|
|
About CoSN's K-12 School Networking Conference
Each year, CoSN holds the premier national technology leadership conference dedicated to policy and effective implementation from the school district, state and national perspectives. The conference attracts more than 900 key technology decision-makers seeking to learn from other leaders as we define the future of the Internet and information technologies in our nation's schools.
Conference Theme
The 2007 conference theme is Bridging Individualized Learning and High Stakes Accountability.
Perhaps the greatest opportunity that technology offers K-12 education is to personalize learning. This is happening as education is being held to higher standards. Parents, communities, stakeholders and policy makers are demanding higher degrees of accountability and our students - the new digital natives - arrive at our schools expecting new and different ways of learning.
At CoSN’s 12th Annual K-12 School Networking Conference, school technology leaders and decision makers will examine how new technologies are being used to individualize learning; best practices; and what research tells us about how technologies can improve student achievement. The program will focus on:
- Visionary leadership: What role does leadership have on technology implementation?
- Leadership skills: What’s essential for technology decision makers to help lead accountability and learning?
- Assessment and Accountability: What is the role of the district level technology leader in assuring accountability for results?
- Individualizing student learning: How are schools leveraging technology to advance student learning and what can our families and stakeholders expect?
- The total cost of technology: How can school districts keep up with the challenge of ever-changing technologies and ever-shrinking budgets?
- The use of data: How does data-based decision-making lead to a transformation in teaching and learning?
- The role of students: What role do students have and are we really listening to their wants and needs?
- Accessible technologies: How can accessible technologies support increased achievement for all students?
- The impact of technology use: What is the Value of Investment?
- Best practices from around the world: What can we learn from our international colleagues?
Program strands include:
- Content and Integration
This strand will showcase best practices in the use of information—such as digital content—and communication technologies for student learning. These presentations may be content specific or examples of technologies infused across multiple content areas within the classroom and beyond the classroom including virtual, distance, and online learning. Presentations will focus on how schools are leveraging technology to advance student learning; what parents, stakeholders, and the community can expect from K-12 education; the voice of the student; and accessible technology—how does it help all students learn better?
- Accountability and Assessment (Benchmarking, Formative & Summative/High Stakes)
This strand will provide participants with an in-depth look at the use of data-driven decision-making and instructional planning, accountability and assessment technology systems for interim and high-stakes testing, including interoperability technologies), and standards, open technologies, and virtualization.
- Leadership for Transformation
This strand describes the technology leader’s role in using technology in teaching and learning, including the importance of developing a shared vision, and serving as a change-agent and consensus-builder to develop consensus and buy-in.
- Innovative use of Emerging Technologies
This strand will showcase leading-edge school districts in their use of emerging technologies and innovative applications, and share how these districts are educating public, private, and legislative decision-makers about technologies as they are implemented and applied in their schools.
- Professional Development for Technology Leaders
This strand will focus on best practices and key elements in professional learning for technology-rich educational environments. For K-12 technology leaders, an understanding of professional development requirements and guidelines is particularly important for two reasons: (1) Technology-related professional development efforts must comply with standard NCLB requirements for high-quality professional development—as well as with specific guidelines about the types of technology training that qualify for federal funding and (2) in many states and districts, technology is being used in a wide array of high-quality professional development offerings, on topics that go far beyond technology literacy.
- Supporting Research for Technology Implementation
This strand will provide a strategic look at how technologies will impact future education based on research and best practices from around the world.
- One-to-One Leadership
This strand will highlight many of the state and district programs throughout the country which seek to provide “anytime, anywhere” computer access to students the teachers, and is doing so, transform teaching and learning.
- Open Technologies
Open Technologies are becoming part of the toolkit technology leaders can draw on in creating efficient and effective educational environments. The sessions in this strand cover the fundamental areas associated with implementing and integrating open technologies into districts, schools, and classrooms. Examine the ins and outs of adopted and emerging interoperability standards such as SIF and SCORM so you can be an even more informed consumer. Learn how open source software is transforming technology use in schools, from the back office to the desktop. Explore the details of implementation of 'all things open' from those who have been there before you. Transform how you plan to adopt open applications and open content through in-depth demonstrations of some of the most popular and innovative open source applications. These sessions will OPEN your mind to the opportunities for getting involved with the highly responsive and engaging open technology communities.
Who Should Attend?
- District-level CTOs, CIOs and Technology Directors
- District-level Directors for Curriculum, Budget, Professional Development and Assessment
- Superintendents and Principals
- County/Intermediate Unit Technology Coordinators
- Representatives from state and national education associations
- State and Federal government officials
- Representatives of the private sector
- ICT (Information & Communication Technology) leaders from around the world
5 Great Reasons to Attend
- Discuss challenges and creative solutions with fellow leaders using the Internet and technologies to improve learning.
- Improve your skills and increase your knowledge through top-notch educational sessions.
- Discover the most up-to-date information on key education technology issues that affect your work every day.
- Learn about new and emerging technologies.
- Discuss concerns and understand their policy implications.
About CoSN
Founded in 1992, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), a national non-profit organization, is the premier voice in education technology leadership. CoSN’s mission is to advance the K-12 education community’s capacity to effectively use technology to improve teaching and learning through advocacy, policy and leadership development. CoSN’s members represent school districts, state and local education agencies, nonprofits, companies and individuals who share our vision. For more information visit www.cosn.org.
|
