Techspo 2015 Engages Students and Advances Learning

NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS 920 West State Street • Trenton, New Jersey 08618-5328 609.599.2900 / Fax: 609.599.9359 website: https://www.njasa.net

 Press Release

Techspo 2015 Stays on Top of the Technology Curve to Advance Student Learning!

NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza is available to comment on education-related issues.

Trenton, NJ, February 3, 2014….Techspo 2015, the 20^th annual New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA) statewide technology exhibition and training conference, glided over a superb professional development course for a two-day period in late January. The driving forces that set Techspo 2015 into motion were the conference’s opening keynote speakers.           

Speaking before a standing-room audience, Will Richardson, an outspoken advocate for change in schools and classrooms, stressed the significance of improving New Jersey’s technological educational system with top-notch quality education. His message challenged the attendees and demonstrated the need for change.

The second keynote speaker Eric Sheninger, a Senior Fellow and Thought Leader on Digital Leadership with the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE), introduced over 1,000 school leaders in attendance to several innovative ideas for using technology that offer unprecedented learning adventures. Their take-away from his presentation was to critically examine where technology fits into the learning process.

After hearing both keynote speakers, Techspo 2015 participants were able to meet with them in small group sessions that encouraged widespread discussions among themselves on integrating technology to improve learning.

A new welcome addition to Techspo was the inauguration of the Digital Leadership Lounge. It offered an environment for district, building, and classroom leaders from around the state and beyond to connect and discuss how they use and integrate technology and social media in their positions. Sharing ideas and learning new ones about educational technology, social media, and most importantly, digital leadership dominated the discussions.

NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza said, “NJASA holds the Techspo conference each year to expand the horizons of chief education officers, policy makers, administrators, teachers, curriculum directors, tech ed coordinators, educational technology innovators and digital leaders, to stay on top of the rapidly moving technology curve.”

Techspo was an action-packed conference that offered 60+ information packed workshops; an exhibition showcasing the latest tools and best resources available in education from over 100 vendors; and delivered the latest classroom technologies, experiences, tools and techniques to attendees all under one roof.

Here’s a hint of what the attendees experienced:

Explored demos of innovative instructional uses of technology that make school engaging the way students want it to be. For example, they learned how to turn classrooms into a video game to engage and motivate students.

Joined a device-driven interactive session packed with FREE apps that educators could take back to their districts.

Discovered how to create a paperless classroom using the new Google App for Education, called Classroom.

Learned what happened when 1,400 Manalapan-Englishtown Regional 6th and 7th graders were given Chromebooks and 21st century learning opportunities.

Saw how a parent buy-in was key to the success of the monumental initiative of putting MacBook Air Laptops in the hands of 4,000 Linden 3rd to 12th graders.

Learned how a Hybrid Learning Initiative put the I in IEP and created significant improvement in academic achievement.

NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza notes, “Techspo shows a commitment to incorporate the technologies that have already permeated students’ everyday life, in a way to engage students and advance learning.”

 

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