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System-level technology administrators, teachers and technicians left the 11th Annual Tennessee Educational Technology Association’s Summer Institute with a sense of accomplishment.

The Tennessee Educational Technology Association is a group of educators who share and exchange ideas, techniques, materials and procedures for use in educational technology. Their annual summer conference was held at Alcoa High School last week.

“It’s a very unique conference,” said John Simi, TETA board chairman and a technology specialist for Shelby County Schools. “It’s a good event with very good corporate sponsors.”

The conference, however, was much more than classroom breakout sessions and social networking with the event’s 64 corporate vendors. Wednesday and Thursday’s night events offered attendees a chance to “let their hair down,” Simi said.

Wednesday’s night event featured TETA spins on “American Idol” and “America’s Next Top Model.” Thursday’s night event offered guests some healthy competition in the form of Wii Sports, Guitar Hero III and karaoke.

Events a big hit

Wednesday night’s events were a huge hit. “I heard a lot of comments about how it was one of the best events (in TETA history),” said Jerry Huskey, the technology coordinator for Sevier County Schools. “There was an opportunity for participation from everyone,” he added.

He also acted as a judge in the American Idol competition, which was sponsored by Education Networks of America. Huskey had to share the panel with a New Zealander impersonating Simon Cowell. “He was hilarious and played it very dead-pan. As a judge, I finally realized how difficult it is to sit behind the table with Simon,” Huskey said.

Everyone loved the events. “The night events have been (both) family-friendly and adult-oriented. It’s an excellent way to continue the conference,” said Howard Sisco, supervisor of technology/communications with Hamblen County Schools.

Sisco then explained how he met a fellow technology supervisor that he had never seen before while playing Wii Sports Thursday night. The night events are “an excellent way to put a name with a face,” he noted.

Some educators even turn the conference into a vacation for the whole family.

Maggie Newman has attended the Summer Institute three times with her husband, Dan, who is a computer technician with Hamblen County Schools. The Newmans brought their 12-year-old son, Daniel, to this year’s conference.

“We try to treat it like a bonus vacation,” said Dan Newman.

Family activities

“It’s very fun and (TETA) tries to do a lot of fun things for families,” said Maggie Newman. She and her son visited the Knoxville Zoo and the American Museum of Science and Energy, while her husband was in breakout sessions last week.

“I’ve really enjoyed it. I’m having lots of fun and getting out,” said Daniel Newman. “I thought it was going to be boring, and that I was going to be stuck in a room. We’ve actually been doing stuff.”

The 12-year-old considered this vacation to be just as fun as being at Myrtle Beach, which is his favorite vacation spot, he said.

“If you get to spend time with this group, you’ll see we work hard and play hard,” said Beverly Miller, technology coordinator for Greeneville City Schools. “These (night) events give us an opportunity to enjoy one another’s company. We see these people in a professional and business setting and now we can see a different side of them. We’ve really had a fun time together.”

“Over the last 11 years we’ve developed a wealth of great relationships,” said Simi. “The strength of (our organization) is in the relationships of the people here. We’re able to enjoy each other as friends and colleagues,” he added.