CHARLESTON, W.Va.  – Organizers of the Statewide Technology Conference are making the most of technology during the annual two-day professional development event.

Conference participants are able to attend the virtual sessions for free with an Internet-connected computer without traveling to a central location. They can log on from home, the office or another location. The event annually attracts nearly 1,000 K-12 educators, higher education representatives and state agency employees from across West Virginia. They are participating in more than 150 different educational sessions on a variety of instructional technology topics for free. There are even virtual vendors’ booths where participants can explore new technology tools to aid them in the classroom or on the job.

“Outside the classroom our children take technology for granted – in what they read, in how they listen to music and how they shop,” said state Superintendent of Schools Jorea Marple. “Inside the classroom, they yearn for the same type of stimulating environment and customization that allows them to take charge of their own learning. This conference will help teachers develop techniques to better customize learning.”

The cost-saving approach is changing not only how teachers think about learning but the approach to professional development, Marple said.

“By taking advantage of the technology available to us, we hope more teachers will be able to attend this conference as we work together to make technology the most powerful and positive force in children's lives that it can be,” she said.

To participate, conference attendees will need a standard desktop computer, either a PC or a Mac, with a broadband Internet connection to achieve acceptable results. Mobile devices are not recommended. Those with a supported web browser can try this link:
https://presentations.inxpo.com/SharedContent/HTML/TechnicalRequirements/TechnicalRequirements.html. This additional link allows participants to check their system configuration. It also will confirm software availability and settings:  https://vts.inxpo.com/scripts/Server.nxp?LASCmd=AI:4;F:APIUTILS!10.

Media wishing to access the conference should contact the Office of Communication at 304-558-2699 for logon information.

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