SWWC IT² Education Technology Conference
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We hope that you can join us on October 22–23, 2026, as we return to the Willmar Conference Center in Willmar, MN, for our 20th Annual Education Technology Conference!
The IT² Conference brings together innovation, exploration, and excitement in a single event. Attendees include technology leaders, technology support teams, technology integration and instructional technology staff, as well as educators who are enthusiastic change makers in the use of technology in education.
Since the Exhibit Hall was a huge success again in 2025, we are excited to build upon that momentum in 2026 by once again offering Mini Booth options to our exhibitors, as well as Premium exhibit booth placement based on registration date. With expanded floor space and dedicated Exhibit Hall hours, you will find that participation in IT² 2026 is a valuable investment for your company or organization.
We are accepting exhibitor registrations until October 12, 2026.
Learn more about becoming an exhibitor!
Be a Presenter
Become a Presenter - Proposals due Friday, July 31
Seeking Presenters
IT² is seeking motivated individuals who would like to share your story with a group of like-minded professionals in Education Technology. Is there something that you do in your district or in a classroom that would be helpful for others to know? Do you lead initiatives, provide training, or administer infrastructure in creative ways that have made positive changes for others? Now is the time to share your passion, your success, your story as a presenter at IT² 2026. There are endless opportunities to share your knowledge during IT² by presenting for the 20th or your first time at IT², now is the time to share your story!
Presenter Options
Conference Sessions are 60 minutes each and are held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, and Friday, October 23, 2026, Willmar Event Center in Willmar, MN. We care about our presenters and will provide staff to assist with technical setup for your session and assist with any needs that you might have, allowing you to focus on your content delivery with confidence! We ensure that session content is relevant to our attendees and that those attending your session want to be there to learn and ask questions that will further engage you as a presenter with those in attendance.
Playground Sessions engage attendees in a hands-on workshop, experimenting with tech tools, robotics, drones, and apps in a collaborative, guided environment that coincides with the other breakout sessions on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Contact us for more information
Require a Presenter's Fee?
If you require payment for your presentation, a consultant contract must be obtained from and approved by our conference staff prior to submitting your proposal, and no later than 9am on Friday, July 31, 2026.
Contact us about a presenter's fee
Presenter Perks
Don't miss out on our "presenter perks" - submit your proposal by July 31!
Presenters of Conference Breakout Session proposals and/or playground session proposals that are received by Friday, July 31, 2026, that are not vendor-affiliated will receive a $75 coupon for EACH session being presented that can be applied toward admission to the conference only, not the hotel fee. If there are multiple presenters for the same session, only one presenter will receive a $75 coupon.
Each presenter that is not vendor-affiliated will also receive one entry per session in our presenter prize drawings. We will be giving away two complimentary registrations for our 2026 conference as well as other great prizes exclusively for our presenters! Drawings will take place following the evaluation and acceptance of session proposals.
Presentation Styles
IT² will feature several types of presentations. We leave it up to you to determine the type of presentation you would like to deliver. When proposing your session, we will ask you to please indicate the type of presentation you will be providing to actively convey expectations to our attendees. The choices for presentation styles are:
- Listen and Learn: Lecture-style presentations. Attendees will be allowed to ask questions during and following the presentation.
- Active Discussion: Attendees will be expected to be actively engaged in a discussion, either with the audience in its entirety or in small group discussions. Session leader(s) will share knowledge and resources, but active engagement of the audience will be included.
- Hands-On: Attendees will be expected to actively participate in “hands-on” activities that the presenter leads them through. These will most likely be interactive activities or apps. Please describe the virtual hands-on requirements for your session in the session description. If attendees are expected to bring specific devices, applications, or utilize an online resource, it should be detailed in your session description.
- Playground Session: Hands-on, interactive workshops featuring tech tools, robotics, drones, apps, and more (Held on Thursday only).
Be an Exhibitor
Become a Sponsor or Exhibitor
For 20 years, IT² has been an established annual Education Technology showcase for dozens of vendors, solutions providers, service organizations and agencies. Take this opportunity to showcase your story in front of hundreds of school technology professionals, media specialists, principals and superintendents. Our conference offers exhibitors affordable rates, the opportunity to present breakout sessions and dedicated exhibit hall hours!
Important Dates
- For the best rates, register and pay by July 31
- Rates increase August 1
- Sponsorship closes September 4
- Exhibitor Hall registration closes October 12
- Addl attendee registration closes October 12
Contact us with questions about exhibitor offerings:
- it2@swwc.org
- 507-537-2259
CPC Exhibitors
Exhibitors who participate in the SWWC's Cooperative Purchasing Program (Cooperative Purchasing Connection or "CPC") will receive $200 off exhibitor or sponsorship registration (contact us before registering).
Hotel Accommodations
Both the Best Western and Holiday Inn are attached to the Willmar Conference Center. Each have a block of rooms reserved under "SWWC Technology Conference" until September 21.
- Best Western Plus: 320-235-6060
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites: 320-231-2601
- Check-in time: 3pm CST
- Checkout time: 11am CST
Conference Center Shipping Address
Best Western, Attn: Sales Office
2100 US Hwy 12
Willmar, MN 56201
Sponsorship Package
Registration Deadline is September 4, 2026 for all Sponsorship packages.
Register by July 31, 2026 to get the best rate! Rates will increase by 20% on August 1.
Bronze Sponsorship: $1,050
- Included on sponsors list, social media, and SWWC website
- Thank you during the welcome prior to the keynote
Silver Sponsorship: $1,800
- Included on sponsor list, social media, and SWWC website
- Thank you during the welcome prior to the keynote
- Includes one Exhibit Hall Booth (10' wide) with one 8' x 3' table
- One Full Conference Pass (Thursday and Friday) for one organization representative
Gold Sponsorship: $2,500
- Included on sponsor list, social media, and SWWC website
- Thank you during the welcome prior to the keynote
- Includes one Exhibit Hall Booth (10' wide) with one 8' x 3' table
- Two Full Conference Passes (Thursday and Friday) for two organization representatives
- Includes the opportunity to present one concurrent session
- Organization logo on thank you posters in all presentation rooms and throughout the conference facility
Platinum Sponsorship: $3,000
- Included on sponsor list, social media, and SWWC website
- Thank you during the welcome prior to the keynote
- Includes one Exhibit Hall Booth (10' wide) with one 8' x 3' table
- Two Full Conference Passes (Thursday and Friday) for two organization representatives
- Includes the opportunity to present one concurrent session with first preference to Thursday or Friday session assignment
- Organization logo on thank you posters in all presentation rooms and throughout the conference facility
- One-minute promotional video featured on IT2 social media (submission deadline August 31)
- Exhibit booth placement in the main exhibit hall
- Up to 5-minute presentation to attendees during Friday Breakfast or Lunch (assignment by lottery)
Door Prizes
It is your responsibility to ensure that door prizes are given in accordance with all state and federal rules and guidelines, including the FCC Gifting Rules that apply to recipients of the Universal Service Administrative Company's (USAC) E-Rate funding program.
Some attendees may not be allowed to accept your door prize if they win it and may request you donate it to a charity. Any Door Prize must be a benefit to the winner's entire school and in no way a personal benefit to the recipient personally.
Recognition of the door prize donor will be stated on our website and social media when door prize winners are announced.
Conference Attendee Contact Information
SWWC will only release the name and contact information of registrants that have opted to share their information with vendors during the registration process.
Exhibit Hall Packages - Register by 10/12
Registration Deadline is October 12, 2026 for all Exhibit Hall packages.
Register by July 31, 2026 to get the best rate! Rates will increase by 20% on August 1.
Exhibit Hall Date: Thursday, October 22
Exhibit Hall Time: 4pm - 7pm CST
The Exhibit Hall will be the exclusive Conference Event during this timeframe, with no sessions taking place during that time. Conference attendees need to attend to earn entry into door prize drawings. We hope this will provide participants with great motivation to visit your booth and meet you!
Note: There is no exhibit hall on Friday, October 23, the space used for the Exhibit Hall will be used for Conference Sessions.
Exhibit Hall Booth: $630
- One 10' wide space and one 8 x 3-foot table with electricity and Wi-Fi
- One representative exhibit hall admission including snacks and refreshments, lunch, and evening appetizers for Thursday only
- Organizations with more than one attendee representative attending the exhibit hall must purchase an additional pass for each representative not already included in your Exhibit Hall Booth or Sponsorship package.
- October 22 Setup time: 9:30am - 4pm (Gallery 7)
- All items must be removed from the facility by 8pm on October 22
Additional Exhibit Hall Space and Table: $525
- An additional 10' x 10' space and one additional 8' x 3' table added to your booth. Note: Additional space must be occupied by the same organization.
Mini Exhibit Hall Booth: $315
- One 8' x 1.5' table against the wall in the hallway outside exhibit hall (includes Wi-Fi but not electricity)
- One representative exhibit hall admission including snacks and refreshments, lunch, and evening appetizers for Thursday only
- Organizations with more than one attendee representative attending the exhibit hall must purchase an additional pass for each representative not already included in your Exhibit Hall Booth or Sponsorship package.
- October 22 Mini Booth Setup Time: 3pm (due to breakout sessions)
- All items must be removed from the facility by 8pm on October 22
Exhibitor/Sponsor Session Presentations: $472.50
A limit of two sessions may be purchased per organization.
All concurrent sessions are 60 minutes in length. Wi-Fi, room audio, and one projection device with HDMI connection will be provided. Presenters are required to utilize microphones during presentations.
- No longer available - One Thursday-only Conference Pass is provided to the presenter. Additional presenters must be covered by an additional pass. Availability is limited to 5 sessions. - spots are filled
- One Full Conference Pass (Thursday and Friday) is provided to the presenter. Additional presenters must be covered by an additional pass. Availability is limited to 8 sessions.
Time of presentations on Thursday and Friday cannot be reserved but we do our best to accommodate requests.
Additional Exhibitor Rep Conference Admission: $63 or $210
Organizations with attendees not covered by the passes included in your sponsorship or exhibitor package will need to purchase the appropriate pass for each additional attendee. Presenters from Sponsor or Exhibitor organizations that are assisting in any presentation at IT2 must be covered by an attendee pass.
- Full Conference Pass: $210
Attendee from a sponsor or exhibitor organization that will be participating in the conference on both Thursday and Friday. - Exhibit Hall Only Pass: $63
Additional attendee from a sponsor or exhibitor organization that will be participating in the exhibit hall. Admission to conference sessions is not included. Includes snacks and refreshments, lunch, and evening appetizers for Thursday only.
Cancellations
Cancellations must be received by 4:30pm on July 31, 2026, to qualify for a refund, after which all registrations are final, and no refunds will be issued. Substitution of attendees from the same organization will be allowed up to the day of the event. However, listings on conference materials, including but not limited to our website, social media, and emails, will not be updated with any changes received after the July 31, 2026, cancelation deadline.
Any registrations received after July 31, 2026, are non-refundable.
In the event a workshop is canceled by SWWC, a full refund will be given. Communications by SWWC will be sent to the Main Contact listed in your registration.
Keynote
Meet our Keynote Speaker: Dick Beardsley
Dick Beardsley is a captivating keynote speaker known for his inspirational and motivational presentations. His powerful story resonates with audiences ranging from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit organizations, prisons, schools and drug treatment centers, to name a few. Wherever he speaks, the response is the same: Dick Beardsley has a profound impact on people from all walks of life.
Dick’s journey to fame began during the legendary 1982 Boston Marathon, where he captured the world's attention—not by winning, but by narrowly losing in what is often referred to as the “Duel in the Sun.” This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a life filled with extraordinary highs and devastating lows.
Sessions
Concurrent Schedule & Breakout Sessions
Concurrent Schedule
Thursday, October 22
8:45am: Registration and Networking
9:15am: Makerspace and STEM Playground Opens
9:15am - 11:30am: Concurrent Breakout Sessions
11:30am - 12:30pm: Lunch Buffet and Networking
12:30pm - 4pm: Concurrent Breakout Sessions
4pm - 7pm: Exhibit Hall featuring Appetizers, Refreshments and Networking
Friday, October 23
7:30am: Breakfast Buffet and Networking
8am: Poster Sessions Open
8am: Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:15am: Keynote with Dick Beardsley
9:30am - 11:45am: Concurrent Breakout Sessions
11:45am - 12:45pm: Lunch Buffet and Networking
12:45pm - 3pm: Concurrent Breakout Sessions
3pm: Closing Remarks and Door Prizes
Sched Conference App & Informational Site
We encourage you to download the Sched app to build your personal schedule, access conference handouts and evaluate breakout sessions. And be sure to create a Sched account, so you can fully customize your conference experience!
- Sched app on iOS
- Sched app on Android
- Event name: SWWC IT2 2026
As a registered conference attendee, you will receive an email inviting you to our conference Sched on Monday, October 19. At that time, you will be able to start building your own custom concurrent session schedule and begin accessing session content.
Visit the IT² Sched site for a fully interactive directory of our concurrent breakout sessions and presenter information.
Breakout Sessions
Stay tuned! Breakout session information will be released closer to the event.