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Current update - June 29, 2009

Greetings from the National Education Computing Conference (NECC) in Washington, DC

This is the 30th anniversary of the NECC event. Having it in Washington, D.C. the week before the 4th of July seems especially appropriate as policy makers and Congress move ahead on new educational initiatives that have technology at their core. Sunday evening I attended a press conference with Aneesh Chopra (the nation’s first Chief Technology Officer) and Jim Shelton (new Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education). Their comments centered on how technology must do more than serve as the vehicle for data warehouses in education and begin to impact instruction more directly. They asked for stories about how technology has affected student performance and changed the way teachers teach (I think we have a few of those from your eMINTS classrooms).

At the conference, there are many interesting and exciting presentations including several by eMINTS-affiliated presenters. Doug Caldwell and Angie Esser have both a concurrent and special workshop called “What’s in a Technology Trainer’s Toolbox?” Their workshop for Wednesday, July 1 is sold out. Regina Seaman, eMINTS teacher from Branson, MO, has a poster session on multimedia art projects for elementary students. Diana Dell, eMINTS teacher from the St. Louis area, has a session on free Moodle course space and online training. Have I missed anyone?

Congratulations to these staff and teachers for having their presentations accepted and for all the hard work getting them ready. I have participated in several sessions sharing about eMINTS and our work in various states (and Australia). eMINTS was cited as a best practice example at the ISTE Leadership Symposium dedicated to providing input on the new National Educational Technology Plan.

It is truly an honor and privilege to represent eMINTS at events like this and to share the great work going on in your schools and districts.

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Monica Beglau
Executive Director, eMINTS National Center

Reviewed June 18, 2009.