Memories from day 2 at ISTE 2013 with Beyond Technology

Notes from day 2 of ISTE 2013: Steven Johnson on where great ideas come from, Windows 8, Google, BYOD, and what has changed for schools since.

By Ernie DelgadoJuly 2, 20132 min read

Updated November 5, 2026 with current data and sources. Originally published July 2, 2013.

Illustration for: Memories from day 2 at ISTE 2013 with Beyond Technology

Day 2 of the ISTE Conference and "overwhelmed" seemed to be the word of the day, not just from us, but from everyone we talked to! There just seemed to be so much to see, so much to learn, and so many people to meet! Lots of information, tips and hands-on demonstrations. And if you like to network and meet people, there were folks from across the country and around the world!

Where great ideas come from

The keynote speaker that day was Steven Johnson who talked about where great ideas come from. He emphasized how innovative learners solve problems by borrowing ideas from multiple fields and how this collaboration leads to creative solutions.

Windows 8, Google, and BYOD

Rick, Veronica and I, again, decided to divide and conquer. Our focus seemed to be on learning more about Windows 8, Google and platforms for BYOD. It is good to see that many of the web tools and iPad apps that are being used and recommended are tools and apps that we are already using in our classroom integration projects and professional development. We have been on the "look out" for new and interesting ways to use some of these tools. We also found out about education at the national level, and possibilities of getting involved in Connected Educator Month in October.

Missed the start of the conference? Read our memories from day 1.

What changed since 2013

School technology has moved toward school-issued devices and phone limits. NCES reports that 88% of public schools have a 1-to-1 computing program for 2024-25 and that 77% prohibit students from using cell phones during any class. Ballotpedia counted 46 states with laws or policies on K-12 cellphone use as of October 29, 2026.

ISTE itself has changed: it merged with ASCD in 2023, became the International Society for Transforming Education in June 2026, and holds its annual conference as ISTELive. Connected Educator Month in October 2013 was coordinated by the American Institutes for Research for the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology.

BeyondK12 was called Beyond Technology Education in 2013.

What still holds: Johnson's point about borrowing ideas from multiple fields is still a good reason to go to a conference with a team.

Where to start this week

Good ideas still come from comparing notes with other schools. To see where your own school stands on AI, the free AI Readiness Assessment takes eight questions and scores you out of 24 across Policy, People, Curriculum, Guardrails, and Funding.

Sources

American Institutes for Research, October is Connected Educator Month (2013) (opens in a new tab) (checked 2026-11-05)
Educational Technology and Change Journal, ISTE 2013: Successful, but too big? (July 2013) (opens in a new tab) (checked 2026-11-05)
National Center for Education Statistics, More than half of public school leaders say cell phones hurt academic performance (February 2025) (opens in a new tab) (checked 2026-11-05)
Ballotpedia, State policies on cellphone use in K-12 public schools (October 2026) (opens in a new tab) (checked 2026-11-05)
ISTE+ASCD, ISTE+ASCD announces new name: International Society for Transforming Education (June 2026) (opens in a new tab) (checked 2026-11-05)
ISTE, ISTELive 27 frequently asked questions (opens in a new tab) (checked 2026-11-05)

Ernie DelgadoFounder and CEO of BeyondK12. 35 years in education technology, founder of Beyond Technology Education in 2001, host of the BeyondK12 podcast.About BeyondK12

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