Advocacy for Education Technology Funding a Key Area of Focus at ISTE 2010

DENVER, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- In addition to focusing on excellence in education and expanding its global reach, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) emphasized the importance of advocacy at ISTE 2010. The four-day conference at the Colorado Convention Center came to a close on Wednesday.

At a well-attended ABCs For Advocacy boot camp on opening day, ISTE director of government affairs Hilary Goldmann stressed the importance of advocacy on a global and national level. She also hosted the lecture "The Future of Ed Tech Funding in the Obama Administration," which offered an inside-the-beltway perspective on the administration's plans to infuse technology funding throughout federal education programs after zeroing out direct funding for the federal Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program.

"(President Obama) identified two main education goals when he took office," Goldmann said. "To increase the graduation rate of baccalaureate degrees and to close the achievement gap. ISTE believes education technology is an integral component to achieve both of those goals."

In a Tuesday keynote, ISTE CEO Don Knezek thanked ISTE members for advocating on behalf of ed tech and referenced some recent advocacy efforts.

"Your voice is continuing to be heard, and ISTE is here to support your advocacy efforts," Knezek said. "ISTE is breaking new advocacy ground and took our first step this year in leveraging social media for advocacy."

Those initiatives included a Tweeting for Education Technology campaign that sent 1,600 messages to Congress, an ISTE Advocacy YouTube Channel and the campaign "ISTE's Top Ten in '10," education priorities.

Ed tech supporters made their voices heard in other ways at ISTE 2010. An advocacy wiki provides an online portal for educators to share their stories with policymakers, and visitors to the Advocacy Lounge and Ed Tech Action Network, wrote 1,400 letters to members of Congress urging them to support dedicated funding for education technology.

About ISTE

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) is the premier membership association for educators and education leaders engaged in improving teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in PK-12 and teacher education. www.iste.org

SOURCE International Society for Technology in Education