The Annual CoSN Conference Is Going Virtual
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) announced on March 11 that its 2020 conference on transformational technology leadership is now a two-part virtual experience.
CoSN’s Board of Directors made the decision based on official health and safety advisories regarding COVID-19 from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the public health department of the District of Columbia, where the live event was scheduled to take place.
They also factored in that school system leaders are currently preparing e-learning contingency plans and dealing with local district policies to restrict travel, according to the online announcement.
“I know that many of you will be disappointed that the conference in its previous form has been transformed, but CoSN is very hopeful about what we can still offer in these difficult times,” said Board Chair Pete Just in an official letter.
The virtual experience, which will be streamed on Zoom, will start on March 18 with a keynote session on how technology augments student learning by Amber Case, author of the book Calm Technology: Principles and Patterns for Non-Intrusive Design.
The rest of the conference will continue virtually from May 19 to 21. Two other keynote sessions previously scheduled for this week — “Ensuring that Technology Enables Learning Rather Than Distracts From It” by Google advertising strategist and author James Williams and “Lead Where You Are” by Fall Creek (Wis.) School District Superintendent Joe Sanfelippo — were also postponed until May.
CoSN also issued an online resource for school districts shifting to remote learning in response to COVID-19. Released on March 16, the brief gives K–12 ed tech leaders guidance on key e-learning considerations such as ensuring the district’s network can operate under increased use, equipping all teachers and students with the devices and support they need and evaluating cybersecurity protocols.
“While online environments create unique learning opportunities, school districts are faced with accelerated implementation timelines that come with new challenges because of COVID-19,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN, in a press release. “We are committed to serving CoSN members and the broader education community and hope this resource provides them with the tools they need to prepare for a successful switch to remote learning.”
In light of CoSN2020 hosting their virtual conference in May, we’re doing special coverage on remote learning. Keep this page bookmarked for our ongoing coverage and follow us on Twitter @EdTech_K12 to join the conversation using the hashtag #CoSN2020.
