The journey unfolds when teachers decide to move away from traditional teaching and toward a new vision of instructional design. It’s a learning journey—for teacher and student alike. The journey focuses on learning, not the technology. Taking the journey is critical in preparing students to live, learn, and work in a technology-rich world. Join us now as we embark on the next step in our journey, taking us along the path of creativity and innovation.

Previous steps in the journey are still available: Project Based Learning, Web 2.0, Envisioning the Future of Education and Technology, Innovative Learning Technologies, Digital Citizenship, and Online Learning.

While on Your Learning Journey, be sure to stop by the ISTE bookstore. Check out these recent releases, and remember, ISTE members receive a 30% discount on all titles.

ISTE's Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards
By Jo Williamson and Traci Redish

Preparing effective technology facilitators and leaders is an increasingly important mission for school districts and colleges of education. This publication is an inviting and surprisingly easy-to-follow guide for any educator, practicing or preservice, who wants to be an effective technology facilitator and/or educational leader.
$27.95 ($39.95 nonmembers)
Order your copy now.

Interactive Videoconferencing
Edited by Kecia Ray and Jan Zanetis

Build interdisciplinary collaborations by integrating interactive videoconferencing (IVC) into your standards-based lessons. This book focuses on a blend of interactive technologies that increase learning by building virtual classrooms. IVC allows for visual and voice interaction beyond the walls of the classroom, while the Internet connects students to current information and provides a shared location for data.
Order today $24.45 ($34.95 nonmembers).

Learning & Leading with Technology

The March/April issue of L&L is chock full of great information. Be sure to read David Warlick's article, "Grow Your Personal Learning Network," which discusses new information and communication technologies that can keep you connected and help you manage information overload.

In his article "New Visions for Transforming Teaching," James W. Epler tells how a high school ed tech department found a way to make technology professional development appealing and relevant. [Need to be able to link to this article - it's currently behind the member wall]

Anita McAnear urges you to "Let High Standards Drive Creativity and Innovation" in her column, Issue Oriented.

 Resources and Links

There's so much more to learn. Read articles about Creativity and Innovation taken from ISTE’s world-class publications, L&L, JRTE, and JCTE. Read more.

Browse our annotated links to some great websites that address Creativity and Innovation.

 The National Educational Computing Conference (NECC)

NECC 2009—Celebrating 30 years of Ed Tech vision!

NECC 2009 is the place to be! Be on the forefront of improving teaching and learning. Meet, network, and learn at more than 900 sessions and events. NECC 2009 offers multiple sessions and events where you can learn and experience so much more about Creativity and Innovation.

Spark your creativity with "Creativity and Beyond: Exploring National Educational Technology Standards for Students" where you'll discover free software programs and resouces that will get your students on the road to 21st-century learning. "DigiTalks: The Art of Telling Digital Stories" will provide staff development for teachers to coach students on their multimedia projects to activate creativity. "Using Games to Inspire Creativity in Your Digital Natives" will show you the games your students are playing and how they can be used to teach higher-order thinking skills, including creativity.

Looking for innovation? "Get a Life—a Second Life!" is a session that explores how Second Life can help teachers implement the new ISTE Creativity, Learning, and Innovation Strand from NETS. "Innovation Around the World!" is a panel session where award winning teachers will share innovative and practical examples of how they integrate technology into their classrooms and schools to catapult learning outcomes.

Learn more and experience a one-of-a-kind opportunity by joining us at NECC 2009 in Washington, DC!

 Further Your Journey with an ISTE Webinar

We have some great webinars prepared for you! In May, you'll have plenty of info-packed webinars to chose from. Here's a sampling:

• Wed., May 6: Join Grace Poli as she presents iPods for ESL
• Wed., May 13: Non-Second Life, Low Bandwidth MUVEs will be the topic of discussion with Margaret Corbit
• Wed., May 20: Arnie Abrams presents Digital Photography Projects for the K-12 Classroom
• Wed., May 27: Learn about 21st-Century Tools with Yvonne Andres

Take advantage of ISTE's webinar season pass. With an average of three webinar presentations per month, there are many fascinating topics from which to choose! We’ve added a single-purchase season pass that gives access to all live webinars and archive recordings. The season pass is a popular bargain at $795 for ISTE members. For more information, contact Debren Ferris.

For a complete listing of upcoming ISTE webinars, click here.

NETS

NETS•S and Creativity and Innovation
Creativity and Innovation is one of the six technology standards for students in ISTE's Educational Technology Standards for Students. Learn more about the performance indicators for Creativity and Innovation in the NETS for Students (NETS•S).

Refreshing NETS for the Digital Age
ISTE has embarked on a collaborative three-year process to engage educators and stakeholders in updating the NETS for Students, Teachers, and Administrators.
On January 2, ISTE released the Draft NETS•A (2009) after hearing from educators across the United States and from many countries. The final standards will be published in June, and we want to hear from you as we revise the draft. Learn more, and take the online survey.