The ISTE Conference is right around the corner!
The big ISTELive / ASCD Conference is next week.
The biggest edtech conference of the year is happening next week!
It’s technically called the ISTELive / ASCD Conference.
(It’s a combination of two organizations — ISTE, the edtech organization, and ASCD, the supervision/curriculum organization, merged and run their conferences together now. I’ve always gone to ISTE, so I just call it that.)
It’s happening next week at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida …
… and I’d like you to come with me — virtually!
Not everyone can travel to a big conference like this. (In fact, over the years, a social media hashtag organically showed up — #NotAtISTE. Not as big today as before, but some people still use it!)
Even from afar, there’s a LOT you can take away from it — new teaching ideas, product updates, new apps, and new meeting edu-friends!
Below, I’ll share the presentations I’ll be doing during the conference — and lots of places where you can get updates from attendees and companies throughout.
PS: We’re going to host a face-to-face / virtual livestream for the DTT community on Tuesday at 1pm U.S. Eastern / 10am Pacific! It’s at the Brisk Teaching booth #2306 — or if you’re joining virtually, you can access it here.
Add it to your calendar so you don’t forget!
Follow the ISTE channel in our online community!
But the big one is our ISTE channel in the DTT online community, where we’ll be sharing what we’re learning at the conference!
The ISTE/#NotAtISTE channel in the DTT online community.
Join the community (if you haven’t already). (It’s free!)
Check out the ISTE/#NotAtISTE channel here.
Get our mobile app (iPhone/Apple) (Android/Google) so you get notifications when something is posted. (We use Circle to host our community.)
Read updates. Ask questions. Post things from the conference. Enjoy the community!
Today’s newsletter is packed with stuff to help you make the most of this conference — whether you’re attending virtually or face-to-face!
Inside:
📆 My ISTE presentation schedule
👀 DTT Digest: 4 resources worth checking out
👥 Community: DTT Community Meet-Up at ISTE!
🎯 ISTE Strategy: How to make the most of ISTE in-person
💡 The Big Idea: How to “attend virtually” when #NotAtISTE
😄 Smile of the day: Oh no, what have I done …
👋 How we can help
📆 My ISTE presentation schedule
Here’s where I’ll be during ISTELive 26 in Orlando.
I’m going to be incredibly busy during the ISTELive conference. I have 19 different events (above) spread over four days of the conference!
If you’re going to Orlando, I’d love to meet you — and maybe see you at one of these events. (Always feel free to come up and say hi! PS: I’ll have free stickers and buttons, and there are free book giveaways at several of my events.)
If you’re #NotAtISTE, we have you covered, too. I’ll be recording lots of these sessions and sharing video after the conference is over. Plus (as I mentioned earlier), you can always follow along in the ISTE channel of our DTT online community.
👀 DTT Digest
4 teaching resources worth checking out today
☀️ Free summer mini-games — Whether you’re hunting for vocabulary in the Summer Word Search, navigating the paths of the Shell Collector Maze, or cracking the Summer Logic Challenge, there’s something here for every level.
📋 15 Google Forms templates for students and teachers — Get started with one of these free pre-made templates.
✈️ Our free virtual field trips library — Browse dozens of free virtual field trips to make learning come alive for your students.
🛠️ Using AI tools to support project-based learning — An AI framework can help teachers provide well-rounded learning experiences.
👥 FROM THE COMMUNITY 👥
🎉 DTT Community Meet-Up at ISTE!
Join us for a DTT community meet-up — in Orlando AND virtually!
It’s always good to get the DTT family (aka the “ditchfam”) together …
… and because of the ISTE Conference in Orlando, we’re going to do a face-to-face / virtual meet-up!
We’ll get to meet each other, share what we’re learning, take some selfies … and grab some freebies! (Psst: I’m planning on handing out exclusive “DITCHER” stickers!)
Day: Tuesday June 30, 2026
Time: 1pm U.S. Eastern / 10am Pacific
Length: 30 minutes
In-Person Location: Brisk Teaching booth #2306
Virtual Location: This livestream link
🎯 ISTE STRATEGY 🎯
🧳 How to make the most of ISTE in-person
Heading to ISTELive? Here are some tips!
Are you headed to Orlando for the ISTE Conference? Yay! I hope I get to see you! These are my top 10 tips for YOU.
(Heading to a different summer conference? Lots of these will apply to you, too!)
Connect with your PLN (including the Ditch That Textbook community!): Actively network by talking to the people sitting next to you, introducing yourself to presenters, and following the #ISTELive hashtag. Join the ISTELive channel in the Ditch That Textbook community to stay up to date on everything in real time!
Wear comfortable shoes: You will be walking a massive amount across the venue, so prioritize foot support and comfort.
Download the conference app: Use the official ISTELive app to plan, search, and map out your schedule before you arrive. (Get it on the Apple Store / Get it on Google Play)
Have multiple backup plans: Sessions fill up quickly, so always have a Plan B, C, and D ready to go.
Don't hesitate to leave a session: Your time is highly valuable; if a session isn't meeting your needs, politely walk out and find another.
Pack an extra portable charger: Your devices will drain quickly from note-taking and networking, making a backup battery a necessity. This VRURC Portable Charger is a favorite because all of the cables are built into the charger and it plugs directly into the wall!
Leave time between sessions: Account for transition time so you aren't rushing, and don't forget to schedule a break to recharge.
Stay fueled and hydrated: Bring snacks and water to avoid spending your limited time waiting in long lunch and concession lines.
Step outside your comfort zone: Pick topics you know nothing about, and explore unconventional learning areas like poster sessions, playgrounds, or vendor hall mini-sessions.
Accept that you can't do it all: ISTELive is the size of a small city; accept that you will miss things, prioritize what matters most, and leave room for spontaneous discovery.
💡 THE BIG IDEA 💡
🎟️ How to “attend virtually” when #NotAtISTE
My first ISTE experience was in 2014 … from my home!
The year was 2014. The ISTE Conference was being held in Atlanta.
I, however, was at home in rural Indiana with a SEVERE case of FOMO (fear of missing out).
I found the ISTE hashtag on Twitter — #ISTE2014 — and started following along. Then I realized that if I posted to the hashtag, I could get in on the action even if I wasn’t there.
I used my iPad and sketched some of the quotes that people were posting online — just to amplify them (and feel a part of the action). You can see my ISTE 2014 tweets here.
Some folks asked me later if I was actually there in person. The ISTE Conference reshared one of my sketches to its huge audience (above).
The next year — 2015 — I got to go. Now it’s 2026 and this is my TENTH ISTE conference. (No 2020 in-person conference because of COVID.)
The sad news? Twitter isn’t called Twitter anymore, and the educator community there is a shell of what it used to be.
The good news? There are still LOTS of places where you can “attend virtually”.
Here are my best suggestions for following the conference (before, during, and after) from afar …
1. Actually sign up for ISTE 26 virtual
It’s not cheap, but you do get a lot. For $295 (nonmember price), you get access to 70 interactive, virtually-presented sessions … 90+ livestreamed sessions, including three Mainstage sessions … and over 250 recorded sessions (available for six months).
(Note: I don’t get anything if you register. Just sharing the link.)
2. Follow the ISTE / #NotAtISTE channel in our DTT online community
Follow the ISTE / #NotAtISTE channel in our community!
We talked about this at the top of the email! This where I (and others) will be sharing lessons learned, new takeaways, and product features/releases throughout the conference. Please feel free to post things there, too!
3. The ISTE sharing doc from Eric Curts
This sharing document has become LEGENDARY over the years. Tech guru extraordinaire Eric Curts has created and curated this list for years and years. You’ll find links to slide decks and a ton of other resources — whether you’re at ISTE or not.
4. Social media hashtags
These can be kind of hit-and-miss. Lots of folks will promote their presentations — and companies will promote their products here. But there are still hidden gems to be found.
5. Company social media accounts
ISTE is the place where LOTS of companies release new features and updates for their products. If there are certain products that you use or companies you pay attention to, you might check their social media feed during ISTE or even afterward for releases and recaps.
6. The Ditch That Textbook newsletter
You KNOW that I’ll share everything I can from the ISTE Conference! Here’s what to expect coming up …
TUESDAY June 30 — A roundup-style newsletter with as many updates and lessons learned as possible.
TUESDAY July 7 — An ISTE recap with videos of my sessions and more updates/lessons learned.
😄 Smile of the day
🤔 When the boxes come and you have no idea what you even ordered.
Source: Bored Teachers
👋 How we can help
There are even more ways I can support you in the important work you do in education:
Read one of my six books about meaningful teaching with tech.
Take one of our online courses about practical and popular topics in education.
Bring me to your school, district or event to speak. I love working with educators!
