In conversation with... Brian Lewis, CEO, ISTE
This month we have been talking to Brian Lewis, CEO of ISTE. Brian will be delivering a keynote talk at GESS Mexico 2016, so keep reading to find out what you can expect to hear! Brian also gives us the low down on the latest ed-tech trends and describes ISTE's continued presence at the forefront of the ever changing educational landscape.
We last spoke to you in May 2014, after you had delivered a Keynote presentation at GESS Dubai. How has the educational landscape as a whole changed over the last 2 years?
A couple of issues have, I think, moved closer to a tipping point. The first has to do with the critical nature of educational leadership and its impact on school systems, people and programs. At the broadest level, this relates to the recognition of the powerful part that education leadership plays; the importance of that leadership – in every educator role – is being embraced worldwide, and that's a good thing.
The other piece is the tipping point relative to understanding the vital nature of ongoing professional learning. We know in the U.S., as well as abroad, that funding for professional learning is often cut in times of budget challenges. We also know that in almost no other profession do we place people in a job and expect them to stay there and thrive and succeed without ongoing professional learning. We're finally getting to a place where this notion of the necessity of, and support for, ongoing, embedded, relevant professional learning has reached a tipping point like I've never seen in my 30 years in education.
How has the work ISTE does changed or developed to reflect these changes?
One of the most wonderful things about ISTE's proximity to these two tipping points is that many aspects of our work have been preparing us to lead on both fronts. It's why we have the ISTE Standards for Administrators. It's why we provide a range of leadership resources on our website, such as the Lead & Transform Diagnostic Tool based on the Essential Conditions of the ISTE Standards, that provides practical feedback on a school system's progress toward building a digital learning environment. It's why we collaborate with other education nonprofits that are also focused on the role of leadership in education transformation. And it's why at ISTE 2016 this June, we'll host the third annual Lead & Transform Town Hall to focus on the critical impact of effective leadership.
On the professional learning front, it's why ISTE delivers a host of learning opportunities year-round, and resources to support educators in all roles as they continually reflect on and improve their practice in an ever-changing environment.
So it's not so much that our work at ISTE has changed, it's that the organization saw these tipping points coming and worked continuously to create the tools, training and resources to address them and to continue to evolve to meet the changing landscape.
What are the newest and most exciting trends in educational technology at the moment?
There are all kinds of places we can look to see what the trends are, but for ISTE, the first place we look is to the more than 3,200 session submissions we receive each year for the ISTE Conference & Expo. After a peer review process, these submissions are whittled down to about 800 accepted sessions.
For ISTE 2016, here are a few of the topics that have emerged as the most-exciting trends in ed tech:
- Coding and robotics - Coding is making its way across grade levels and curriculum areas and robotics, in particular, is making coding popular with students around the globe.
- STEAM. Adding art to the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and math is creating an engaging mash up between traditional math and science subjects that are paired with music, visual arts and performing arts.
- Student-driven learning. Increased learner input on the topics to be studied, how to study them and the inclusion of time for passion projects means student empowerment is taking root.
- Flexible learning environments. Educators are using design thinking to reimagine learning spaces to accommodate all learners. Along the way, they're finding even small tweaks like moving desks, adding soft seating or creating a makerspace can change the vibe and make learning more engaging.
- Digital citizenship. Helping learners navigate the digital world is important, and educators are finding a host of ways to address digital citizenship. They're also involving students in finding solutions to related topics like stopping cyberbullying and increasing awareness of digital risks and pitfalls.
We are delighted to have you participating at GESS Mexico 2016! What excites you the most about the education industry in Mexico?
All of us at ISTE are very excited about the relationship we have with GESS around the world. I've had the pleasure to speak at GESS events in Jakarta and Dubai, and I'm thrilled to be coming to Mexico and to grow ISTE's relationship in Latin America.
As far as what I'm most excited about related to education in Mexico, I'd point to three things:
- The opportunity to build capacity through the development of new strategic alliances and collaborations with government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations to support the professional learning pathway of school leaders, coaches and teachers.
- The fact that the Secretaria de Educacion Publica de MX developed its information and communications technology skills standards for teachers and students aligned to the ISTE Standards to transform learning and teaching.
- The issues related to education quality that we have in common globally: personalized learning; digital equity; relevance and pertinence; and efficacy and efficiency.
What can people expect from your keynote talk at GESS Mexico 2016?
Those attending GESS Mexico 2016 can expect a discussion of many of the questions you've asked here. I'll also be highlighting some of the work that ISTE is doing and collaborating on around the world.
I also expect to touch on some of ISTE's more recent learning about the current education ecosystem, because as an organization, ISTE is constantly reflecting, improving and responding to the needs of educators and learners.
I'll definitely talk about the refresh of the ISTE Standards for Students coming in June, the critical role of educational leadership, and I'll highlight key points relative to my personal journey through education and the commitment we all have through education to empower learners to transform their lives.
And finally, what’s the one piece of technology you can’t live without? Educational or otherwise!
From a work perspective, it has to be my smartphone. That's the core of my work life and it's the way, no matter where I am in the world, that I keep in touch with colleagues and continue to drive the ISTE mission.
Beyond that, I honestly couldn't live without my iPod classic. This device that was once cutting edge, and is now an antique, is home to hundreds of personally selected albums. I have access to them at any given moment, including at 35,000 feet as I travel on behalf of ISTE, and in my personal life. I must say that my iPod contains the entire library of albums by The Manhattan Transfer, as well as each solo album by its members, whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting numerous times over the last 40 years.