Looking to fill 2015 with edtech learning? Here is a list of great conferences and events to attend in North America in the first half of 2015. I’ve listed first the conference series, and described the differences, then the big one-off events. For each I’ve also listed the suggested audience based on past experience and Twitter feedback. If you have any to add or suggested changes, please post in the comments and I’ll update this post. Thank you!
CONFERENCE SERIES
First off, the conference series. These events take place all over the world, and have a tried-and-true formula for actively engaging educators in edtech. Read the descriptions and click on the links below to find an event close to you.
This is the newest kid on the block when it comes to EdTech events. In support of President Obama’s recent announcement of the Future Ready pledge, EdTechTeam is hosting a series of Future Ready Schools Summits for teachers and school leaders. It’s time to move beyond focusing on tools and dig into big ideas. These 2-day conferences will engage educators in exploring four concrete ideals: Courageous Leadership, Empowered Teachers, Student Agency, and Inspiring Spaces. By the end of the event, you and your team will leave with a plan to get your classroom or school Future Ready.
Audience: Teachers, School Leaders, Policy Makers
EdTech Team Google Summits & EdTechTeam iOS Summits
EdTechTeam, a global team of award winning educators offer the popular Google Summits and now iOS Summits in dozens of countries around the world. Drawing from experience in myriad of educational settings - public urban, public rural, independent, religious and international - participants will be engaging with workshop and session leaders who have taught in similar situations and offer solutions to their unique problems.
Audience: Everyone
These events come out of the California-based Computer Using Educators and have begun to take the nation by storm. Fun conferences that engage teachers in ed tech sessions are offered from coast to coast.
Audience: Teachers, School Leaders
These are free unconferences, where the content is driven by the participants. Usually one day in length, EdCamps bring together passionate educators who want more organic learning experiences. Participants gather in the morning to collaboratively craft a schedule then “vote with their feet” and move between various sessions led by their compatriots.
Audience: Teachers, School Leaders
PLAYDATE - People Learning and Asking “Y": Digital Age Teacher Exploration - may be a pretty complicated acronym, but it’s a simple concept: a day of playing. This is a perfect follow up to a traditional sit-and-get conference. After hearing about various tools and strategies at conferences, many educators go home lamenting the lack of time to tinker and explore. PLAYDATE is a day of open-play rooms themed by tool or idea. Educators come together without presenters, agendas or slideshow presentations to just... play.
Audience: Teachers, School Leaders
EdTechTeacher, based out of Boston, have been running iPad Summits for a few years across the US. They also offer other learning events and have recently announced a free conference at the Boston Google office this February (application only). Boasting a team of published and seasoned educators, these conferences now range from iPad to Google and beyond.
Audience: Teachers, School Leaders, Policy Makers
Tech & Learning LIVE (formerly TechForum)
Tech & Learning, a popular EdTech magazine, has their own series of events for school leaders. These conferences, formerly known as TechForum, have recently been rebranded as Tech & Learning LIVE. The sessions offered are great for principals, superintendents, policy makers and CTOs / Technology Directors.
Audience: School Leaders, Policy Makers, Technology Directors / CTOs
ANNUAL CONFERENCES
JANUARY
FETC - Orlando, FL
January 20-23
Audience: Everyone
LearnLaunch - Boston, MA
January 23-24
Audience: School Leaders, Policy Makers, Technology Directors / CTOs
FEBRUARY
TCEA - Austin, TX
February 2-5
Audience: Everyone
METC - St. Charles, MO
February 9-11
Audience: Everyone
ICE - St. Charles, IL
February 24-27
Audience: Everyone
IntegratED PDX - Portland, OR
February 25-27
Audience: Teachers, School Leaders
PLAYDATE Chicago - Chicago, IL
February 28
Audience: Teachers
MARCH
NCTIES - Raleigh, NC
March 4-6
Audience: Everyone
Kentucky Society for Technology in Education - Louisville, KY
March 4-5
Audience: Everyone
Minnetonka Technology Site Visit - Minnetonka, MN
March 4-5
Audience: Everyone
Future Ready Schools Summit - Franklin Park, IL
March 7-8
Audience: Everyone
SxSWEdu - Austin, TX
March 9-12
Audience: School Leaders, Policy Makers, Technology Directors / CTOs
CoSN - Atlanta, GA
March 16-19
Audience: School Leaders, Policy Makers, Technology Directors / CTOs
ULEAD - Banff, AB, Canada
March 15-18
Audience: School Leaders, Policy Makers, Technology Directors / CTOs
MACUL - Detroit, MI
March 18-20
Audience: Everyone
CUE 2015 - Palm Springs, CA
March 19-21
Audience: Everyone
WEMTA - Wisconsin Dells, WI
March 22-24
Audience: Everyone
HITC Hawaii Island TechEd Collaborative - Keaau, HI
March 27
Audience: Everyone
APRIL
ASU+GSV Summit - April 6-8
Scottsdale, AZ
Audience: School Leaders, Policy Makers, Technology Directors / CTOs
JUNE
TIC Iowa Technology Integration Conference - Dubuque, IO
June 16-17
Audience: Everyone
Minnetonka Technology Summer Institute - Minnetonka, MN
June 17-18
Audience: Everyone
Brightspace Fusion - Orlando, FL
June 22-26
Audience: All
iPadpalooza - Austin, TX
June 23-25
Audience: Everyone
ISTE - Philadelphia, PA
June 28-July 1
Audience: Everyone
JULY
BLC - Boston, MA
July 15-17
Audience: Everyone