Texas Border Business
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – Hundreds of technology specialists, educators and local government officials gathered at the South Padre Island Convention Center from May 16 – 18 to attend the 28th Annual Region One Education Service Center (ESC) Technology Conference, the largest education technology event in South Texas.
The free three-day event, held at the South Padre Island Convention Center, highlighted the latest technological advancements in administration, cybersecurity and education. Informative breakout sessions were presented by area experts and national education technology leaders. All registered educators received 18 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for attending the event.
According to the Region One ESC Deputy Director of Technology Solutions Adrian Garcia, the Region One ESC Technology Conference is dedicated to keeping the region’s educators and technology administrators updated on new tech trends and instructional practices.
“We are living in the age of technology,” Garcia said. “As technology specialists and educators, it’s important to stay on top of new trends and skills. Every year, we gather the top exhibitors and technology leaders to raise awareness for the latest administration and education technology practices.”
Attendees had the opportunity to interact with the largest tech exhibitor showcase in the region, featuring Cisco, Fortinet, Amplify, Dell, among others. The exhibition granted participants direct insight on available programs, tools and resources for tech administrators and educators.
Dee Dee Lopez, a 5th grade teacher at Brownsville ISD, said she enjoyed having the freedom of choosing a learning track that fit her needs in the classroom.
“Attendees were given a lot of tools that we could use in the classroom,” Lopez said. “I’m a big fan of all the technology and software that the exhibitors brought with them, so I’m glad to be able to have first-hand experiences with the organizations. I learned a lot of valuable skills.”
For the first time, Region One ESC provided the first 800 registered participants with free e-learning technology courses to be used between May 29 and August 31. The innovative e-learning content, valued at $600, is split into four 1.5-hour courses: Instructional Technology Framework, Learning Management Systems, Blended Learning Models and Exploring Online Teaching Polices. Content is dedicated to online and hybrid classroom instruction.
“This is the biggest technology conference you’re going to find in South Texas,” Garcia said. “Technology is immersed in everything and changes rapidly. So, it’s important to attend the Region One ESC Technology Conference every year for the latest tech information and tools.”
The Region One ESC Division of Technology Solutions strives to provide innovative technical support to Region One school systems. Visit www.esc1.net/technology for more information about the division’s services.
