detche.com

What It Is

DET/CHE (Drivers of Educational Technology / California Higher Education) is an educational technology professional organization serving California’s higher education system. Its core activity is the annual DET/CHE Conference. The page shows that the 41st conference in 2026 is scheduled to take place from December 1 to December 4 at the Hyatt Regency Downtown SOMA in San Francisco. It is not positioned as a traditional online course platform, but rather as an industry community centered on conferences, membership networking, and professional development.

Core Content and Format

DET/CHE focuses on areas such as instructional technology, multimedia, open learning, academic computing, media services, and distance education. The conference emphasizes three types of value: Learn, meaning gaining insight into higher education technology trends through peer sharing; Network, meaning building professional connections among California colleges and universities; and Discover, meaning exposure to educational technology innovation through corporate sponsor showcases. The organization also provides discussion channels via a listserv/Google Groups, as well as a Leadership Program. The page mentions that future activities will combine in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats, but the clearest current offering is the in-person annual conference.

Pricing and Certificates

Pricing information should be interpreted cautiously. The FAQ clearly states that maintaining membership without attending the annual conference costs $75. Elsewhere on the page, there are ticket-price modules showing $25, $45, $60, and two-day passes at $50–$60, but the labels—such as Design Alpha/Beta/Expert—make some of the content look like template material, so it cannot be confirmed that these are the official 2026 registration prices. The main text does not mention certification, certificates, continuing education credits, or proof of completion.

Pros and Cons

Its strengths include a long history, with the first conference dating back to 1986; a clear positioning within the California higher education ecosystem, covering UC, CSU, community colleges, and private institutions; and an attendee base largely made up of professionals in educational technology, media services, and distance education, making it suitable for gaining peer experience and building regional networks. Its limitations are that it is strongly regional, so its value decreases for users outside California or international users; the full 2026 agenda has not yet been released; pricing and ticketing information is not complete; and there is no clear course outline, speaker lineup, or certificate mechanism.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is better suited to educational technology administrators at California higher education institutions, classroom technology/media services staff, distance education teams, and professionals interested in understanding U.S. higher education technology practices. For users in China who simply want to study course content, the value for money is limited; for those conducting higher education technology research or international exchange, it can serve as a useful reference point. The website’s accessibility cannot be determined from the text alone, but because its community relies on Google Groups, access and participation from mainland China may be restricted. Therefore, it is rated as “partially restricted.”