Your pre-conference guide to the best AI sessions, tools, and what to explore — even if you’re not attending
ISTELive 2025 is right around the corner, and one thing is clear: Artificial Intelligence is the headline act.
Whether you’re flying into San Antonio or following along online, this year’s program is packed with hands-on sessions, inspiring speakers, and classroom-ready tools focused on how AI is transforming education. But with hundreds of sessions and booths, it’s easy to miss the most practical and innovative highlights, especially the ones designed for everyday teachers.
So we’ve pulled together what you need to know before the event kicks off, based on ISTE’s official program. From student-led panels to AI tools for feedback, creativity, and differentiation, this blog gives you a clear picture of what’s happening and how to start exploring it right away.
Table of contents
Why AI in Education Matters in 2025
AI is no longer something to explore “someday.” It’s already helping teachers plan smarter, personalize instruction, give real-time feedback, and rethink how students show what they know. ISTELive 2025 brings this transformation front and center.
AI is no longer something just for tech experts or data scientists. In classrooms around the world, teachers are using AI to:
- Create differentiated assignments in minutes
- Provide instant, targeted feedback to students
- Help students with writing, research, and revision
- Save time on planning, grading, and admin work
- Make learning more personal, inclusive, and creative
The key shift in 2025? AI is moving from theory to practice. Teachers are finding real value in tools that work quietly in the background, helping them focus more on students. Not spreadsheets.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the sessions and tools bringing that shift to life at ISTE this year.
Must-Know AI Sessions at ISTELive 2025
1. The Student Perspective: Rethinking School Through Our Eyes
Tuesday, July 1 – 12:00 p.m to 1:00 p.m.
A powerful session led by students themselves. Learn how students are helping design more meaningful learning experiences, contributing to school decisions, and even supporting teacher PD. You’ll leave with real strategies for elevating student voice and agency — plus a hands-on challenge to redesign an assignment through the eyes of a learner.
2. Swiftly into the Future: Taylor Swift’s AI Education Tour
Monday, June 30 – 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Get ready for something different. This interactive session maps Taylor Swift’s musical eras to stages of AI adoption in schools. Expect demos of tools like MagicSchool and Snorkl AI that help with feedback, lesson creation, and more — all grounded in teacher workflows.
3. Nurturing Creative, Curious, Caring, Collaborative Learners in the Age of AI
Monday, June 30 – 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Led by Mitchel Resnick of MIT Media Lab and Scratch, this talk explores how to help students build skills that AI can’t replicate — creativity, care, curiosity, and collaboration. You’ll hear stories from Scratch and OctoStudio, with time for peer discussion and hands-on reflection.
4. Student-Facing AI in the Elementary Classroom
Tuesday, July 1 – 1:30 to 1:30 p.m.
This session shows how young learners can benefit from age-appropriate AI tools. From supporting creativity and collaboration to enhancing reading and writing, this is a great entry point for elementary educators curious about using AI in developmentally thoughtful ways.
5. Writing Reimagined: Inspiring Disengaged Writers Through Innovative Formats
Wednesday, July 2 – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
When traditional writing tasks lose student interest, AI and media can help bring it back. This session shares how teachers used formats like podcasts, video, and public speaking to motivate students — especially English learners and those with low writing confidence.
Top 10 Must-Visit AI Booths at ISTELive 2025
If you’re heading to the expo, these AI-focused booths are worth bookmarking:
- Zzish (Quizalize) – Booth 823
- Microsoft – Booth 1800
- Adobe – Booth 1926
- Google – Booth 2100
- Magic EdTech – Booth 605
- Curipod – Booth 3327
- Think Academy – Booth 2459
- Admit AI – Booth 524
- Artificial Society – Booth 826
- Super Teacher Inc. – Booth 3054
Don’t Walk the Expo Blind, Take This With You!
We’ve created a free AI Trail Guide to ISTELive 2025. A printable PDF with all the top AI sessions, booths, and tools worth exploring. It’s perfect whether you’re attending in person or just following from home.
Inside, you’ll find curated tips, educator-led sessions, and tools that are already making a difference in real classrooms. Whether you’re attending in person or just following along, we hope it helps you navigate the fast-changing world of AI in education.
One Last Thing to Remember
ISTELive 2025 isn’t just about the future of education, it’s about what’s working right now. AI is helping teachers personalize learning, simplify planning, and support every student more effectively. But it only works when it supports the people doing the teaching. Whether you’re packing your bags for San Antonio or bookmarking sessions from your desk, we hope this guide helps you find what matters most. Learning is changing, but great teaching is still at the heart of it all. Enjoy the journey.
Keep exploring, and keep empowering your students. Let’s make AI meaningful in every classroom.