How to Follow the ISTE 2012 Conference from Afar

This is part of our continuing ISTE 2012 series. Be sure to check back for previews of ISTE Live, Engaging Ed Radio, tips for presenters, and more.

So you can’t make it to the ISTE conference. It’s a bummer, I know. But I want to let you in on a little secret. You don’t have to be there in person to join in the learning.

ISTE does offer access to select keynotes and sessions via “Remote ISTE,” but you only have access to a handful of sessions, and it’s fairly expensive ($199). What I want to do, however, is share with you some ways that you can follow the action and the learning…for free.

Here are five tips on how to do this…

Follow the #ISTE12 hashtag

You have no idea how awesome a hashtag can be until you follow one from an ISTE conference. You can get all kinds of info–session handouts, inspirational quotes, and more. I mean it when I say this: it really makes it like being there. You’ll also see tweets that have hashtags for individual sessions–you should follow these, too.

Now, you don’t even need to have a twitter account to search a hashtag. You can go to search.twitter.com and search for #ISTE12 and you’ll be able to view all the recent tweets with that tag.

If you are on twitter, just do the same and then choose “Save search” from the drop-down menu:

From then on, whenever you’re logged in and you click on the search box at the top of any page, a menu will appear with #ISTE12 in it, allowing you to search it very easily.

An even better way to follow would be to create a column in Hootsuite or Tweetdeck, two twitter clients that we like because they let you see everything at once. (Check out our guide to Hootsuite.)

Subscribe to ISTE bloggers

There will be a whole lot of bloggin’ going on at ISTE12. Check out this list for blogs that will be updating live from San Diego. We’re partial to this one, however.

Look for backchannels

We heart backchannels. They take a great presentation to the next level. Never heard of one? A backchannel is a live discussion that goes on during a presentation. If you’re in a session, a backchannel makes the presentation more interactive and engaging. BUT, if you aren’t able to be there, you’ll usually be able to be included in the backchannel discussion. Many presenters use a twitter hashtag or a site like TodaysMeet. Check the aforementioned twitter hashtag #ISTE12 for backchannel links. Even if you don’t catch it live, it will likely be archived for later reading. I’m running one for each of the sessions I’m involved in (click here to see my schedule), so be sure to follow me for links.

Check out ISTE Live!

ISTE Live, formerly ISTE unplugged, bills itself as a “conference within a conference.” Every 30 minutes, a new presenter takes the mic and presents to anyone who’s there to listen. But, here’s where you come in, the sessions are also broadcast live online via Blackboard Collaborate, so you can watch it while it happens (or view the recording when it’s done). I’m presenting on Tuesday, so there’s one you won’t want to miss! The rest of the line up looks tremendous, too.

Listen to Engaging Ed Radio

Our popular internet radio show, Engaging Ed Radio, will be broadcasting live from San Diego on Tuesday and Wednesday of the conference. The shows will air at 8AM Pacific. You’ll be able to call in and chat with us; there will also be a recording available afterwards.

I’m hoping to have ISTE presenters and attendees as guests. They’ll be able to share their learning and experiences with listeners. I’m working on the lineup of guests right now, so be sure to check for a post on this next week!

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So, have I convinced you to follow along? Let me know, and be sure to subscribe and follow so that you don’t miss a thing!