Professional Learning

Events Calendar

Come learn with us at an upcoming workshop, webinar, networking event, or conference.

Both in-person and online, every event is an opportunity to discover new resources, embrace best practices, and grow your impact as an edtech innovator.

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Format: Workshop

Computer Science Series: Strawbees (K-12)

Tue. July 15, 2025 | 8:30 am - 11:30 am | $50
U of I Extension Office, Carmi 1715 College Ave, Carmi, IL, United States

Discover the engaging world of Strawbees! This workshop offers educators a hands-on introduction to this innovative building system designed to foster STEM and STEAM learning through play.

Emily Flach
Emily Flach
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Southern Region, Learning Technology Center

Working Smarter with AI

Tue. July 15, 2025 | 9:00 am - 2:00 pm | Free
ROE 48: Peoria 2116 North Sheridan Road, Peoria, IL, United States

Join us for a hands-on workshop for educators ready to advance their AI journey. We'll cover the basics of AI, its impact on education, and practical classroom applications. Through group discussions and activities, you'll explore AI tools and create prompts to boost productivity. We'll focus on integrating AI into teaching strategies while addressing ethical and responsible use. By the end, you'll leave with practical strategies to confidently use AI tools, innovate curriculum design, and adapt teaching practices to meet diverse learners' needs.

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

Computer Science Series: Finch Robot 2.0 (K-12)

Tue. July 15, 2025 | 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm | $50
U of I Extension Office, Carmi 1715 College Ave, Carmi, IL, United States

Bring computer science to life with the Finch Robot 2.0 powered by micro:bit! This hands-on workshop will guide you through the exciting possibilities of this robot, designed for learners of all ages, from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Emily Flach
Emily Flach
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Southern Region, Learning Technology Center

An Educator’s Guide to Canva

Wed. July 16, 2025 | 9:00 am - 2:00 pm | Free
ROE 48: Peoria 2116 North Sheridan Road, Peoria, IL, United States

This hands-on session will guide you through using Canva’s templates presentation tool, the whiteboard, and docs for lesson plans and student collaboration. Through group discussions and activities, we will explore Canva's Magic Studio tools like Magic Write, Design, Edit, and Eraser to help you effortlessly generate creative text, design captivating visuals, and enhance images.

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

Unleash Student Creativity with Digital Storytelling in Canva

Tue. July 22, 2025 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | Free
ROE 45: Monroe/Randolph 107 E Mill St, Waterloo, Illinois, USA

What if you could tap into the captivating world of TikTok and YouTube to bring your lessons to life? This workshop explores the art of digital storytelling in the classroom. Learn how to guide your students in creating their own content using Canva, connecting your curriculum to the digital narratives they love. Join us and discover the power of student-created stories!

Emily Flach
Emily Flach
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Southern Region, Learning Technology Center

Tinkercad & Other Tech Tools to Engage Students with STEM Concepts

Mon. July 28, 2025 | 9:00 am - 3:30 pm | Free
ROE 40 Carlinville Office 225 E Nicholas St, Carlinville, IL, United States

Teachers (4th-12th grade) will explore how to incorporate Tinkercad into the math, science, or computer classroom. Teachers will design their own object with TinkerCad which will be printed using a 3D printer. Teachers will learn about Spheros and also discover free tech tools (pattern blocks, sweethome3d, flipanim, Phet.Colorado.EDU, Physlets.org/tracker, GIS, Desmos) that add in the teaching, learning, and application of STEM topics.

Kelly Remijan
Kelly Remijan
Director of STEM Initiatives, ROE 40
Lisa Schwartz
Lisa Schwartz
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | West Central Region, Learning Technology Center

FarmBeats for Students: Hands-On Precision Agriculture with micro:bit

Tue. July 29, 2025 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | Free
Lincoln Land Community College 1 Lincoln Land Dr, Litchfield, IL, United States

This program enables students to explore modern farming technology, data-driven decision-making, and real-world applications of STEM. With a flexible, web-based platform, it’s also accessible on any device, making it easy for educators to integrate into their teaching.

Sarah Phelps
Sarah Phelps
Program Manager, Computer Science and STEM, Learning Technology Center

Hey Google! Help Me Design Creative Lessons

Wed. July 30, 2025 | 9:00 am - 2:00 pm | $40
Illinois Valley Community College 815 N Orlando Smith Road, Oglesby, IL, United States

In this session, we'll focus on how you can create interactive assignments and collaborative projects using Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings. Along the way, we'll also highlight practical strategies you can use to elevate technology use in your classroom, starting within the familiar Google ecosystem.

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

What’s New with AI in Education?

Tue. August 5, 2025 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | $10
ROE 4: Boone/Winnebago 300 Heart Blvd, Loves Park, Illinois, USA

Discover how artificial intelligence is influencing today's classrooms and learn practical ways to integrate it into your teaching. This workshop offers a clear look at key AI trends, from tools that personalize learning and support students, to those that can assist with everyday tasks.

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

AI Playbook: Crafting Guidelines and Policy for Staff and Students

Wed. August 6, 2025 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | $100
Manhattan Junior High School 15414 Smith Rd, Manhattan, IL, United States

This workshop provides school/district leaders with practical tips and resources to create tailored AI policies that align with district goals, as well as built-in work time to begin collaborating and crafting district-specific plans.

Matt Sherrill
Matt Sherrill
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | East Central Region, Learning Technology Center

Empower your Learning Journey with Certiport Certifications!

Wed. August 6, 2025 | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm | Free
Jacksonville School District 117 211 W State St, Jacksonville, IL, United States

Are you interested in learning more skills to support tech-powered learning? Join us for a productive day dedicated to certification preparation geared toward K-12 tech staff and educators.

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

Computer Science Series: Finch Robot 2.0 (K-12)

Tue. September 9, 2025 | 9:00 am - 11:00 am | $50
U of I Extension Office, Carmi 1715 College Ave, Carmi, IL, United States

Bring computer science to life with the Finch Robot 2.0 powered by micro:bit! This hands-on workshop will guide you through the exciting possibilities of this robot, designed for learners of all ages, from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Emily Flach
Emily Flach
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Southern Region, Learning Technology Center