E-Rate, and the future requirements for standardized assessments.

On the expo floor, you’ll be able to see the latest breakthroughs in networking infrastructure for education at Extreme’s booth #2932. Experts will be on hand to help solve your networking challenges and plan your EdTech infrastructure for the future. Here’s a look at our plans for conference.

• Live Booth Demos: Our newest products and solutions will be on-site for attendees to see and test out. You’ll explore how to create engaging, connected in-classroom experiences for personalized learning and online assessments. Live demonstrations include:
• New combination surveillance camera and Wi-Fi access points
• Network analytics
• High-density Wi-Fi solutions
• Cloud-based network management solution

• Product Announcement: While I can’t share everything yet, we are looking forward to announcing a new update to our ExtremeManagement™ solution that even more easily supports Google Apps for Education and BYOD. Stay tuned for details!
• Special Guest: Bruce Matthews, Hall of Famer and former offensive lineman for the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans, will be at our booth. Stop by to pose for a picture and meet the Extreme team while you’re at it.

  

• Hospitality Event: On Tuesday, June 27 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., we will be hosting an event at the nearby Tower of the Americas for existing and prospective customers. Join us to network with Extreme customers and our team while enjoying the beautiful view. Email Brittany Silveria at bsilveri@extremenetworks.com for more information.  

Learn more about ISTE 2017 and register for a VIP booth tour to receive a $15 Amazon gift card by visiting our events page.  Be sure to join the conversation on Twitter at #ISTE17 and follow the official conference handle @isteconnects. I’ll by tweeting my experience at the show and blogging daily. Be sure to follow me at @RHNilsson and stay tuned to the blog for updates. Also follow @ExtremeNetworks, @EXTR_K12, and @ExtremoMonkey.

Hope to see you there!