Founded in Oregon in 1979 by a group of k-12 teachers, chartering members discussed and explored questions related to a student-centered, collaborative classroom fostered by computers and technology. They began connecting with educators across the world and its reach spans the globe. Its mission is to “empower learners to flourish in a connected world by cultivating a passionate professional learning community, linking educators and partners, leveraging knowledge and expertise, advocating for strategic policies, and continually improving learning and teaching” (International Society for Technology in Education, n.d., The ISTE Story). Educators from across the world join ISTE and work towards the goal of “changing the way learning and teaching takes place to make it more meaningful and impactful for educators and learners around the globe” (International Society for Technology in Education, n.d., The ISTE …show more content…
It provides a number of opportunities for individuals to grow, teach, and learn. It offers networking opportunities through professional learning communities and conferences such as the ISTE Conference and Expo, which has been described as the world’s most comprehensive educational technology event. A set of standards that “provides a framework for rethinking education, adapting to a constantly changing technological landscape and preparing students to enter an increasingly global economy” has also been established by ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education, n.d., The ISTE Story). The standards offer educators a framework to guide their teaching in order to ensure that students are learning the skills necessary to succeed outside of the classroom walls. In addition, ISTE emphasizes the importance of educational technology and advocates for its funding and advancement. It works to form public policy that encourages the use of technology in classrooms to support learning. Finally, it provides numerous resources to help educators navigate the changing field. Resources include conferences, webinars, journals, and online courses among others. Educators are able to keep informed about the latest practices and stay current in their own practices (International Society for Technology in Education, n.d., The ISTE