School staff from across the region joined ESD 112 and over a dozen technology companies at the Technology Vendor Showcase on January 29. Hosted at ESD 112, this annual event bridges the gap between technology experts and educators in Southwest Washington. The showcase provides an avenue to equip classrooms with up-to-date technological tools as school districts prepare technology purchases for the new school year.
“Many other vendor showcases happen too late in the year for IT directors and school leaders to purchase technology ahead of the new school year,” said Kristina Wambold, Integrated EdTech Coordinator with Digital Learning Services at ESD 112 . “We consulted IT directors in our region to offer our Technology Vendor Showcase in late January so that districts can make important technology purchase decisions in February.”
Companies specializing in classroom technology such as SMART technologies, Elmo, Acer, Lumens, Logitech, Lü, and more were represented at the showcase. All participating vendors are strategic partners of Advanced Classroom Technologies, a company that partners with educators to source, service, and support classroom technologies with a focus on digital equity.
“I love the Technology Vendor Showcase because it’s helpful to hear from school districts about what their pain points are and find solutions,” said Kristin Ford, Sales Manager at Logitech.
Technology plays an important role in catering classroom instruction to individual learning styles and needs in the 21st century.
“We brought an interactive playground to the Technology Showcase event,” said Mathieu Richard at Lü. “It blends physical activity and education, getting students moving and learning at the same time.”
The Digital Learning Services team at ESD 112 supports schools and districts in using technology effectively for all aspects of teaching and learning. ESD 112 assists area schools in using technology for problem-solving, visualizing and analyzing data, communicating, and collaborating in the classroom. The Technology Vendor Showcase is one of many ways that ESD 112 assists school districts in Southwest Washington to transform learning communities with technology.
Learn more about upcoming professional development opportunities and services offered by the Digital Learning Services program at ESD 112, or contact Kristina Wambold, Integrated Tech Coordinator at kristina.wambold@esd112.org.
