Hundreds Join in the 2009 Technology Innovators Conference Hosted by AIR’s National Center for Technology Innovation

Washington, D.C. – Several hundred leaders in the fields of technology, media, academia and education will participate in the 2009 Technology Innovators Conference on November 16 and 17, 2009 at the Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference is hosted by the National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI), which is operated by the American Institutes for Research (AIR).

The conference, Educational Futures – Powered by Technology, includes addresses by: Kareem Dale, special assistant to President Obama for disability policy; Karen Cator, newly-appointed director of the office of education technology at the U.S. Department of Education; and Dan Domenech, executive director the American Association of School Administrators.

Conference themes include exploring the latest innovations and trends in educational technologies for teaching and learning; the latest research in brain and cognitive science; meeting the needs of youth with disabilities; the use of games for therapy and health; the potential of accessible and adaptive assessments; and the funding priorities of leading foundations.

Conference panel discussions consist of participants from across industries and disciplines:

• Industry leaders, including Yahoo!, Microsoft, and E-Line Ventures;
• Major funders, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York;
• Academia, including the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Michigan State University, and Johns Hopkins University; and
• Educational technology organizations, including the KnowledgeWorks Foundation, the Teaching Institutes for Excellence in STEM, and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center.

The conference will also feature a TechExpo on Monday evening from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. offering hands-on demonstrations of innovative learning and assistive technology products. It is free and open to the public.

Ongoing blog and twitter (#NCTI2009) coverage will be offered throughout the conference and meeting materials (PowerPoint presentations, videos, and resources) will be made available following the conference via the National Center for Technology Innovation Web site, www.NationalTechCenter.org.

About the National Center for Technology Innovation
The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI), established in 2001 and operated by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), is mandated to advance learning opportunities for all students, with a special focus on students with disabilities, by fostering technology innovation. NCTI offers technical assistance to facilitate growth and sustainability of learning and assistive technologies. The Center is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education and is located at the American Institutes for Research in Washington, DC. View the full agenda of the conference online at www.NationalTechCenter.org.

About AIR
Established in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of health, education and workforce productivity. For more information, visit www.air.org.