Thanks for a Great Technology Leadership Symposium!

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 2nd annual Technology Leadership Symposium! In the fast-paced, high-demand world of managing a technology department, it's a luxury to take a day for ourselves to collaborate, refresh and recharge our vision, and consider the possibilities for moving ahead. Making the time to do so is essential if we're not going to go it alone!

Keynote speaker Sebastian Foti shook things up with his challenge to reshape the direction of instructional technology. His recounting of how we got where we are today was validating, and his explanation of the forces that are in play and the "perfect storm" that needs to be created to change course gave everyone food for thought.

Sessions focusing on delivery of instruction included integrating tablet PCs into the classroom, technology's impact on learning, teacher preparation for using technology in instruction, and Microsoft's School of the Future in Philadelphia.

Leadership presentations addressed reclaiming technology for teaching and learning, proactively managing assistive technology, collaborating with other state and regional professional organizations, and creating a statewide technology directors' professional organization.

Several statewide DOE initiatives were well-represented at the event, including online testing, data warehousing and the Education Personnel Information Management System (EPIMS) which will be rolled out autumn 2007.

Of course, tech educators are always looking for new applications that promote learning and productivity. Presentations showcasing innovative uses of technology included sessions on StarLogo TNG, RSS, podcasts, Skype, SIF and learning simulations.

Next steps include an Intel Leadership Forum and an ISTE Leadership Institute, both scheduled for later this year. Announcements of upcoming opportunities will be made on the MassCUE web site, through the MassCUE announcements list, and on the monthly MassCUE calendar.