My ISTE 2026 Sessions #ISTELive #ASCDAnnual

ISTE 2026 is really a joy for me. It is 19 years since my first ISTE, and this year they named me a “Featured Voice.” That just thrills me so much! I do hope to be helpful. In this post, I’ll share the sessions I’ve got going on, and I’ll add links to the resources as well, so you can bookmark it!

Some Thoughts About ISTE

I’m so excited to meet some of you and hope these resources can help you on your journey to use AI and Edtech wisely and well.

If I can say anything to all of us, it’s to remember that we have to relate to educate. I believe in a humans-first approach to all technology.

All tech use should make human lives better and help us flourish more — and that goes for students, teachers, and administrators! So, let’s have the conversations we need to have and enjoy a wonderful conference! We’ll get lots of ideas for reaching the students we care about so much (and become more efficient as well!)

Full program & registration → conference.iste.org/2026

I will be sharing videos and thoughts just about everywhere I share: X • LinkedIn • Facebook • Instagram • Pinterest • YouTube • Bluesky • Threads • TikTok

My Sessions — short version

• Mon Jun 29 · 9:00a · W311CD (also streamed) — ⚡ AI & Edtech Power Hour (panel)
• Wed Jul 1 · 10:00a · W206BC (also streamed) — 🎬 Digital Storytelling: Pitch → Publish (with AI)
• Wed Jul 1 · 11:30a · W312AB — 🧰 50+ AI/Edtech Tools & Teaching Tips

I will also be recording and sharing interviews with remarkable educators, thought leaders, and more. The schedule is so full, but it always has room to learn, and it is so exciting! Stay tuned to my social media for clips, thoughts for you, and info on what people are talking about at ISTE.

Details for each Session

Note: I have a few tools I’m adding to these, so come back and reload them on the day of the presentations. I’ll also come back here and add links.

All my ISTE session info will be right here: www.coolcatteacher.com/iste2026

⚡ AI & Edtech Power Hour: Turbocharged Tools for Every Subject and Grade (panel)

Mon June 29 · 9:00–10:00a · Room W311CD · Also streamed for virtual attendees
A fast-paced, interactive panel spotlighting practical AI and Edtech tools and pedagogies across subjects and grade levels. This year, the panelists are Dr. Rachelle Dene Poth, Eric Curts, Gabriel Carrillo, Jaime Donally, and Victoria Thompson. It is always high energy and so much fun, and I always have some surprise intros that I write for each of them. The room has always filled early and been closed, so this is one of those that is a fun three-pete (this is the third time we’ve done this one at ISTE!)

🔗 SuperShare resources · ISTE session page · Add to Google Calendar

🎬 Empowering Digital Storytelling from Pitch to Publish (with AI)

Wed July 1 · 10:00–11:00a · Room W206BC · Also streamed for virtual attendees
Take students from idea to finished story using AI at every step — pitch, produce, publish. I’ll share my gear, my gadgets, my projects for teaching storytelling, and some cool websites that make it so easy.

🔗 Digital Storytelling resources (link to be added) · ISTE session page · Add to Google Calendar

🧰 50+ AI/Edtech Tools and Teaching Tips to Transform Your Classroom

Wed July 1 · 11:30a–12:30p · Room W312AB
Cut through the AI noise with 50+ classroom-tested tools organized by teaching need — assessment, creativity, coding, and productivity. In this session, I’m sharing my current thinking on AI. How I teach about it. I have some tools to test your knowledge on AI terminology, and a model of innovation that really works. I’ve updated my recommendations on lots of tools and also share the pedagogical best practices that goes with the recommendations I’m sharing! This won’t be streamed so the only way to get the goodies is to be in this one.

🔗 Resources & slides · ISTE session page · Add to Google Calendar

🎮 Play the games: Spy the AI (vocabulary) · Turtle Tracker – I have vibe coded these and also share how I made them and the tips and tricks to teach your students vibe coding too!

I hope to connect with some of you at ISTE 2026. I hope you are having a great June! I’m about to get in the car and head out! (I live close enough in Georgia to Orlando to drive so it is time to hit the road!)