LTC Blog

News, ideas, and insights on all of the most talked-about K-12 edtech topics

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Discover AI’s Present & Future in Education @ IETC 2023

There is a lot of buzz around AI right now – especially in the K-12 education community. At IETC 2023, you can cut through the buzz and start a conversation toward developing successful AI policies

Sam Fishel
Sam Fishel
Digital Content Manager, Learning Technology Center
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Technology Policies and Leadership

School Law Update: Top Tech Issues for the 2022-23 School Year

Hey, school administrators! The new school year is just around the corner, making now a great time to brush up on some of the legal issues facing education and technology right now. Check out this

Tim McIlvain
Tim McIlvain
Executive Director, Learning Technology Center
AR/VRGoogleGoogle SlidesInstructional Technology CoachingMakerspaceProfessional LearningRoboticsSTEM

Everything We Loved & Learned at ISTELive 22

Just back from the Crescent City, the LTC team had a blast at ISTELive 22 in New Orleans. Between the big bands and beignets, they had the chance to connect with countless educators and learn

LTC Staff
LTC Staff
Statewide Team, Learning Technology Center
Learning SpacesNew TeacherProfessional LearningSocial Emotional Learning (SEL)

7 EdTech Books to Add to your Summer Reading List

Still have a little room left in your vacation-bound suitcase? Why not slip in an edtech book so that you can continue growing while you soak up some well-earned rest and relaxation. These 7 books

Matt Jacobson
Matt Jacobson
Online Learning Coordinator, Learning Technology Center
New TeacherSocial Emotional Learning (SEL)

3 Ways to Relieve Tech Fatigue for Teachers

Feeling fed up with your classroom’s Chromebooks? Growing tired at the prospect of learning another new app or platform? You may be experiencing tech fatigue, a real condition that can put a serious strain on

LTC Staff
LTC Staff
Statewide Team, Learning Technology Center
Classroom IntegrationGoogleGoogle DriveMicrosoft

4 End-of-Year Tech Tips to Prepare for Summer

Summer break is nearly here! But before you close your laptop and hit the beach, take some time to review these timely tech tips from our team geared toward helping you get your digital devices

LTC Staff
LTC Staff
Statewide Team, Learning Technology Center
Classroom IntegrationNetworkingProfessional LearningTechnology Policies and Leadership

Lead the Conversation! Submit an IETC 2022 Proposal

Proposal submission is now open for IETC 2022! This is your chance to share your unique perspectives on tech integration strategies, instructional practices, tech infrastructure, and more with 800+ attendees. Plus, there are great benefits

LTC Staff
LTC Staff
Statewide Team, Learning Technology Center
Computer LiteracyDigital Citizenship

Share What Works in Digital Literacy @ #DigLitCon

Mark your calendars! The LTC-hosted Digital Literacy Conference is returning this fall, offering teachers, administrators, technology coaches, and library media specialists a focused opportunity to discover what works in digital literacy. Submit a proposal today

LTC Staff
LTC Staff
Statewide Team, Learning Technology Center
CertificationMicrosoft

Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (MIEE): Is it worth all the hard work?

Many educators overlook the Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert certification because their school uses Google or Apple products. But MIEE has a lot to offer all educators, regardless of which apps they use. Here are 8

Lisa Schwartz
Lisa Schwartz
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | West Central Region, Learning Technology Center
Accessibility

3 Ways You Can Add Digital Accessibility to Your Classroom Today

As it stands, some digital learning tools and communications are not effectively accessible by default. Fortunately, there are numerous ways that teachers like you can make their classroom’s digital content more inclusive for all learners.

Matt Jacobson
Matt Jacobson
Online Learning Coordinator, Learning Technology Center
Classroom IntegrationCode.orgComputer Science (CS)

Bring Computer Science to Your Students with Code.org Trainings & Free Curricula

Right now, computing is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States. But in order for today’s students to make the leap into the field, their teachers must lay the right groundwork. Code.org’s

Brian Bates
Brian Bates
Associate Executive Director of Professional Learning, Learning Technology Center
AccessibilityLegal Issues

Illinois’ New Digital Accessibility Law – What Education Leaders Need to Know about HB 26

Effective August 1, 2022, HB 26 requires 3rd party curriculum content to achieve Level AA accessibility conformity, as outlined in the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (W3C WCAG). Learn more about these

Matt Jacobson
Matt Jacobson
Online Learning Coordinator, Learning Technology Center
AccessibilitySpecial Education

3 Tips for Making Digital Learning More Accessible

While digital learning has opened new opportunities for students to grow, not all students can engage with digital content by default. These 3 tips can help you make your digital learning content more accessible to

Matt Jacobson
Matt Jacobson
Online Learning Coordinator, Learning Technology Center
CybersecurityData PrivacySOPPA

Stay Ahead of Tomorrow’s Digital Threats at SecurED Schools

At SecurED Schools, you can take the first step toward addressing new vulnerabilities and securing your district’s digital future. Take a peak at this year’s schedule, which includes over 40 local, state, and national experts

Sam Fishel
Sam Fishel
Digital Content Manager, Learning Technology Center
Computer LiteracyFamily and CommunityNetworkingProfessional LearningSocial Emotional Learning (SEL)Standards

Pack your Bags for these 2022 Education Conferences!

Whether in-person or virtual, conferences are a great way to network with fellow educators and learn a lot about the latest education developments and best practices. There are numerous education conference on the calendar for

Lisa Schwartz
Lisa Schwartz
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | West Central Region, Learning Technology Center
AR/VRNetworkingProfessional LearningRobotics

“Keeping it real with real educators” – Takeaways from IETC 2021

The 28th annual Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC) wrapped up on November 19 after three days packed with exploring edtech’s latest integration strategies and best practices. Read up on highlights from this year’s conference,

Tim McIlvain
Tim McIlvain
Executive Director, Learning Technology Center
Digital CitizenshipGoogleGoogle ClassroomYouTube

Embrace Enhanced Security & Accessibility with New Google Classroom & YouTube Updates

As we roll through the final months of 2021, Google continues to put out fresh updates that can help your classroom hit the ground running next semester. Read all about their upcoming security and accessibility

Ben Sondgeroth
Ben Sondgeroth
Lead Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Northern Illinois, Learning Technology Center
GoogleGoogle DocsGoogle Drive

Collaborate Efficiently with Updates for Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive

Month after month, Google continues to roll out updates and improvements designed to enhance their users’ experience – including those of students and teachers in the education sphere. Take some time to learn about their

Ben Sondgeroth
Ben Sondgeroth
Lead Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Northern Illinois, Learning Technology Center

Harness EdTech’s Renewed Potential at IETC 2021!

In just under a month, educators and technology leaders from across Illinois will gather together to learn and explore while forming the connections that allow our statewide edtech community to flourish year after year. It’s

Tim McIlvain
Tim McIlvain
Executive Director, Learning Technology Center
Classroom IntegrationGoogle Classroom

5 Keys to Cooking Up Collaboration in the Classroom

LTC Coach Emily Pool recently learned a thing or two about collaboration while overhearing a conversation between her daughter and her friends. As it turns out, there’s only one way to qualify “done” chicken and

Emily Pool
Emily Pool
Instructional Technology Coach, Learning Technology Center
Professional Learning

Return to the Classroom with New LTC Online Courses

To kick off the back-to-school season, we’ve just launched an assortment of new online courses on Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and more. We’ve also refreshed several previous favorites, so now’s a great time to check

Matt Jacobson
Matt Jacobson
Online Learning Coordinator, Learning Technology Center

Welcome Our New LTC Team Members!

The LTC has grown over the summer and welcomed in 10 new team members – including a new RETC and an assortment of new Instructional Technology Coaches. Together, they possess 150+ years of experience in

LTC Staff
LTC Staff
Statewide Team, Learning Technology Center