2012’s Top Education Conferences for App Developers

Nothing says New Year like a new season of education conferences.  App developers in particular have a lot to look forward to in 2012, with a variety of conferences scheduled to take place across the country and in Canada.  With the unprecedented growth and advancement of technology and its increased use in academic settings, education conferences have become the ideal venue for developers to find and foster new ideas. This year’s conferences range from regional events intended for specific audiences, to larger national conferences offering a little something for everyone.  Regardless of your field of expertise or area of interest, this year’s e-learning conferences will surely put you on the cutting edge of technology – which might even include sitting poolside somewhere in Vegas.

Florida Educational Technology Conference:  FETC serves as a meeting place for where leaders in education and technology can interact and exchange thoughts on best practices for teaching, and is perfect for teachers and administrators looking for ideas on integrating technology into the classroom.  With hundreds of information-rich workshops and dozens of dynamic speakers, FETC 2012 promises something for every education professional.

• Conference Dates: January 23-26
• Location: Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida
• Registration Cost: $175 for single day access; $265 for the full conference
• Exhibitor Packages: From $2,500 for a 100 square foot exhibit space to $25,500 for a 600 square foot space complete with a speaking opportunity

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Texas Computer Education Association Summer Conference:  They say everything is bigger in Texas, and it doesn’t get any bigger than TCEA’s  Conferences.  The 2012 TCEA e5 Conference is the ultimate venue for educators looking for the latest ideas on technology integration for some of our youngest learners.  With more than 900 booths and over 9,000 expected attendees, this year’s conference will give developers an ideal chance to introduce their applications to key decision makers in education.

• Conference Dates: February 6-10
• Location: Austin Convention Center in Austin Texas
• Registration Cost: Please see venue website
• Exhibitor Packages: Range from $1150 to $14,200

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Northwest Council for Computer Education:  The NCCE annual conference is touted as the Pacific Northwest’s largest educational technology conference.  This year, NCCE invites teachers, administrators, librarians, curriculum specialists, and college students to come together and “help blaze the educational technology trail”.  Technology is finding its way into just about every aspect of education, and NCCE looks to bring professional development opportunities to educators trying to apply technology in a variety of education settings.

• Conference Dates: March 13-16
• Location: Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, Washington
• Registration Cost: $170 for single day access and $250 for members, $275 for non-members for the full conference; prices increase after 2/10/12
• Exhibitor Packages: Start at $1195 per 100 square foot space (includes 1 full conference registration)

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National School Boards Association:  For 72 years, NSBA has been encouraging excellence in education by working with school district leaders to discuss ideas for the benefit of students.  With the credo that “a better tomorrow starts today,” NSBA’s 2012 conference looks to unite board members and school administrators with education industry leaders to discuss best practices, address education issues and policies, as discover strategies, ideas, and innovations for raising student achievement.

• Conference Dates: April 21-23
• Location: Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massatchusetts
• Registration Cost:  $745 (member) and $920 (non-member) for the full conference
• Exhibitor Packages: $16.50 per square foot, plus and additional $275 for corner spaces

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International Reading Association:  The countdown is on as the windy city prepares to host the 57th annual IRA conference this spring.  The city of Chicago provides the setting as hundreds of exhibitors, speakers, and educators unite under common themes: to celebrate the profession and to collaborate on solutions to the issues currently impacting the profession.  If you are a classroom teacher, you do not want to miss out on the chance to collaborate with peers and technology experts on the latest and most effective strategies for improving teaching and incorporating technology.

• Conference Dates: April 29-May 2
• Location: McCormick Place convention facility in Chicago, Illinois Registration
• Cost: $175 (member), $220 (non-member), and $115 (student) for single day access; $280 (member), $390 (non-member), and $130 (student) for the full conference; prices increase after 4/9/12
• Exhibitor Packages: $1,600 per 100 square foot space, plus an additional $100 for corner spaces

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eLearning Developers Conference:  Forget about the fluff and fancy fillers, the eLearning DevCon delivers exactly what it promises: practical and useful resources, techniques, and takeaways that developers can apply now, not in the future.  Unlike other conferences where products and theories are pushed and promoted, eLearning DevCon focuses primarily on development, which means attendees will literally be able to take something practical and applicable with them after the conference.

• Conference Dates: June 6-8
• Location: University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City, Utah
• Registration Cost: $649 for the full conference; prices increase after 12/29/11
• Exhibitor Packages: sponsor packages are available and range from $695 to $1995

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Tots and Technology:  Perhaps the greatest opportunity of all conferences to network with educators in Elementary Ed, Tots and Technology brings together PreK through 5th grade teachers, curriculum specialists, elementary principals, directors as well as librarians who are all enthusiastic about integrating technology into their learning environments.

• Conference Dates:  June 10-12
• Location:  Galveston Convention Center in Galveston, Texas
• Registration Cost: $159 (TCEA members) and $189 (non-members) for the full conference
• Exhibitor Packages:  $650 for a 6 foot table/display
  

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World Congress on Information Technology:  Not to be overlooked, our neighbors to the north are in the middle of planning one of the world’s most unique, innovative, and important technology conferences.  Now in its 18th year, the WCIT has set some high goals for this year’s conference.  The three-day event will bring together more than 3,000 representatives from over 80 different countries, all for the purposes of promoting digital collaboration, highlighting the ideas of young innovators from across the globe, and brainstorming ideas that will lead to a Global Digital Society Action Plan to address current societal issues.

• Conference Dates: October 22-24
• Location: Palais des congres de Montreal (Convention Center) in Montreal, Canada
• Registration Cost: $895 for registration between 1/15 and 4/30; $995 for registration between 5/1 and 8/31; $1200 for registration after 9/1
• Exhibitor Packages: N/A

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DevLearn 2012:  If you are an individual involved in any way with the management, design, or development of eLearning products, then DevLearn 2012 is one place you have to visit this year.  Bringing together more than 1,800 of the most seasoned and cutting-edge eLearning professionals in one of Las Vegas’ most breathtaking hotel resorts, DevLearn 2012 is one place for industry experts to collaborate, develop, and share ideas on key themes that have an impact of education and learning.  If eLearning is a part of what you do, DevLearn 2012 has to be a part of your conference calendar this year.

• Conference Dates: October 31-November 2
• Location: Aria Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Registration Cost: $1196 (member) and $1495 (non-member) for the full conference
• Exhibitor Packages: $2995 per 100 square foot space (includes unlimited free expo passes and one full conference registration)

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Teaching with Technology Idea Exchange:  An open and free conference bringing together education professionals in both K-12 and higher education settings, TTIX 2012 will look to continue building on previous efforts and successes.  In the past, educators, developers, trainers, and administrators have collaborated to address a multitude of issues related to technology and academics, including the integration of new technologies and resources as well as the moral and ethical considerations involved with using technology in the classroom.

• Conference Dates: TBA
• Location: TBD
• Registration Cost:
• Free Exhibitor Packages: N/A

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