Over the last twenty years, I have presented dozens of sessions and workshops at NCCE’s conference in the Pacific Northwest.  Without doubt, proposing, preparing, and delivering presentations and workshops at this conference has improved me as a teacher, learner, and leader!  I invite you to do the same by proposing a session for the 2020 Northwest Council for Computer Education conference in Seattle, March 4-6, 2020.

I can name countless reasons you should do so, but, let me focus just a few.

First, despite four decades of conversation, there is no set “right way” to integrate technology in the classroom.  As the tools available to teachers and learners grow and change, our community needs on-the-ground teachers, teacher-librarians, administrators, and technology staff LIKE YOU to share their successes and failures in places like the NCCE Conference.

Next, we know there is amazing work going on in schools across the country, but, those efforts do not always make into the broader conversation about education in the United States.  Presenting at NCCE is an opportunity to highlight the great things going on in your classroom, school, and district.  In addition to telling your stories to your colleagues at the conference, presenting in a conference can often turn into an opportunity to share your story with your school and district colleagues, along with your local school board and media.

Presenting at NCCE is a wonderful opportunity to organize your ideas to improve future practice.  Planning and developing a presentation, workshop, panel, or exploratorium will encourage you to hone your story and compel you to reflect on the successes and challenges of your classroom projects, processes, or practices.  Every single presentation I have presented at NCCE has pushed me to think more deeply about the topic, leading me to improve the way I approach the practice in the future.

NCCE conference presentations give you a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded people at the conference.  For me, this is the absolute best part of presenting at NCCE.  While I love constructing and delivering presentations, the questions asked after the presentation, the conversation in the hallway, and the back-and-forth that happens in the keynote audience or at the coffee stand or in the convention hall is the magic of presenting.  I have received countless suggestions and ideas from fellow teachers and administrators there, as well as established important contacts in schools near and far.

Ultimately, presenting at NCCE is an opportunity to develop leadership skills in the educational technology community.  Whether you are an established leader in your school or district or you are sharing your exciting goings-on for the first time, sharing at the NCCE conference is a core tenant of educational technology leadership.  We need you to help drive the conversation around the United States 

Proposals are due on August 1st.  Please join me and your colleagues from around the region and nation in presenting the amazing things going on in your world!

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