One of my favorite EdTech conferences of the year is coming up. Every January, thousands of educators descend on Orlando to geek out over the latest in educational technology, swap ideas, and leave feeling like anything is possible in our classrooms. The timing is always perfect too, right after winter break when you’re ready to shake off the cobwebs and get inspired again.
This year, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be presenting at FETC on a topic that’s been living rent-free in my head for months: Bloom’s Upside Down: Reimagining Critical Thinking in the AI Era.
We’ve been teaching critical thinking the same way for decades. Start with the basics, build knowledge, and eventually (if there’s time) get to the higher-order stuff like analysis and evaluation. But AI has completely disrupted that model. I’ll be exploring what happens when we flip the whole thing upside down. If you’re curious, come check it out!
What I’m Looking Forward To
The energy. There’s something about being surrounded by educators who are genuinely excited about trying new things. It’s a good reminder that innovation is alive and well in schools everywhere, even when the day-to-day grind makes it hard to see.
Real AI conversations. I’m hoping we’ve moved past the panic phase and into the practical phase. I want to hear what’s actually working in classrooms. What are teachers doing that’s making a difference? What have people tried that flopped? Those honest conversations are worth the trip alone.
The hallway conversations. Some of my best ideas have come from random chats between sessions. The scheduled programming is great, but the organic connections are where the magic happens.
The vendors (yes, really). I know, I know. But honestly, seeing what’s new in edtech helps me think about what’s possible. Even if I’m not buying, I’m learning.
If You’re Going
Come say hi! I love meeting Miami EdTech readers in person. And if you can’t make it to Orlando, don’t worry. I’ll be sharing highlights and takeaways here on the blog after the conference.
Who else is heading to Orlando this year?
