It is no surprise to anyone who knows me that I took my learning pretty seriously when I was an undergraduate student. Our professors suggested we join the professional organizations that are related to our educational disciplines. Bonus: registration is often free for students! While my choice in organizations has changed with my teaching interests and experience, I continue to belong to and support three robust and smart associations.
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): I am a big fan of this community because it shares my belief that technology has the power to transform teaching and learning when applied thoughtfully. ISTE has a great blog, tons of professional development opportunities, many virtual networks, and in-person and online events. I follow a few virtual network strands. ISTE also created standards, which are a “series of competencies for learning, teaching, and leading in the digital age.” 2023 Cost: $75
Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA): As you may know, I do not live or teach in Texas, but the TCEA does not discriminate! This strong organization offers dozens of self-paced courses on topics such as Teaching and Learning, Digital Tools, and STEM. I recently refreshed my Understanding and Teaching Gifted Learners, and my yearly membership fee covered the cost of the six-hour course, $39 for non-members. In addition, TCEA offers weekly webinars, a weekly email with tips and tricks, an online community, and more. Cost: $49
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD): If you are looking to stay current on educational topics and trends, a membership is all you need. Subscribe to the ASCD e-newsletters which contain links to headlines from various educational periodicals. If you are looking for more specific information about a topic, ASCD books and articles are very well-researched. Cost: $59