CHICAGO -- The economy may be in a slump, but no one would have guessed that from the handouts at the lavish booths at the National Educational Computing Conference this week.
Vendors plugged in to P.A. systems hawked their products on the exhibit floor, creating a chaotic din.
"I think it's wonderful. I'm having a great time," said Mary Rehfus, a middle school industrial arts and computer teacher from Norridge School District 80 in Illinois. "I saw the new digital camera that I want to buy (for school)."
Teachers eagerly combed the aisles, exploring the latest products that educational technology companies have to offer. Here's a sample:
- - -
Beam me to that keynote: Palm drew attention to its handy gadgets by beaming a full conference schedule to any handheld-equipped educator who wanted one. The program seemed to catch on quickly. At one lunch table, four people huddled around a woman who had the NECC schedule on her Palm.
The application included a pull-down menu for each day of the conference, a list of exhibitors, daily workshops and sessions. Users could add particular events to their datebook with the tap of the stylus.
- - -
Wannabe wizards: Who knew Scantron could be fun? The company best known for its fill-in-the-dots-with-a-No. 2-pencil testing sheets had teachers lined up 30-deep at its booth for its Merlin hats giveaway.
Smiling teachers left the exhibit in the pointy, blue felt caps, decorated with white moons and yellow stars, deeming it "definitely worth the wait" in line.
Rehfus said she planned to name a student "wizard of the week" in class. Each week, "someone who's done something innovative or unusual" would get to wear it, she said.
Gotta keep the kids entertained somehow.
- - -
You ARE the strongest gimmick: Last year, the Gateway booth [wowed the crowd with its Who Wants to Be a Millionaire spoof, and this year, it parodied another game show du jour, *The Weakest Link.*The male host, dressed in black a la Anne Robinson, repeatedly quizzed the audience: "When it comes to educational technology partners, the strongest link is...?"
"Gateway!" shouted the 60 or so who had gathered at the booth on Monday.
Two contestants were invited on stage to answer questions on topics like mobility (What does the term "Tin Lizzy" refer to? What three events make up the triathlon?) and support (What force supports a plane during flight? What kind of bridge is the Golden Gate bridge?). Then the host related these questions to his pitches for Gateway wireless and technology support and training.
Contestants on stage got to choose a Gateway clock or coffee mug for their participation. Audience members received free T-shirts.
- - -
Sip with Sue: After a full day of workshops and meetings on Monday evening, educators headed to Chicago's Field Museum](https://www.wired.com/story/37235) for an evening of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres with Sue the dinosaur.
Sue is the world's largest, most complete T-Rex skeleton. She towered over the partygoers as they waited in long lines for snacks like egg rolls, fruits and veggies and White Castle mini-hamburgers.
