Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Joseph Russell- Talk Radio News Service

The International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) hosted the 30th annual National Education Computing Conference (NECC) Tuesday to present the latest technological innovations in education to make learning engaging. Companies from around the world presented their ideas for improving learning, teaching, and educational leadership.

Companies, such as Lego and Microsoft, predicted the future of educational improvement will be through fun technology.

“You’re going to see a lot more Web 2.0 kind of features, you’re going to see us more in the multimedia kind of facet . . . and we have a lot of renewable energy products coming out as well,” said Debra Smith, Market Communications Coordinator for LEGO.

The technology on display varied widely. Some technology was interactive, such as LEGO’s robotics, while others, like Microsoft’s Online Office Space, focused on life long education.

“In the future when the students go to college, they go to the workforce right? And so, if they are already familiar with the Microsoft office products it will be very helpful for them,” said Jim Jin, Microsoft Senior Project Manager, who added that the new Online Office Space is an extension of current Microsoft products.

NECC celebrated aspects of U.S. education that seem to be heading in the right direction. However, the conference aimed to improve the lackluster aspects of American education as well.

“I believe we must make going to school a step into the future for our students,” ISTE President Helen Padgett said. “A future defined by an educational environment enriched with technology that will engage them, challenge them, inspire them, and prepare them for all that life has to offer.”