There’s a lot to be said about turning 30. In fact, here are a few things that happened to some notable people at 30 …
- Thomas Edison invented the phonograph.
- Sylvester Stallone starred in Rocky.
- Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, Spanish explorer, discovered the Rio Grande, and introduced horses, mules, pigs, cattle, and sheep to the American Southwest.
- Scott Joplin published his “Maple Leaf Rag.”
Now, not everyone can be as accomplished by 30, but congratulations are in order for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) on 30 years of advancing and promoting technology’s essential place in schools around the globe.
Through its annual conference, the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), ISTE has provided an area for educators to share their successes and frustrations with education technology in the classroom, building a network for future educator leaders and the opportunity to share resources for classroom instruction and personal development.
Thirty years as an established organization requires passion for your industry and consistent efforts to stay top of mind with your members, the media, and other industry leaders. The ability to set your organization apart from the competition not only strengthens your membership, but also allows it to grow. ISTE has managed to become a leading organization within the education industry by consistently participating in and sponsoring conferences and other events, participating within the industry itself, providing a network for its members, gaining positive media coverage, and supporting the education industry within legislation.
It’s these key elements that have sustained ISTE as a leader within education technology and will continue to drive its success as it moves forward with ISTE 2010 in Denver. It’s existing efforts will make the transition from NECC to ISTE easier by maintaining visibility among its members, the media, and the industry as a whole.
Kudos to ISTE and NECC on 30 successful years. We look forward to watching and participating in what’s to come in the next 30.