Digital Discourse / Events

Content VIA Platforms Conference to Feature Execs from Altimeter Group & Storify, All Things D’s Kara Swisher

April 26, 2012 By

SIIA today announced keynote speakers for Content VIA Platforms-an all-new event that will address the multiplatform publishing challenges and opportunities facing publishing, media and information companies. Content VIA Platforms will be held May 9-10 at San Francisco’s Palace Hotel.

Publishing content across multiple emerging platforms is one of the biggest challenges facing information and news providers this year. At Content VIA Platforms, industry leaders will provide strategies for companies to maximize their audiences and revenues by utilizing a variety of different platforms, monetization strategies, devices and app distribution models, and more.

Content VIA Platforms will feature a number of mobile, publishing and technology thought leaders and key executives from the information industry. Keynote speakers include:

• Burt Herman, Co-founder, Storify
• Charlene Li, Founder, Altimeter Group
• Chris Silva, Mobile Industry Analyst, Altimeter Group
• Kara Swisher, Co-Producer & Co-Executive Editor, All Things Digital, The Wall Street Journal

Kathy Greenler Sexton is Vice President and General Manager for the SIIA Content Division.

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Kentucky’s Implementation of Common Core State Standards Demonstrates Key Role of Technology

April 19, 2012 By

Kentucky was the first state to adopt the Common Core State Standards and has become a pioneer in implementation. Cindy Parker, a representative from the Kentucky Board of Education spoke recently at a National Adolescent Literacy Council event about the challenges and solutions to implementing the Common Core Standards. Kentucky began to implement CCSS for the 2010-2011 school year with very little funding support from state legislature. Educational technology has helped Kentucky by providing new and innovative methods for professional development, curriculum dissemination and teacher support.

A robust teacher training online platform was created to update teachers on the best practices for implementing the new standards. Lack of funding for traditional development methods created unique challenges that were overcome by implementing more flexible and easily accessed digital tools to support Kentucky’s educators.
Examples include:

  • iTunesU is used for podcasts and webinars for professional development of teachers. A monthly webinar with the state’s Education Commissioner and the district Superintendents has been established to create better communication.
  • Race to the Top funding was used to create “Literacy Central,” a website designed to aid teachers in professional learning. Videos, lesson plans, and forums are contained on the website and act as guideposts for teachers.
  • The Continuous Instructional Improvement Technology System (CIITS) was created in partnership with Pearson Schoolnet. This was designed as a one stop online platform for teachers to access CCSS literacy plans.  Modules within the site provide analysis of CCSS requirements and how to incorporate those into day to day classroom activities. Professional growth plans and consolidated professional development resources are also included.

The implementation of the CCSS in Kentucky led to not only classroom technology upgrades and changes, but also important changes in professional development. As new content and new guidelines were introduced, Kentucky reacted by creating technologically savvy teacher training. The important role of technology and digital learning, both for curriculum as well as for professional development, is clear.

SIIA’s recent CCSS webinar and Ed Tech Government Forum session are available to SIIA members seeking additional information about how they can support education’s needs with CCSS aligned content, technologies and resources. Further reading can also be found in Ed Week’s recent article.

 

Lindsay HarmanLindsay Harman is Market and Policy Analyst for the SIIA Education Division.

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Filed Under: Ed Tech Industry Summit, Education, Education Policy, Events, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Google, Oracle Execs & Pulitzer Prize Finalist Nick Carr to Keynote All About the Cloud

April 19, 2012 By

Executives from Google Enterprise and Oracle, along with Pulitzer Prize finalist Nick Carr, a columnist and celebrated author of “The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains,” have been announced as keynote speakers for the 2012 All About the Cloud conference. The seventh annual event will take place May 8-10 at San Francisco’s Palace Hotel.

All About the Cloud is the software industry’s most comprehensive ISV conference on cloud computing and is presented by the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA)—the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries—in partnership with OpSource, a Dimension Data Company—the leader in enterprise cloud and managed hosting.

This year’s conference will focus on a range of emerging trends and critical issues—including mobile, security and compliance, big data, and more. Through keynote speeches, panels and product demonstrations, the event will explore how the cloud is revolutionizing the way software is developed, consumed and delivered.

Keynote speakers include:

• Chris Baker—Senior Vice President, Global ISV/OEM Sales for Oracle Corporation
• Nick Carr—Author of “The Big Switch” & “The Shallows” and Columnist for the Guardian
• Michael Lock—Vice President, Americas for Google Enterprise

Rhianna Collier is VP for the Software Division at SIIA.

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SIIA Announces Partnership with InfoCommerce Group to Produce Information Industry’s Only Data Content Conference

March 27, 2012 By

SIIA’s Content Division today announced that it has partnered with InfoCommerce Group (ICG) to produce the annual DataContent Conference. The event, which takes place October 9-10 in Philadelphia, PA, is the only conference devoted solely to producers of commercial data products.

DataContent has become the primary meeting ground for publishers to get in-depth and up-close looks at the new ideas, new business models and innovative new companies that are defining the business of business information. DataContent is distinguished by the quality of attendees, which include large numbers of C-level publishing executives, entrepreneurs, bankers, private equity groups and advisory companies. In partnering with ICG, SIIA will apply its more than 20 years as a leader in the information and content industry to develop new programs and broaden the event’s reach.

Combining our years of experience in information and content with ICG’s tremendous commercial data expertise will make DataContent even more valuable to attendees. We’ll bring new ideas, access to leading executives, and a broad reach among audiences that care about data publishing. The DataContent Conference and ICG’s principals have been serving this industry for over 25 years. The event is a catalyst for new talent entering the industry and has a deep and powerful connection to established players.

The DataContent Conference is focused on data publishing and draws information-based businesses, from established traditional enterprises in various stages of evolution, to cutting-edge technology in search of a viable business model. These businesses come together to learn about the latest industry developments, hear from top speakers, and identify new opportunities with those who can help make them happen. No other conference both offers a deep and highly focused discussion of business information and attracts nearly all of the leading players driving the industry. SIIA and ICG are currently working to develop the program for 2012, and more details will be announced in the near future.

Kathy Greenler Sexton is Vice President and General Manager for the SIIA Content Division.

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SIIA Survey: Publishers Prioritizing Multiple Platforms as they Develop Content Distribution Strategies

March 20, 2012 By

SIIA’s Content Division today announced results from a survey that shows the challenges and opportunities content creators have in aligning their organizations to keep up with fast-evolving platforms.

Most of the 85 publishing executives surveyed said their companies are thinking about how to publish their content across multiple platforms.When respondents were asked to name the “high priority” platforms they plan to focus on during 2012, the answers were extremely varied.

According to the results of the SIIA Content Platforms survey:

• About 60 percent of respondents classify tablet publishing, mobile publishing and/or launching new web-based products as a high priority;
• Forty-two percent prioritize licensing and syndication; • Nineteen percent prioritize video;
• Business-to-business (B2B) companies tend to prioritize new web-based products slightly above mobile and tablet publishing, whereas business-to-consumer (B2C) companies prioritize tablet publishing above all else;
• B2B companies are twice as likely to prioritize licensing and syndication versus their B2C counterparts;
• 50 percent of director-level individuals prioritize tablet publishing, versus 69 percent of C- and VP-level managers and their manager-level counterparts;
• Only 25 percent of individuals in sales roles prioritize tablet publishing, versus 70 percent of their marketing counterparts;
• 75 percent of individuals in sales roles prioritize web-based publishing—the highest of any group—versus 50 percent of their marketing counterparts.

The content platforms on which companies are currently publishing also vary. Overall, and by a fairly wide margin, companies are leveraging Apple platforms – the iPad and the iPhone. The survey found that 68 percent are currently publishing on the iPad and 58 percent on the iPhone. Meanwhile, 38 percent are publishing on Android-based phones, and 35 percent are publishing on Android-based tablets. Just 17 percent are leveraging Facebook (Open Graph), and 16 percent are publishing on the Kindle.

Large enterprise information and digital content companies are deploying more products and services on Apple, Android, Kindle and even Facebook than their SMB counterparts. And when it comes to developing apps for mobile and other platforms, B2C companies and large enterprise content companies are more likely to outsource than their B2B and SMB counterparts.

We conducted the survey to gain a greater understanding of publishers’ needs in advance of Content VIA Platforms, an all-new conference to help publishing, media and information companies design effective distribution strategies for mobile, social and other content distribution platforms. Full results of the survey will be released at Content Via Platforms, held May 9-10 in San Francisco.

Kathy Greenler Sexton is Vice President and General Manager for the SIIA Content Division.

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New Content VIA Platforms Conference will Address the Demands of Publishing in a Multiplatform World

February 23, 2012 By

SIIA’s Content Division announced today an all-new conference for content creators who publish across multiple platforms. Called Content VIA Platforms, this new event will help publishing, media, and information companies get content effectively published and distributed across multiple  platforms such as mobile, social and even aggregation platforms.

Content VIA Platforms will be held May 9-10 in San Francisco. SIIA will preview the event during a free, one-hour webinar next week, on March 1 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern/10:30 a.m. Pacific. Members of the media are invited to attend the conference and participate in the webinar.

One of the key challenges many publishers, new and information providers face today is publishing and distributing content in real-time across multiple content platforms. These content distribution platforms include everything from mobile, tablets, aggregation to even scholarly platforms. We launched Content VIA Platforms to help publishers to make smart product and strategy platform decisions in order to help them maximize their audiences, customer base and revenue-without breaking the budget.

The Content VIA Platforms conference will feature a number of mobile, publishing and technology thought leaders and key executives from the information industry. Panels and presentations will focus on equipping participants with tools and strategies to successfully utilize a variety of different platforms, monetization strategies, devices and app distribution models, and more.

The Content VIA Platforms webinar, which will be held next week on March 1, will provide an introductory overview of key content platforms and discuss strategies for harnessing these platforms to drive visibility. The basic tools introduced during the webinar will be covered in more depth at the Content VIA Platforms conference in May. Next week’s preview will be led by two top digital content strategists-Ann Michael, President of Delta Think, and Barry Graubart, Vice President for Customer Development at Crowd Fusion and SIIA Member Chair of Content VIA Platforms.

Kathy Greenler Sexton is Vice President and General Manager for the SIIA Content Division.

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Leveraging the New Normal in Ed Tech

February 17, 2012 By

As outlined by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan more than a year ago, the New Normal in education is the challenge of ”doing more with less” in our pK-20 education system. But as Duncan — and others including SIIA would respond – ”this challenge can, and should be, embraced as an opportunity to make dramatic improvements . . . [E]normous opportunities for improving the productivity of our education system lie ahead if we are smart, innovative, and courageous in rethinking the status quo.”

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) continues to support our education system’s efforts to reimagine and retool by personalizing learning and leveraging technology and digital learning. SIIA’s latest effort is the March 7-8 Ed Tech Government Forum, which will bring SIIA member technology and education entrepreneurs together with national, state and local education leaders to dialogue about the policies of the New Normal digital age in education. 

The following keynote speakers will share how at the local, state and college levels, they are removing outdated policy barriers and modernizing practices to better meet the individual needs of their students through digital learning:
- Jorea Marple, State Superintendent of Schools, West Virginia Department of Education
- Kaya Henderson, Chancellor, Washington DC Public Schools
- Jay Box, Chancellor, Kentucky Community and Technical College System

We will share examples of how agencies and institutions are Doing More w/Less through Technology and eLearning, featuring Michael Casserly (Council of Great City Schools), Amber Winkler (Thomas B. Fordham Institute) and Todd Wirt (Mooresville, NC Graded School District) which was recently featured in the NY Times. 

And senior officials from state agencies in TN, OH, KY, GA and UT will share their initiatives in digital and open content, online assessment, virtual learning and data systems to meet the goals of Race to the Top and other state policies and ensure students meet the Common Core State Standards.

Throughout, this members-only SIIA forum will support two-way dialogue, enabling technology and digital learning providers to understand the needs of our pK-20 education system, while also providing learning opportunity for education leaders to understand the vision and innovative learning technologies coming from the private sector.

SIIA members not yet plannign to attend, please review the full agenda and speakers and register. For all, SIIA will be sure to help attendees and presenters leverage the results of this discussion to further support all stakeholders in Leveraging the New Normal to improve education and our students’ college and career readiness.

Mark SchneidermanMark Schneiderman is Senior Director of Education Policy at SIIA.

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Filed Under: Ed Tech Government Forum, Education, Education Events, Education Policies, Education Policy, Events, Personalized Learning, Policy Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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