2011 HI-TEC Conference Brings Together 500 Technology Educators

The 2011 High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HI-TEC) brought together more than 500 participants for four outstanding days of professional development and networking including 18 workshops, 65 presentation sessions, three tours, several group meetings, and a technology showcase with 45 exhibitors. The Hyatt Regency provided a convenient and comfortable venue for meetings and the city of San Francisco offered a myriad of opportunities within walking distance for dining, shopping, sightseeing and yes, cable car rides! See http://www.highimpact-tec.org/2011conference-proceedings.php for conference presentations and photos.

This year's conference was produced by 26 NSF ATE centers and projects with support from the National Science Foundation and contributions from corporate sponsors Lockheed Martin and EMC Corporation. The conference was coordinated by the Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD) and managed by seven committees (Executive, Business, Marketing, Program, Dissemination, Sponshorship, and Awards) comprised of representatives from the NSF ATE centers and projects.

Each year, HI-TEC's Awards Committee solicits nominations from the ATE centers and projects and selects winners of three techological education awards. The following recipients were honored at the annual HI-TEC Awards Luncheon at the 2011 conference:

Educator of the Year Award: Presented to David Fricton, SpaceTEC National Certification Team, for excellence in technology training and education.

Industry Recognition Award: In Memory of Dr. John E. (Jack) Johnston, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, for excellence in industry leadership for technology training and education.

Innovative Program Award: Presented to Patricia Taylor, Dean of Engineering, Science & Allied Health, Thomas Nelson Community College; and Stewart Harris, Engineer, NASA Langley; for their work in professional development that influences hiring practices and strengthens interest in STEM programs.

The annual HI-TEC Conference consistently provides one of the best-rated opportunities for professional development, group meetings, networking, and sharing of best practices among secondary and postsecondary technological educators, technicians, industry professionals, and trade organizations. Please join us in Denver next July 23-26 for HI-TEC 2012!

HI-TEC 2011 "Live" from San Francisco!

This year, for the first time, the High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HI-TEC) will stream one session per time slot throughout the day on Wednesday and Thursday, July 27-28. If you are not able to attend the conference but would like to view some of the sessions and general sessions, visit http://www.highimpact-tec.org/ and click on the video viewing screen. You will be able to watch at no cost!

We hope you find the streaming sessions informative and that you will begin to make plans to attend HI-TEC 2012 in-person, July 23-26, 2012 in Denver, Colorado.

July 15th Preregistration Deadline for HI-TEC Conference!

We hope you are making plans to attend the HI-TEC Conference, July 25–28, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. In order to take advantage of the preregistration discount, be sure to register by July 15 at http://www.highimpact-tec.org/registration.

The hotel reservation discount deadline was Friday, July 1; reservations continue to be accepted by the Hyatt Regency on a space-available, rate-available basis at http://www.highimpact-tec.org/hotel.

We are excited about the program offerings this year. To view the Monday/Tuesday/Thursday workshops/tours and Wednesday/Thursday main conference sessions, go to http://www.highimpact-tec.org/conference-sessions-at-a-glance.

For questions about registration, hotel, and other logistics, contact Sheila Wilson, HI-TEC conference manager, at swilson@cord.org.

See you in San Francisco!

HI-TEC Updates

The HI-TEC Conference is two months away and its producers are working diligently to bring you another great annual conference. Here are some of the latest updates and reminders:

Register by May 31st Early Bird Registration Deadline to save up to $100 off your registration fee for the HI-TEC Conference July 25-28, 2011 in San Francisco http://www.highimpact-tec.org/registration.

Visit HI-TEC's Schedule/Program page http://www.highimpact-tec.org/conference-sessions-at-a-glance to view the Schedule-at-a-Glance and plan your conference itinerary today!

The HI-TEC Virtual Technology Showcase is now live at http://www.highimpact-tec.org/virtualtechshowcase! The Virtual Showcase previews 40 fabulous vendors you can visit July 27-28 at the HI-TEC Conference in San Francisco.

Vendors, it's not too late to reserve your exhibit space--booth assignment is in process. Visit http://www.highimpact-tec.org/techshowcase for the Exhibitor Prospectus and Application.

HI-TEC Conference Website: http://bit.ly/hitec

Technology Exhibitors Welcome at HI-TEC

Reserve your exhibt booth today before the best spaces are gone! Booth assignment begins April 15th for technology exhibits at HI-TEC 2011 in San Francisco. See the Technology Showcase tab at http://bit.ly/hitec for the Exhibitor Prospectus and online application.

The HI-TEC Technology Showcase is a great opportunity to display the latest products and services related to the advanced technology traning and education environments.

Several hundred conference attendees visit the Technology Showcase over two days for valuable products, services, and networking opportunities. The exhibitors reception and prize drawings provide further networking and follow-up opportunities.

Exhibit Hours: Wednesday, July 27 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Thursday, July 28 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Program Preview Now Available for HI-TEC 2011

Bring your heart to San Francisco July 25-28! Professional development and networking opportunities abound in 18 workshops, 3 tours, 60 breakout sessions, and an exhibitor Technology Showcase. The conference Program Preview is now available online at http://bit.ly/hitec. Discounted online registration and hotel reservation available now.

Online Registration Now Open for HI-TEC 2011 in San Francisco!

Online registration is now open for HI-TEC 2011! All conference workshops have been finalized. Presenter proposals for general conference sessions are being reviewed. Please visit the Schedule-at-a-Glance to view the latest confirmed conference activities and plan your itinerary today.

The HI-TEC 2011 conference will be held Monday–Thursday, July 25–28 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. This venue should prove to be a great location for the conference with its unique attractions and convenient transportation options. The hotel is situated right on the Embarcadero waterfront where guests will enjoy immediate access to the city's most famous attractions. Hotel reservation and travel information is now available online.

We hope to see you in San Francisco!

HI-TEC 2011 Call for Session Proposals

The HI-TEC 2011 conference will be held July 25–28 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. This venue should prove to be a great location for the conference with its unique attractions and convenient transportation options. As always, we are striving to put together a high-quality program. The planning committee is particularly interested in presentations that describe collaboration activities between college institutions and their industry partners, that include hands-on learning activities, and that provide take-away resources.

The areas of interest for this year's conference are:
• Technicians in the Workplace
• Technology Policy
• Best Practices in Technology Education
• Learning and Evaluation
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Engineering Technologies
• Energy and Environmental Technologies
• Biotechnology and Chemical Processes
• Electronics, Micro-, and Nanotechnologies
• Information, Geospatial, and Security Technologies

If you'd like to present at HI-TEC 2011, please complete the presenter proposal form available at http://www.highimpact-tec.org/call-for-proposals.
The session and poster session submission deadline is February 1, 2011.