Presenting At ISTE17

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I was honored to receive an email from ISTE today letting me know that I will be presenting at #ISTE17 in San Antonio this summer!

I'm looking forward to the opportunity to reconnect with members of my PLN and learn from edtech leaders about great instructional technology ideas, apps, and best practices for the classroom and beyond the classroom walls!

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Resources
Apps: 
TouchCast
TouchCast Studio
TouchCast is available for iOS and for Windows.

Only Five Weeks Until ISTE 2013!

That's right, just five weeks until ISTE 2013 begins!  I have paid my registration, booked my flight and hotel room, and now I just have to wait a little longer...

 

I began looking at the program online the other day and am excited that there will be so many great sessions and keynotes to attend.  Gamification in education has been a hot topic for the past couple years, so I'm really looking forward to Jane McGonigal's opening keynote.  The idea of capitalizing on students' love of games and the amount of time that they dedicate on a daily basis to playing them and somehow bringing some of that interest into the classroom is always enticing to me as I'm trying to think of ways to build students' interests in traditional classroom content.  Perhaps we should be taking a lesson from students and morphing that traditional content and 20th Century delivery system to match better with student interests to move in the direction of personalized learning which will allow the educational system to offer students an opportunity to engage in a more student-centered, collaborative system driven by student choice.

This year I am hoping to actually have a plan of which sessions I want to attend created in advance.  Wishful thinking?  We'll see as the school year winds down if I can squeeze in the time to check out the online program in more depth.

ISTE13 San Antonio - Things To Do And Places To Visit - Tower Of The Americas

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Do you have a fear of heights, snakes, or great food?

If you answered "no," then make sure that you squeeze in time during your ISTE visit to stop by the 750 foot tall Tower of the Americas and take a trip to the top to the Observation Deck to experience the 360 degree panoramic view of the city and learn about how the Texas state flag has changed over time.  You can get a preview of the amazing view here.

Make sure that you also allow time for the 4D Skies Over Texas Theater Ride that is included in your Tower visit ticket price. Spoiler alert - If you have a fear of snakes, go with a friend so you will know when it's safe to open your eyes again!

If you plan in advance, you can also make a reservation to dine at the Chart House and enjoy a great dinner and the rotating view at the same time.

If you do have a fear of heights, you can still stop by the gift shop on the first floor to pick up a souvenir.

More information about hours and ticket prices available here.



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ISTE13 San Antonio - Things To Do And Places To Visit - The River Walk

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You can't visit San Antonio without taking a stroll along the number one tourist attraction in the entire state of Texas, the Paseo del Rio better known as the River Walk!

The River Walk is lined with outdoor tables with colorful umbrellas, restaurants, hotels, and shops.  You can even take a boat tour of the River Walk.

More information about the River Walk and a directory of hotels, restaurants, and shops located on the River Walk is available here.

Click here for maps showing the River Walk path along San Antonio streets and hotel locations.

ISTE13 San Antonio - Things To Do And Places To Visit - The Alamo

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Remember The Alamo!

If you plan to incorporate a little sightseeing into your trip to ISTE, then you probably want to make time to visit one of the top "Must See" locations in San Antonio - The Alamo!

Although the battle in 1836 was lost, the historical mission still stands today as a symbol of courage and sacrifice for liberty.

Squeezing in a tour of the Alamo and posing for a quick photo or two with the famous backdrop may be a bit tricky though since the landmark tours take place between 9:00 to 5:30 Monday through Thursday, 10:00 to 5:30 on Sunday, and 9:00 to 7:00 on Friday and Saturday. If you're looking for a Coonskin Cap or Texas Ranger Badge souvenir, you may want to plan your visit early in the week just in case supplies run out!

Admission is free.  More details available here.


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