FETC, TCEA Commemorate 25 Years of Serving Ed Tech Industry
There’s only one way to prepare for all of the exciting things that the ed tech market has in store for 2005 - by attending a conference. That’s why we hope you’ll join T.H.E. Journal at this year’s FETC (Booth 1321) and TCEA (Booth 1934) conferences to help celebrate their 25th anniversaries.
FETC 2005
Jan. 26-28, Orlando, Fla.
The Florida Educational Technology Conference, held this year from Jan. 26-28 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., has spent the last 25 years advocating and supporting the use of technology in education. And FETC 2005 will be no different as it assembles 500 companies to showcase their latest technology offerings to educators and administrators. The major change to this year’s conference is the implementation of a new schedule, which starts with opening festivities on Wednesday, Jan. 26, and includes keynote speaker Carl Hiaasen, a Florida author and award-winning journalist. The exhibit hall hours, as well as the sessions and workshops, will then run all day Thursday and Friday.
Similar to previous years, FETC 2005 will offer more than 200 concurrent sessions in which educators will share successful technology integration practices that they’ve learned in the classroom and through research. For an extra fee, educators can choose from 70 full- and half-day workshops, which offer participants a chance to learn new skills and strategies, create new materials, and explore topics in more depth than time allows in a conference breakout session.
For the first time this year, FETC publications will include Sunshine State Standards and/or ISTE’s National Educational Technology Standards for every session and workshop offered during the conference. This will help attendees identify the activities that best fit their professional development needs. The conference also features the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resource System’s Assistive Technology Hands-On Lab where educators can explore the latest in assistive devices, software and peripherals. In addition, for anyone looking to cut loose, FETC will hold its annual dance on Thursday, Jan. 27, from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with a free shuttle service running between the venue and all official FETC hotels.
For the full conference rundown on FETC 2005, visit www.fetc.org.
FETC Conference Schedule
Wednesday, January 26
Conference Registration
12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Shuttle Service
12:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Opening Session
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Carl Hiaasen
Opening Reception
8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 27
Conference Registration
7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Shuttle Service
6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
First Timers’ Session
8:30 a.m.
Concurrent Session 1
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Beverage Break
9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Concurrent Session 2
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Concurrent Session 3
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Dedicated Exhibit Hall Hour
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Concurrent Session 4
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Beverage Break
2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Concurrent Session 5
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Concurrent Session 6
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday Night Dance
8:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
(Dance Shuttle Service from official FETC hotels: 7:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.)
Friday, January 28
Conference Registration
7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Shuttle Service
7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Concurrent Session 7
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Beverage Break
9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Concurrent Session 8
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Concurrent Session 9
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Dedicated Exhibit Hall Hour
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Concurrent Session 10
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Beverage Break
2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Concurrent Session 11
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Closing Session
4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
TCEA 2005
Feb. 7-11, Austin, Texas
“Let Technology Shine” is the theme of the 25th Annual Texas Computer Education Association Conference, which is being held Feb. 7-11 in Austin, Texas. For this year’s conference, TCEA organizers have prepared a mix of old favorites and new features to help educators explore the innovations education technology has to offer. TCEA 2005’s main keynote speaker is Ron Clark, Disney’s American Teacher of the Year and author of The Essential 55, a book about the 55 expectations he has of his students and of all individuals. His message will discuss “Teaching Through Adversity - Facing Challenges and Making a Difference.” Other keynote speakers during the conference will include Williard Daggett, president of the International Center for Leadership in Education, and WebQuest creator Dr. Bernie Dodge.
This year’s TCEA comprises the traditional conference offerings with a full lineup of sessions and workshops, as well as an exhibit floor expected to have more than 300 education technology companies spotlighting their latest products and services. TCEA 2005 will also have a few new offerings for its 25th anniversary, including a curricular emphasis on mathematics topics; a TCEA Memory Museum, which explores technology’s past; the Lone Star Internet Café, which offers free coffee and cocoa, as well as access to 10 wireless laptops; the addition of ESL/bilingual session strands; and much more. In addition, TCEA provides a number of social events to take part in throughout the conference such as a golf tournament, a dinner cruise, Dell factory tours, and an outlet mall excursion.
For the full details of this year’s TCEA Conference, log on to www.tcea.org/convention/2005.
TCEA Conference Schedule
Monday, February 7
Conference Registration
7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Pre-Convention Workshops
8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Intel Workshop
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 8
Conference Registration
7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Pre-Convention Workshops
8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Technology Coordinators Academy
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
First Timers’ Session
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 9
Conference Registration
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours
9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
First Timers’ Session
7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Opening General Session
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Keynote speaker: Ron Clark
Table Talks
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 10
Conference Registration
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
BYOC (Build Your Own Computer)
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday, February 11
Conference Registration
7:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
8:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
STARS (Student Technologists Achieving Real Success)
9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
This article originally appeared in the 01/01/2005 issue of THE Journal.