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Professional Conferences

ByCourtney L. Teague

EDD 8008

Principles of Instructional Technology

Nova Southeastern University

October 4, 2012

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Georgia Educational Technology Conference

Attending professional conferences have several advantages. Advantages

include a comprehensive perspective of your peers in the same field and as well as a

chance to compare your collegiate program requirements to other universities. You

will have a chance to interact and communicate with the subject matter experts

(Jackson, 2010).

History of GaETC

The Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GaETC) is an annual

professional development conference for educators that has been held for more

than 20 years. The Conference first meeting was held at Macon Centreplex Trade

and Convention Center in 1989. The Conference consisted of 20 vendors and over

650 Georgia educators. The Department of Special Education of Georgia State

University and Metro West and East Georgia Learning Resources Systems co

sponsored this once special education focused conference. The original goal of the

conference was to provide exposure to peers who were effectively using

technology in instructional settings, to nationally recognized leaders in the field, and

to commercial exhibits, which provided information on state-of-the-art hardware,

software, and uses of technology. (GAETC, 2012) The professional conference is

organized by a steering committee appointed by the Consortiums Board of

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Directors, which are all unpaid volunteers. The conference registration and exhibits

are managed by McRae Co.

Location and audience

GaETC moved to the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park

in 2005 and has been held in that location to this date. The next conference will be

held November 7-9, 2012 . The Conference is designed to include technology

specialists, special educators, vocational teachers, administrators,

paraprofessionals, staff development coordinators, Title I coordinators, vocational

teachers, or anyone who is interested in educational technology. GaETC has no

organizational structure or members, however previous Conference attendees

receive mail and email updates. There will be approximately 3,000 people attending

the 2012 Conference. The demographics of the Conference attendees are on the

next page.

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2010 and 2011 Demographics

The cost

Retrieved from http://www.gaetc.org/domain/63

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Presentation

The Conference consists of over 250 concurrent sessions, the keynote

session, exhibit hall admission, coffee breaks, and exhibitor presentations. There

are three types of concurrent session types. The concurrent sessions require

participants to bring fully charged laptops. The sessions are interactive and Internet

access is provided. The Smackdown is a fast moving session where you interact

with others and you have two minutes of fame to share with others (GAETC,

2012). The Birds of a Feather are loose gatherings to where participants discuss

topics of importance to them. Guest speakers may have conversation starters but

there may be an open microphone with an opening statement. The presentation

topics range from using web 2.0 tools, creating forms using Google Docs, to using

Twitter to teach the class. The presentation styles vary according to the presenters.

Presenters may opt to having the attendees to participate in hands on learning

activities, Powerpoints, creating blogsites/websites, but not limited simple table

talks. The process of submitting a presentation proposal included completing an

online application, which detailed proposal topic, subject matter experience of

presenter, and writing a description paragraph that described the proposed topic.

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References

GaETC exhibitor fact sheet (2012). Retrieved from

http://www.mcraemeetings.com/event-01/gaetc-exhibitor-fact-sheet/

GaETC (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.gaetc.org/domain/63

Jackson, D. (2010) Make sure you attend professional conferences and convention

Retrieved from http://www.gradschools.com/article-detail/conventions-

conferences-1563