CHARLESTON, W.Va. _ Nearly a thousand public education, higher education and other state agency employees are heading to Charleston next week for the West Virginia Statewide Technology Conference.

Representatives from all over West Virginia will share their expertise in technology during the event, Aug. 13-17, 2007, at the Charleston Civic Center. The event is coordinated by the West Virginia Department of Education and West Virginia Network.

Homer Hickam, whose novel “Rocket Boys” was the basis for the movie “October Sky,” will be the opening session keynote speaker at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

The goal of the conference is to foster partnerships among various groups by exchanging the latest technology advances and uses and sharing individual expertise with a broader audience.

With the push to help teachers incorporate 21^st learning skills into their lesson plans, technology’s role in the classroom will expand. This conference will serve as a professional development event allowing educators to gain information before school starts later this month.  

“Technology is at the core of 21st century learning,” said state Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine. “Teachers play a critical role in how their students will learn the skills they need to succeed in the digital world.”  

Concurrent sessions will take place throughout the conference. Sessions will include topics such as integrating 21^st century skills into the classroom, 21^st century learning from the students’ perspective, integrating assistive technology into the classroom, building learning communities through technological convergence, computer first aid and a variety of other sessions.

For more information visit http://www.wvnet.edu/conference or contact Brenda Morris, West Virginia Department of Education at (304) 558-3538 or Kathy Musick, West Virginia Network at (304) 293-5192.

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