AI in Action: A Leader’s Guide to Implementation (Admin Academy #4025)
2026-01-23 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | ROE 21 Training Center, 502 West Jackson Street, Marion, IL, 62959, United States
Have you considered the role AI could play in shaping the future of education at your school? This Administrator Academy aims to equip school leaders with the essential knowledge and practical tools to implement AI technologies effectively. Explore real-world examples of how schools are currently using AI to enhance educational outcomes and streamline operations. Learn to strategically integrate AI solutions, address ethical and privacy concerns, and nurture a culture that embraces technological advancements. Come discover what it takes to bring drones into the classroom as a part of this hands-on workshop using Robolink Codrones. Participants will have the chance to ask questions, code their own drone, and learn about essential drone terminology, safety issues, legal concerns, operational requirements, and drone model options.

The Game Changer: Boosting Engagement with Gamification
2026-01-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Kaskaskia Special Education Dist 801, 200 S Pine St, Centralia, IL, 62801, United States
Ready to transform your classroom into an interactive learning adventure? This workshop will explore the powerful impact of integrating game elements into your teaching.
We’ll demystify the difference between gamification (adding game-like elements to existing lessons, like points and badges) and game-based learning (using actual games as the core instructional tool, like simulations or role-playing). Discover how both approaches can boost student motivation, foster collaboration, and enhance learning outcomes across any subject area, K-12. We’ll delve into the psychology behind these strategies and explore practical tools and platforms that can help you implement them effectively. Leave inspired and equipped with actionable strategies to introduce game-based principles into your daily lessons, making learning more fun and effective for everyone.

AA 4025 AI in Action: A Leader’s Guide to Implementation
2026-01-27 08:30 - 11:30 | Online, IL, United States
Have you considered the role AI could play in shaping the future of education at your school? This Administrator Academy aims to equip school leaders with the essential knowledge and practical tools to implement AI technologies effectively. Explore real-world examples of how schools are currently using AI to enhance educational outcomes and streamline operations. Learn to strategically integrate AI solutions, address ethical and privacy concerns, and nurture a culture that embraces technological advancements.

SecurED Schools
2026-01-27 08:45 - 2026-01-28 11:30 | Online, IL, United States

ROE 51 Tech Leadership Meeting
2026-01-27 10:00 - 12:00 | ROE 51: Menard/Sangamon, 2201 S Dirksen Pkwy, Springfield, IL, 62703 4564
You’re invited to an open forum to explore the latest topics and trends in educational technology. This is a unique networking opportunity for all ed-tech professionals—from technology directors to instructional coaches and everyone in between—to connect and discuss the evolving landscape of technology in our schools.
While a brief presentation may kick things off, the heart of this meeting will be a participant-led discussion. Come prepared to share your experiences, tackle common challenges, and gain valuable insights from your peers.
We look forward to seeing you there!

AI for Social Studies: Navigating Narratives & Building Citizens
2026-01-27 15:00 - 17:00 | Online, IL, United States
This virtual workshop is for Social Studies teachers ready to harness AI for critical inquiry and dynamic engagement. Get hands-on with AI to differentiate primary source analysis, generate diverse perspectives on complex events, create interactive “interviews” with historical figures, and simulate civic dilemmas and debates. Discover practical ways AI can deepen disciplinary concepts and inquiry skills by helping students identify issues, pose questions, and weigh evidence. Critically, we’ll address AI’s profound impact on media literacy, examining how it can both democratize information and inadvertently shape historical and civic narratives. You’ll gain strategies to empower students to critically evaluate AI-generated information, identify bias, promote academic integrity, and protect data, leaving you with actionable ideas to transform your classroom.

ROE 28 Technology Roundtable
2026-01-28 12:30 - 14:30 | ROE 28: Bureau/Henry/Stark, 107 S State St, Atkinson, Illinois, 61235 9788, USA
Join us for an open discussion on current educational technology topics and trends. This networking meeting is open to all educational technology positions including technology directors, instructional technology coaches, and any other positions interested in discussing the current state of technology in our schools. While a short presentation may lead off our time together, the majority of the meeting will be open for participants to share their experiences and challenges with the group.

AI Power-Up for Administrative Assistants
2026-01-28 14:00 - 15:30 | Online, IL, United States
You’ve experimented with AI—now it’s time to upgrade your skills and strategically streamline your school day! This workshop is your essential next step in mastering AI applications that boost efficiency and give you back precious time. We’ll begin with a quick refresher and lively sharing session on current AI tips and tools, then dive into high-impact applications: Learn to craft customized “Gems” in Gemini; discover how NotebookLM can act as your personal research assistant by quickly analyzing your school’s handbooks and policy documents; and master using AI to create engaging social media posts. This session is designed specifically for staff already using AI, providing powerful new use cases to transform your daily work.

Seasons of CS- Math/Science and CS
2026-01-29 08:30 - 14:30 | Sauk Valley Community College, 173 IL Rt 2, Dixon, IL, 61021, United States
Transform your math and science lessons with computer science integration! This workshop offers K-8 educators practical, ready-to-implement ideas for connecting computational thinking to core STEM content. Engage in diverse plugged and unplugged activities perfect for collaborative classroom environments. We’ll also explore essential online tools, courses, and support resources, alongside effective pedagogies and strategies to empower all learners to thrive in interconnected math, science, and computer science fields.

AI in Action: A Leader’s Guide to Implementation
2026-01-29 09:00 - 12:00 | ROE 40: Jerseyville Office, 201 W. Exchange, Jerseyville, 62052, United States
Have you considered the role AI could play in shaping the future of education at your school? This Administrator Academy (4025) aims to equip school leaders with the essential knowledge and practical tools to implement AI technologies effectively.
Explore real-world examples of how schools are currently using AI to enhance educational outcomes and streamline operations. Learn to strategically integrate AI solutions, address ethical and privacy concerns, and nurture a culture that embraces technological advancements.

E-Rate Essentials: Form 471 Walkthrough
2026-01-30 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-02-04 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-11 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-18 09:00 - 12:00 | Online, IL, United States
Learn and complete phase two of your E-Rate application with an E-Rate expert on hand – all from the convenience of your office or living room!
This 3-hour virtual workshop will cover Form 471 and the information needed to successfully complete it, including

Recipients of services
Discount calculations
Costs of service
Dates of service
Service provider(s).

Mindy Fiscus, IL State E-Rate Coordinator, will also be available to answer questions and highlight tips and tools for making your E-Rate life easier.
Reminder: Applicants must file E-Rate Form 470 at least 28 days before filing Form 471. After that 28-day window, contracts may be signed, and additional details needed for the application can be discussed with the chosen providers.
To fully participate in this session, attendees must come prepared with:

A wi-fi enabled device
Your EPiC login and password
A copy of this year’s E-Rate Form 470
A copy of last year’s E-Rate Form 471 (to use as a guide and/or for continued contract info)
Bidding matrix for each contract
Electronic copies/scans of any new contracts or approved bids signed & dated
A general understanding/description of the equipment you are asking for*

*Form 471 requires you to put requested services into categories and types. So, if you are not ‘geeky’ and filing for Cat2, please have a quick conversation with a member of your school’s tech team or chosen service provider about your requested equipment before arriving.

Beyond the Buzzword: Understanding AI in Education
2026-02-03 09:00 - 11:30 | ROE 21 Training Center, 502 West Jackson Street, Marion, IL, 62959, United States
Embark on a journey to demystify the world of Artificial Intelligence in education. This introductory workshop will spark curiosity and address concerns about AI’s role in teaching and learning. We’ll explore the fundamentals of AI, its various applications in the classroom, and address the ethical considerations surrounding its use. Gain a balanced understanding of the potential benefits and challenges AI presents, empowering you to make informed decisions about its integration into your practice. Whether you’re an AI novice or simply seeking clarity, this workshop will provide a solid foundation for embracing AI’s potential in education.

ROE 16 Technology Roundtable
2026-02-03 12:30 - 14:30 | Online, IL, United States

Level Up your AI Game
2026-02-03 12:30 - 15:00 | ROE 21 Training Center, 502 West Jackson Street, Marion, IL, 62959, United States
Building upon your foundational knowledge of AI, this hands-on workshop invites you to dive deeper into AI-driven education. You’ll first experience demos of powerful AI platforms like Brisk Teaching, Magic School, Notebook LM, Gemini, ChatGPT, and more, gaining insights and strategies for using AI as a versatile thought partner. Explore its use across diverse educational tasks, from streamlining lesson preparation and content creation to supporting differentiation, assessment, and even teacher evaluations. Then, in a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style, you’ll further explore a range of teacher-facing and some student-facing AI resources. Be ready to share your own practical AI use cases; your insights will enrich this collaborative experience. This interactive session equips you with practical skills to integrate AI seamlessly, saving time and fostering a dynamic learning environment.

STEM Educator Conference
2026-02-04 08:30 - 13:30 | Bradley University, 1501 Bradley Ave, Peoria, IL, 61625, United States
This conference provides PreK-12 science, math, and STEM educators, educational leaders, and administrators the opportunity to share in a community of learning in support of strong STEM teaching and learning as well as gain valuable insights into how to support science, math, and or integrated STEM/STEM learning experiences in their classrooms.
This professional learning event will expand knowledge of opportunities for student engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical learning. The Bradley University Center for STEM Education takes a broad definition of STEM education, to include the individual disciplines of science, mathematics and engineering, as well as integrated learning experiences that bring together multiple STEM disciplines and/or the arts (STEAM), and seeks proposals from a wide range of STEM education stakeholders from across the PreK-16 spectrum.
This year, Bradley is partnering with the Learning Technology Center (LTC) and the Regional Offices of Education for Mason, Tazewell, Woodford, & Peoria counties (ROEs) to host the conference.

Technology Leaders Collaborative
2026-02-04 09:00 - 11:00 | North Cook ISC, 1001 E Touhy Ave, Suite 200, Des Plaines, IL, 60018 3225
We bring together K–12 technology leaders from across the region for two hours of conversation and collaboration. These meetings are meant to be practical and useful: a space to share what’s working in your districts, talk through current challenges, and learn from one another’s experiences. We’ll also highlight timely topics in school technology, invite participants to showcase tools or solutions, and leave plenty of time for open discussion. By connecting regularly, we can build a stronger network of support and ideas that makes the work of leading technology in schools a little easier and a lot less isolated.

Be Connected: Reducing your Attack Surface
2026-02-04 13:00 - 13:45 | Online, IL, United States
If they can’t hit you, you can avoid their impact. That’s one big reason to reduce your district’s attack surface whenever possible.
Where to start? Tune in to learn how to shrink your district’s digital footprint by hardening network equipment, disabling legacy protocols, and restricting management access. We will also tackle the security debt of aging hardware, covering practical ways to identify end-of-life gear, and establish a secure, compliant recycling pipeline.
Join us to share your strategies for balancing system hardening with instructional needs while purging zombie devices that create hidden entry points for attackers.
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Be Connected is a virtual networking series designed to spark meaningful conversations and collaboration within Illinois’ K–12 technology community.
Hosted by the LTC’s Technology Services team, each free session centers around a different relevant topic, ranging from infrastructure planning and cybersecurity to emerging tools, networking strategies, and day-to-day IT challenges. These informal yet purposeful sessions offer a relaxed and supportive environment where participants can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from one another.
Explore upcoming session topics: https://www.ltcillinois.org/services/beconnected/

Getting Started with Code.org!
2026-02-05 08:30 - 11:30 | ROE 3 Vandalia, 1500 W Jefferson St, Vandalia, IL, 62471, United States
Come explore the FREE introductory resources Code.org has to offer for K-12 classrooms! During our session, participants will have the chance to explore lessons from Code.org CS Fundamentals (K-5), CS Connections (3-8), and CS Discoveries (6-10). We will also explore the Code.org lesson resources and platform so participants will be ready to incorporate any curriculum or lesson from Code.org in any classroom!

ROE 48 and ROE 53 Tech Leadership Meeting
2026-02-05 09:00 - 11:00 | Roy Ricketts, 520 East Lane Avenue, Peoria, IL, 61614, United States

ROE 4 Technology Round Table
2026-02-05 09:00 - 12:00 | ROE 4: Boone/Winnebago, 300 Heart Blvd, Loves Park, Illinois, 61111 7516, USA

ROE 24 Tech Networking Meeting
2026-02-05 09:30 - 11:00 | ROE 24: Grundy/Kendall, 1320 Union St, Morris, IL, 60450 2426
Curious about how other district technology leaders are tackling challenges and initiatives in their districts? Do you have new technology projects/upgrades going on in your district that others might want to hear about? Share your voice and network with colleagues at our open discussion!
This networking session welcomes all technology professionals – technology directors, technology support staff, coaches, and IT specialists/leaders. We may kick things off with a brief presentation, but the real magic happens when we open the floor. Share your experiences, challenges, and ideas in a supportive space, and learn from peers!

Coach Training for Code.org
2026-02-06 08:00 - 12:00 | Online, IL, United States
Explore the new Code.org Coach materials in this virtual, interactive 4-hour training designed to help your teachers, school, or district succeed with Code.org‘s curriculum. You’ll learn about the Code.org facilitation model and effective strategies for working with teachers. We will guide you through the materials, providing “make-n-take” resources you can use to present in your own school or district.
Explore all that Code.org has to offer and be amazed at what you can do to help teachers and students learn more with code. Even if you don’t have dedicated time for Computer Science, this training gives you support for all different schedules and learning structures grades K-8.

Canva Crash Course: Beautiful Designs, Brilliant Lessons
2026-02-10 09:00 - 15:00 | North Cook ISC, 1001 E Touhy Ave, Suite 200, Des Plaines, IL, 60018 3225
This hands-on workshop will show you how to leverage Canva’s user-friendly platform to create professional and captivating materials. We’ll dive into designing stunning flyers, building engaging presentations, and producing dynamic videos. You’ll also learn to utilize the incredible Lesson Library for a wealth of ready-made educational resources and explore Canva’s amazing AI features to effortlessly streamline your workflow. You’ll leave with practical skills and an arsenal of templates to make your lessons shine with creativity and ease. Please bring a laptop or chromebook to this workshop, and ensure you have upgraded to the (free!) pro version of Canva for educators.

ROE #30 Technology Roundtable
2026-02-11 12:30 - 14:30 | ROE 30: Administrative Center, 101 Spero Dr, Murphysboro, IL, 62966, United States
Join us for an open discussion on the current state of technology in our schools. This networking meeting is designed for technology directors, instructional technology coaches, and anyone interested in the intersection of education and IT. We’ll tackle challenges, share successes, and explore the evolving edtech landscape. Come brainstorm, ask questions, and connect with colleagues. Whether you’re seeking solutions, want to stay ahead of trends, or need a supportive space, this meeting is for you!

Tech Treks: Getting Started with Padlet
2026-02-11 15:30 - 16:30 | Online, IL, United States
Are you new to Padlet? Padlet is a dynamic digital bulletin board where students and teachers can post text, images, videos, links, and more—all on one interactive, customizable canvas. Whether you’re sparking ideas, checking for understanding, or creating visually rich lesson spaces, Padlet makes real-time (and asynchronous!) collaboration simple and engaging.
We’re setting off from the trailhead! This is your first stop in your Padlet hike, where our trail guide will go over the basics of making an account and utilizing a Padlet board to create engaging and collaborative experiences for the classroom.
For this session, we also have an expert from Padlet joining to show us the ropes! By the end, you’ll walk away with a fully designed opener activity you can use with students right away.
💡 What You’ll Experience:

Create your Padlet account and build your first board step-by-step.
Customize your board’s layout, colors, themes, and posting settings to match your lesson goals.
Add multimedia elements like text, images, links, videos, drawings, and audio recordings.
Set sharing permissions for private, classroom-only, or fully collaborative participation.
Design and take home a fun, ready-to-launch opener activity to boost student engagement from the very first minutes of class.

This isn’t your typical sit-and-watch session. You’ll actively build, customize, and test your Padlet board in real time. We recommend using two devices for this webinar: one to view the session and another (like a laptop or tablet) to explore Padlet as you go.
Illinois educators who register here and attend live through Zoom can earn 1.0 PD credit.

Media Literacy and Critical Thinking in the Age of AI
2026-02-17 09:00 - 15:00 | North Cook ISC, 1001 E Touhy Ave, Suite 200, Des Plaines, IL, 60018 3225
Preparing students to be successful digital citizens has never been more challenging. The rise of misinformation, fake news, and convincing AI-generated content requires students to develop advanced critical thinking skills to evaluate sources and understand the world around them. This workshop is where we will tackle these challenges head-on by building a strong foundation in media literacy.
Join this session to develop your own media literacy awareness and explore resources designed to build core media literacy skills, with a special focus on how they apply in the age of AI. You’ll learn how to teach students to safely access, analyze, and create digital media while thinking critically about the information they encounter online. This interactive workshop will center on experiencing learning content as students will, offering you a chance to dig deep and discover new ways to create digital literacy lessons rich with self-reflection, analysis, and discussion.

ROE 35 Technology Round Table
2026-02-17 12:30 - 14:30 | Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N Orlando Smith Road, Oglesby, IL, 61348, United States
