Last week, members of our Curriculum and Instruction team headed to Orlando, Florida, to one of the happiest places on Earth… no, not Disney World – ISTELive 2026!
Hosted by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), ISTELive is one of the largest education conferences in the country. Thousands of educators, administrators, instructional technology leaders, researchers, and education companies gather from around the world (more than 80 countries were represented this year) to share ideas, showcase emerging technologies, and discuss the future of teaching and learning.
Throughout the conference, our team explored new tools, attended sessions on emerging trends, and had conversations about the future of education. While artificial intelligence continues to dominate many discussions, several broader themes stood out. Here are our biggest takeaways from this year’s conference.
There’s Too Much to Know… and That’s Okay
When I first discovered Padlet years ago, I remember thinking, This is so cool! I can’t wait to use it in my classroom. A lot has changed since then. What was once a relatively simple classroom tool now boasts one of the largest vendor booths at ISTE, complete with pages of features and capabilities. Google, MagicSchool, SchoolAI, Microsoft, Kira, and countless others tell a similar story.
The challenge is no longer finding good ed tech, it’s staying current with what these tools can do. New features are released almost weekly, and keeping up with every update simply isn’t realistic.
Our advice? Don’t try to master everything. Instead, choose a handful of tools that genuinely support your teaching, learn them well, and use them with confidence. It’s better to become an expert in a few tools than to know just a little about dozens.
Personalized Learning Is Becoming the Standard
One of the clearest trends we noticed was the continued shift toward personalized learning.
Rather than creating technology that simply delivers the same content to every student, many companies are designing tools that make differentiation easier than ever. We saw platforms that generate individualized study guides, instantly adapt reading levels, translate or rewrite content for multilingual learners, suggest accommodations aligned to IEPs, and provide personalized feedback.
Educational technology has moved well beyond supporting whole-class instruction. Increasingly, it’s helping educators meet students where they are and provide learning experiences tailored to individual needs.
The Goal Isn’t More Technology; It’s More Intentional Technology
Technology continues to play an important role in education, but many conversations at ISTE reflected a growing shift toward more intentional use.
Educators, families, and policymakers are asking important questions about screen time, student engagement, and when technology truly enhances learning. At the same time, schools are navigating a wide range of approaches, from cell phone restrictions and screen-time limit initiatives to expanded investments in AI-powered instructional tools.
While opinions differ on the best path forward, one message was remarkably consistent: technology should be used because it improves learning, not simply because it’s available.
What “smarter” technology use ultimately looks like will continue to evolve, but thoughtful, purposeful implementation appears to be the direction many schools are heading.
Sharing Our Work
Speaking of personalized learning, our Teaching Channel team was excited to contribute to the conversation by leading a Trailblazing session on our innovative use of technology as well as presenting a poster session on Place-Based Education (PBE). Place-Based Education encourages educators to use students’ local communities, environments, and lived experiences as the foundation for meaningful learning.
If you didn’t have a chance to attend our session, you can still explore the resources we shared at the conference and learn more about incorporating place-based learning into your classroom.
The world of educational technology is changing rapidly, and we’ll continue to keep you informed about the latest developments, emerging tools, and classroom trends. Be sure to check back for future updates. If you’re ready to explore these ideas in greater depth, take a look at Teaching Channel’s growing collection of graduate-level courses focused on educational technology and innovative teaching practices.
About the Author
Amy Szczepanski (she/her) is a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.S. in both Biology and Environmental Science, a Master’s in Teaching, and has been teaching since 2014. Amy uses her experience to create highly engaging and effective content for both teachers and students. She loves all things STEM and is passionate about teacher advocacy.
Fun fact: Amy’s favorite hobby is taking long walks through New York City searching for delicious treats.
