High tech in the low desert is one possible description for the Third Annual Technology Conference that took place on January 11-12, 2003. This well received event brought educators, vendors, and community members together to see and even try some of the latest technological advancements, applications, and ideas for personal and classroom use.
The two-day conference kicked off with an administrator’s luncheon that featured Susan Brooks-Young and her discussion on technology, goal setting, and developing a vision. This was followed by an evening keynote speech by Apple Distinguished Educator, Marco Torres.
Saturday was met with perfect weather coupled with an enthusiastic gathering of conference attendees eager to gather information from the wide range of offerings and displays. Sessions included "Using Simulation Software in Social Studies Classrooms," "3D Design and Animation," "PC/Workstation Maintenance," videoconferencing demonstrations, and a host of other offerings. Cheryl Maisch from Julian High School presented her session titled "Environmental and Spatial Technology" through videoconferencing from Julian. "We enjoyed this session and look forward to possibly applying this at our school," said a session participant.
Complementing the broad array of session offerings was a vendor show that counted CSG, Apple, Tech4Learning, Epson, and Advanced Wireless among the twenty-two vendors that participated.
Technology was not the only offering of the day; there was also lunch from McNeece Mart. A big thanks to the Southwest High School Jazz Band for providing lunchtime entertainment. Furthermore, kudos to all of our sponsors, Imperial Printers/Rocket Copy, School to Career, IV Press, CDW, Glencoe/McGraw Hill, TestU, Burgers and Beer, Sun Community Federal Credit Union, and Yosemite Waters. Their donations greatly helped make a successful conference, as did the in-kind assistance of Learning Technologies, BorderLink, and IV CUE.
The day was capped off with a raffle of donated items including everything from cups and shirts to high-end technological items. Among the lucky winners was Philip Boese, of Brawley High School, who won a printer. Holtville’s David Avila left with a copy of Final Cut Pro, and Marcia Avellaneda, from Calexico’s Blanche Charles School, was the lucky recipient of a digital camera.
All in all, it was a successful event with high quality sessions and presenters, a broad array of vendors, solid sponsorship, and excellent weather. Juan Leal, Principal, Holtville High School, attended the conference and left with an agreement from a vendor for Holtville to be the beta site for a phonics program for the school’s iBooks, the knowledge of how to make a web-page, and even a nice bag with some software that he won at the end of the day raffle. "The quality of the sessions was really good and so were the vendors. I actually missed going to the second session because there was so much to see in the vendor area," stated Leal. "Sal Godinez’ session on web page design was great! In fact, I went home from the conference, sat down and made a web page for the school."