Coverage of the FETC Conference

Here you'll find coverage of the FETC conference. The 2017 National Conference is being held Jan. 24–27 in Orlando, FL. We're providing news from the show floor and session highlights from the event. You'll also find coverage of past FETC events deeper in these archives. For show schedule, registration information, and other details about the conference itself, visit FETC.org.


School Specialty To Unveil 2012 Product Line at FETC

School Specialty, a provider of educational products and services, will introduce its new line of classroom technology solutions at FETC 2012 next week.

A Back Channel for Learning

Edmodo, the secure social networking tool designed for education, is the official social media application of FETC 2012. T.H.E. Journal talked with Betsy Whalen, Edmodo's vice president of community engagement, to find out how attendees can get the most out of using Edmodo for their conference-going experience.on the most important elements of any sustainability effort.

Experience FETC Every Month

Introducing FETC Learning Network, a brand new electronic newsletter especially for the FETC community. Delivered straight to your e-mail inbox each month, T.H.E. Journal will continue the learning you experienced at FETC 2012.

FETC 2012 Opens With Tech Shoot Out

FETC 2012 gets off to a very quick start Tuesday morning with the third annual "Technology Shoot-Out." Four experts in the world of educational technology who travel the country all year will spend a fast-moving 90 minutes running through the latest, most exciting gadgets, programs, and learning and teaching tools.

Conference Slate Continues to Expand

Since the preliminary slate of keynotes, workshops, and concurrent sessions for FETC 2012 was released late last year, there have been dozens of additions. Every one of them offers something of value to attendees, but here are a few selected additions that demonstrate the technologies that drive school excellence. A complete up-to-date listing of all events is available in the print program at FETC or at fetc.com.

The Three Key Literacies

Heidi Hayes Jacobs, is the founder and president of Curriculum Designers, executive director of the National Curriculum Mapping Institute and Academy, and author of the groundbreaking "Curriculum 21: Essential Education for a Changing World." T.H.E. Journal Contributing Writer Jennifer Demski recently sat down with Hayes Jacobs, who will keynote this year's FETC, to discuss why educators must embrace curriculum reform, the impact of the Common Core State Standards on her approach to upgrading curriculum, and her goal for the future of K-12 education.

Mobile Technology Changes the Game

As schools start to place mobile technologies in the hands of every student, the traditional use of the classroom PC is waning. Education technology consultant and FETC 2012 speaker Brent Williams talks about the challenges ahead and why going mobile is in everyone's best interest.

3 Shots To Caffeinate Your Presentations

Author and presentation expert Lynell Burmark offers three concrete tips for teachers to improve their PowerPoint presentations and better engage students.

The Best Free Web 2.0 Tools for Schools

The term Web 2.0 has been around a while. Some may even consider it passe. Nevertheless, according to Steve Dembo, there's still something to say about the topic.

Michael Wesch: It's a 'Pull, Pull' World

Educators play a critical role in the development of the essential skills students need to navigate the blizzard of unfiltered information available to them via the Web. Michael Wesch, associate professor of cultural anthropology at Kansas State University, said he believes they should also be fostering something more basic: curiosity and imagination.