Classroom

ISTE 2018: ISTE and TED Partner On Master Class Program

The two organizations will bring teachers to the stage to share their strategies and experiences.

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The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and nonprofit organization TED-Ed, a branch of TED, will soon be giving teachers the chance to share their experiences in classroom innovation with each other in a master class program. The two organizations announced the initiative at ISTE 2018 in Chicago.

Starting in the fall, teachers will be able to hear from a cohort of their peers as they explain some of the new ideas they’ve contemplated and strategies they’ve developed to improve problems in the K-12 space.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with TED, an organization known for using powerful stories to help ideas worth spreading reach curious audiences around the world,” said ISTE CEO Richard Culatta in a news release. “Far too many amazing stories of educators impacting students’ lives go untold every day. Through TED Masterclass, we hope to shift the narrative around the teaching profession. I can’t wait to hear their stories.”

Opportunities to give talks will be exclusive to ISTE members, according to organizers.

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Teachers Prepare to Share Their Stories With Online Course

Getting up on the TED stage can be a daunting endeavor for some, so to help ease teachers into the spotlight, the master class includes an online preparation course.

Teachers participating in the pilot program are reporting excellent results from the class as they map out how to present the accomplishments they have achieved through innovative teaching methods.

“As someone who is, by nature, an introvert, this program has given me more confidence to step out of my comfort zone and share my story in an authentic way,” said pilot participant Luis Perez. “Through this process, I've realized how important it is for me to tell my story to inspire future teachers.”

As part of the online course, participants consult with each other, partnering with other educators to collaborate on and edit each other’s plans to execute their talk.

“The most valuable part of the TED Masterclass experience was working through the activities with a partner,” Perez said. “My partner was another amazing educator who did not just validate my choices, but also served as a critical friend to help me improve.”

For those who were not at ISTE 2018 to hear Perez and his colleagues, TED-Ed is developing an app that will feature future talks so teachers can experience them on the go.

For more of the latest stories out of ISTE 2018, check out our conference page here.

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