Editors’ column –

Abstract

As most of you know, ISTE 2022 was held June 26–29 in New Orleans. ISTE 2022 was a hybrid conference, making presentations available to members who attended in person and to those who were unable to attend. More than 13,000 ISTE members were able to attend in person. Those who attended reported that ISTE 2022 truly felt like the active, engaged, innovative conference we have all come to know. And those who attended online also expressed appreciation for the high quality and carefully designed hybrid opportunity. The Tuesday keynote by Drs. Cornel West and Robert George provides an excellent example of how the hybrid approach can work for both in person and online attendees and presenters. The session was moderated by Mary Jo Modda. Ms. Modda, a doctoral student at UCLA, was present in person for a large, enthusiastic ISTE audience and Drs. West and George participated online. The combination of a moderator speaking to a large group of in person attendees and the two online panel members created a most successful and inspiring session. The enthusiasm of the in person audience for the topic and the speakers added an important ingredient for the online audience. The session truly illustrates the effectiveness of a carefully planned and executed hybrid experience. The topic for this keynote session was centered around the issue of our need for civil discourse on issues in education. Drs. George and West vividly described a deep academic friendship between the two of them that has spanned decades and included some very different views on educational issues. The speakers in this session modeled the importance and value of civil discourse and our need to understand and practice the characteristics of civil discourse. As the speakers described their personal and professional relationship, they highlighted several important features of successful civil discourse. They suggested that we are currently in a time of despair in many of our interactions and the need to learn to positively disagree with our friends and colleagues. They also described the need for serious and informed dialogue that contributes to growth and learning. Characteristics emphasized by Drs. West and George as they described their own interactions included: