Focus Area
Computer Science & STEM
Resources, professional learning, and support for fostering robust STEM programs and knowledgeable computer science educators
Coding the Future of K-12 CS & STEM
In an increasingly tech-driven world, computer science and STEM education are vital for all K-12 students. These fields foster critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and personal agency while providing essential skills for emerging careers. Beyond coding and math, they also offering a foundation in data analysis and logical reasoning – skills valuable across all disciplines.
The LTC is committed to supporting educators in bringing CS and STEM to their classrooms. We leverage our professional partnerships and statewide network of educators to make integrating these subjects empowering and standards-compliant – both for educators and school districts.
Our team provides resources, training, and practical support that builds capacity and confidence among CS educators. Our summer CS professional learning programs – including CS + AI PD Week – and networking group also provide a supportive environment where educators can gather resources, connect with peers, and discover strategies for bringing STEM and CS learning to life.
Computer Science Toolkit
The CS Toolkit offers a starting point for expanding equitable, high-quality computer science education in K-12 schools, with curated resources on standards, teacher preparation, curriculum integration, and family engagement.
Resources for Policy Makers & District Leaders
As computing and STEM skills become essential for college, careers, and civic life, K-12 districts must ensure all students have access to high-quality computer science education. The LTC curates resources to help leaders translate vision into practice—aligning instruction with standards, expanding access, and building educator capacity. This collection supports every stage of implementation, from foundational guidance to endorsement pathways and classroom integration tools. With the right support, districts can turn big goals into tangible, equitable outcomes.
Resources for Policy Makers CS Policies/Strategies
- Models of Change/State Resources, Policies, and Practices – ECEP (2022)
- Reimagining CS Pathways– CSTA, et. al (2024)
- State of CS Annual Report– Code.org, et. al (2024)
Resources for District Leaders
- Computer Science Fact Sheet– ISBE (2022)
- Illinois Graduation Requirements- ISBE (2025)
- Illinois Course Catalog– ISBE (2025)
- Virtual Course Catalog– ISBE (2020)
- Computer Science Courses and Assignability Recommendations– ISBE (2023)
- CSTA Standards Guidance for Administrators– CSTA (2025)
- Guidance on the Future of Computer Science Education in an Age of AI– TeachAI (2025)
Research
Resources for Teachers
These curated resources help educators and families bring computer science to life in every classroom and home. Teachers will find guidance on Illinois learning standards, practical strategies for integrating CS across subjects, and tools to support inclusive, reflective instruction. For those pursuing deeper expertise, endorsement pathways offer clear next steps. Families can explore accessible guides to spark curiosity, support learning at home, and understand the vital role CS plays in their child’s future.
Standards, Frameworks, and Guidance
- Illinois Computer Science Standards – ISBE (2022)
- Illinois Computer Science Standards Profession Chart – LTC (2025)
- Illinois Computer Science Standards Alignment Worksheet – LTC (2022)
- K-12 CS Framework – ACM, et. al (2016)
- CSTA Standards – CSTA (2022)
- CSTA Standards Guidance for Reflective Teachers – CSTA (2025)
- Guidance for Implementation – CSTA, et. al (2024)
- UDL and CS – University of Florida (2021)
- Integrating CS into Other Subjects – CSTA, et. al (2024)
Endorsements
- Teaching Endorsement in Computer Science – University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
- Computer Science Endorsement – Northeastern Illinois University
Professional Learning
- CS + AI PD Week – LTC
- CS & STEM Online PLC – LTC
Resources for Parents
- Empowering Learning and Curiosity at Home – Code.org (2025)
- Why Computer Science Education? A Toolkit for Parents – EDC (2025)
As computing and STEM skills become essential for college, careers, and civic life, K-12 districts must ensure all students have access to high-quality computer science education. The LTC curates resources to help leaders translate vision into practice—aligning instruction with standards, expanding access, and building educator capacity. This collection supports every stage of implementation, from foundational guidance to endorsement pathways and classroom integration tools. With the right support, districts can turn big goals into tangible, equitable outcomes.
Resources for Policy Makers CS Policies/Strategies
- Models of Change/State Resources, Policies, and Practices – ECEP (2022)
- Reimagining CS Pathways– CSTA, et. al (2024)
- State of CS Annual Report– Code.org, et. al (2024)
Resources for District Leaders
- Computer Science Fact Sheet– ISBE (2022)
- Illinois Graduation Requirements- ISBE (2025)
- Illinois Course Catalog– ISBE (2025)
- Virtual Course Catalog– ISBE (2020)
- Computer Science Courses and Assignability Recommendations– ISBE (2023)
- CSTA Standards Guidance for Administrators– CSTA (2025)
- Guidance on the Future of Computer Science Education in an Age of AI– TeachAI (2025)
Research
These curated resources help educators and families bring computer science to life in every classroom and home. Teachers will find guidance on Illinois learning standards, practical strategies for integrating CS across subjects, and tools to support inclusive, reflective instruction. For those pursuing deeper expertise, endorsement pathways offer clear next steps. Families can explore accessible guides to spark curiosity, support learning at home, and understand the vital role CS plays in their child’s future.
Standards, Frameworks, and Guidance
- Illinois Computer Science Standards – ISBE (2022)
- Illinois Computer Science Standards Profession Chart – LTC (2025)
- Illinois Computer Science Standards Alignment Worksheet – LTC (2022)
- K-12 CS Framework – ACM, et. al (2016)
- CSTA Standards – CSTA (2022)
- CSTA Standards Guidance for Reflective Teachers – CSTA (2025)
- Guidance for Implementation – CSTA, et. al (2024)
- UDL and CS – University of Florida (2021)
- Integrating CS into Other Subjects – CSTA, et. al (2024)
Endorsements
- Teaching Endorsement in Computer Science – University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
- Computer Science Endorsement – Northeastern Illinois University
Professional Learning
- CS + AI PD Week – LTC
- CS & STEM Online PLC – LTC
Resources for Parents
- Empowering Learning and Curiosity at Home – Code.org (2025)
- Why Computer Science Education? A Toolkit for Parents – EDC (2025)
Services, Resources and Professional Learning
Discover LTC’s services, events, articles, and resources, designed to help Illinois schools harness technology to support teaching, learning, and leadership.
Services
Professional Learning
Computer Science Professional Learning
Grow as a CS educator through workshops and immersive programs focused on building community and elevating comprehensive teaching resources.
Summer Varies
Resources
Guidance
Resource
Esports in Illinois K-12 Schools
In Illinois, scholastic esports has grown from informal after-school clubs into a statewide ecosystem that includes a sanctioned state series and collegiate pathways. This overview for school leaders offers background and rationale for esports' inclusion…
Administrators · Instructional Leaders · Technology Leaders/Support
Activity
Collection
Back-to-School CS Integration Activities
Sprinkle CS effortlessly into your back-to-school routines with simplified vocabulary, unplugged activities, and digital activities that promote strong problem-solving habits.
Instructional Leaders · Library and Media Specialists · Teachers
Best Practices
3D Printing Slicer Cheat Sheet
This cheat sheet offers a succinct look at slicing settings you or your students can use to ensure their 3D print comes out stable, strong, and accurate.
Instructional Leaders · Library and Media Specialists · Teachers
Guidance
Illinois Computer Literacy Guidelines Planning Document
This document is an adaptation of ISBE’s Computer Literacy guidelines, with added columns for resources and notes. It includes breakouts by grade band (K-1, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12).
Instructional Leaders · Library and Media Specialists · Teachers
Standards
IL CS Mastery Worksheet
This document is similar to the Alignment Worksheet, but can be used at the classroom level to align the standards to individual lessons or units of instruction. It includes a customizable 3-level scale to show…
Instructional Leaders · Library and Media Specialists · Teachers
Standards
IL CS Alignment Worksheet
This document takes the Integrated View of all CS Standards and splits them out by grade band (K-1, 3-5, and 6-8). It provides additional columns to allow districts to self-assess their CS program for alignment…
Instructional Leaders · Library and Media Specialists · Teachers
Standards
Integrated View of CS Standards
This document combines the new IL CS Standards into a single view to make it easy to see how they are organized and follow their progression across grade levels. There is a K-12 view, as…
Instructional Leaders · Library and Media Specialists · TeachersCoding for Littles Poster Series
Let's go on a journey to explore coding terms that you may already know by another name in this poster series. Download this one-of-a-kind resource for K-2 educators to integrate CS language into activities you…
Instructional Leaders · Library and Media Specialists · Teachers
Video
Getting Started with the K 8 Computer Science Standards
Getting Started with the K 8 Computer Science Standards Presenter: Sarah Phelps, Program Director of STEM and Computer Science 00:00:00 Introduction 00:08:30 Why CS Standards? 00:15:25 Computer Science Requirements 2023-24 100:8:25 The Good News! 00:21:23…
Instructional Leaders · Teachers
Best Practices
Legislative Brief: Computer Science in Illinois
Updated November 29, 2022 In March 2021, Public Act 101-0654 was signed into law and included sweeping changes to education. One of the changes includes a focus on computer science and computer literacy. This bill…
Administrators · Instructional Leaders · TeachersEvents
Finding the Real Problem: A Student & Educator’s Guide to Human-Center AI
Who are we actually helping, and what do they really need? Join us as we dive into Human-Centered Design (HCD), a hands-on way to spot meaningful problems in your community, and brainstorm AI ideas that…
Closing the Loop: Human-Centered Feedback, Accessibility, and Final Polish
Great projects aren't finished on the first try; they grow stronger through iteration. Learn how to refine your Illinois AI Challenge project using Human-Centered Design, with a focus on user testing, incorporating feedback, and making…
The AI Toolbox: Creating, Designing, and Prototyping your Challenge Project
Explore how to combine Google Gemini, Google AI Studio, Copilot, Canva, and MagicSchool to research, design, and prototype your Illinois AI Challenge competition submission. See how these tools work together to take your team's concept…
Building AI Literacy: Smart Prompting, Safe Data, and Better Results
We’re popping open the hood of modern AI tools to explore how they process information, how to protect privacy, and how to get the absolute best results out of your prompts. Part of a series…
Don’t Add, Blend! Infuse CS and Literacy into What You Already Teach!
Integrating computer science concepts and digital literacy into the curriculum shouldn’t feel like adding "one more thing" to an already packed school day.
STEM Cohort
This workshop will equip educators with practical, plug-and-play strategies to bring computer science (CS) and artificial intelligence (AI) to life.
Take Coding to the Sky With CoDrones!
As drones continue to grow in both popularity and functionality, businesses are rapidly expanding their uses of unmanned aerial vehicles. At the same time, many schools are looking for fresh ways to teach students about…
The Makerspace Starter Kit
Are you ready to start or makeover a makerspace at your school, but unsure where to begin? Held at the Innovation Center at Lake Land College in the Effingham Technology Center building, this hands-on workshop…
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
Think Like a Coder, Without the Computers
The most powerful CS skills you can teach don't require a single screen. Come explore offline activities and games that mirror real coding logic + learn how to weave computational thinking into the curriculum you're…
STEM Connects
Join us for STEM Connects, designed specifically for PreK-8 educators, instructional coaches, and curriculum leaders. This event offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a collaborative learning environment focused on enhancing STEM education.
Articles
Computer Science & STEM
The Middle School Maker (Student Voices, Part 2)
How does a broken shoe strap turn into a thriving small business? Hear how an Illinois 8th grader 3D printed his way to entrepreneurship with a little curiosity and a…
Computer Science & STEM
Will AI Replace Coding? More CS Questions Answered
Cody is back with more answers! Can coding still help students become workforce ready? How can I make my coding club more inclusive? And am I even qualified to teach…
Computer Science & STEM
How Do I Start Teaching CS? Your CS Questions Answered
What are the best starter resources for teaching coding? How can I build my CS teaching confidence? How do you sustainably build a CS program in a rural district? Cody…
Computer Science & STEM
Young Designers at Work (Student Voices, Part 1)
The next generation of makers and designers are current Illinois students. Hear how 3rd graders are using TinkerCAD and 4th graders are engineering adaptive and assistive devices in their classroom…
Computer Science & STEM
3D Printing 101: A Starter Guide for Schools
Which model should you buy? What software will students use? And how do you keep your 3D printer from becoming yet another pricey gadget collecting dust? An expert offers a…
Computer Science & STEM
Seventh Grade Entrepreneur Wins Illinois State Fair Butter Cow 3D Printing Contest
Congratulations to this year's contest winner from southern Illinois, who blended creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to design this unique tribute to a State Fair icon.
Computer Science & STEM
From High School to Career: How CTE Gives Students a Competitive Edge
With hands-on experiences and industry-aligned curriculum, CTE doesn’t just prepare students for the workforce—it gives them a leg up on technical literacy, problem-solving abilities, and confidence.
Computer Science & STEM
Taking STEM to New Heights with Drone Soccer
This up-and-coming sport fosters serious social skills and STEM career prep. Here's how schools are using drone soccer to elevate hands-on learning – including a pioneering Illinois program.
Computer Science & STEM
If AI Can Code, Why Should Students Learn Computer Science?
CS is so much more than syntax or writing loops. Here are six reasons to keep CS in the educational conversation right now + how CS prepares students for an…
Computer Science & STEM
2024 State of CS Education in Illinois
This past year, Illinois has taken significant steps toward expanding K-12 student access to engaging CS education – statewide standards, funding, and professional learning opportunities.
Computer Science & STEM
LTC Announces Inaugural Illinois State Fair Butter Cow 3D Printing Contest Winner
The Learning Technology Center is proud to announce the winner of its first 3D printing contest. Learn about the winning student and how you can grab the miniature butter cow…
Computer Science & STEM
Chemventory: Safe & Accurate Chemical Inventory Made Easy
Flinn Scientific Your Safer Source for Science Supplies
Computer Science & STEM
Unpacking science wonders with iSprowt class packs
Stephanie Higgs, Tennessee gifted educator, sees her fourth graders for only 30 minutes a few times a week – a time-crunch struggle many teachers can sympathize with. Higgs uses that…
Computer Science & STEM
9 Teaching Resources for Illuminating the 2024 Eclipse
The upcoming eclipse will be an unforgettable experience. Transform it into a learning opportunity and spark a lasting STEM passion with these resource curated by the LTC team.
Computer Science & STEM
Building STEAM with Dr. Kristen Brynteson
For our inaugural episode, we're welcoming Dr. Kristen Brynteson from NIU to discuss her university's STEAM Program. Later, Sarah Phelps highlights LTC resources for sparking STEM learning year-round.
Computer Science & STEM
New Resource: STEM Grants & Scholarships Collection
Need some extra funds to get your next STEM initiative off the ground? Your school is likely eligible for a grant or two. Check out our new STEM grant collection…
Computer Science & STEM
Screen-Free CS Activities for your K-5 Classroom
Looking for screen-free ways to get your students interested in computer science? Try out these FREE resources in your K-5 classroom!
Computer Science & STEM
K-8 Books to Spark a Lifelong Passion for CS Learning
Computer Science Education Week 2022 is here! Let's celebrate with a few books you can use to get your K-8 students interested in coding and more without needing to pick…
Computer Science & STEM
Highlights from the 2022 Illinois State Fair STEAM Expo
The 2022 Illinois State Fair may be over, but we had such a great time participating in this year’s Tech Prairie STEAM Expo. Check out these highlights from our 4-day…
Computer Science & STEM
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…
Computer Science & STEM
Promoting #CSforSocialJustice During Computer Science Education Week 2020
In recognition of this year's renewed focus on social justice, Computer Science Education Week 2020 has centered its annual celebration of computer science learning on helping students build a more…
Computer Science & STEM
3 STE(A)M Activities to Do with Your Kids During Remote Learning
Three fun activities for students to do at home that encourage STE(A)M skills!
Computer Science & STEM
The LTC joins Code.org as the newest Regional Partner
The Learning Technology Center (LTC) is proud to announce a partnership with the non-profit organization Code.org to bring computer science to Illinois educators through professional development events, support, and advocacy.
Computer Science & STEM
Computer Science Week 2019
During CS Week, K-12 students are encouraged to participate in an “hour of code’ as part of the Hour of Code initiative to help students realize that they, too, can…
Computer Science & STEM
Celebrate Computer Science Education Week by Starting a Free Girls Who Code Club
The Learning Technology Center of Illinois has partnered with Girls Who Code (GWC) to bring free computer science learning opportunities to our community. Girls Who Code Clubs are FREE after-school…
Purchasing Contracts
Contracts are facilitated by ILTPP, the LTC’s cooperative that leverages the collective buying power of Illinois K-12 schools to provide affordable, high-quality technology and digital learning resources through trusted vendor partnerships.
New
Competitively Bid (via AEPA)
Pitsco : Career and Technical Education
Contract #AEPA 026.5-A
End Date: May 31, 2027
Category: Career & Technical Education (CTE)
New
Competitively Bid (via AEPA)
BLICK Art Materials: Career & Technical Education
Contract #AEPA 026.5-A
End Date: May 31, 2027
Category: Career & Technical Education (CTE)
Featured
New
Competitively Bid (via AEPA)
Paxton Patterson
Contract #AEPA 026.5 A
End Date: May 31, 2027
Category: Career & Technical Education (CTE)
Competitively Bid (via AEPA)
Flinn Scientific
Contract #AEPA 024-C
End Date: February 28, 2027
Category: Digital Resources & Instructional Materials, Instructional/Classroom Content
Supporting CS Teachers with Intensive, On-Going Support
Illinois & Missouri Code.org Regional Partner
As the Code.org Regional Partner for Illinois and Missouri, the Learning Technology Center (LTC) takes great pride in facilitating professional learning programs that significantly enhance the capabilities of both current and aspiring computer science educators. By offering scholarships, these invaluable programs become accessible at little-to-no cost, enabling educators and their districts across Illinois and Missouri to cultivate the expertise necessary for delivering a comprehensive and enriching computer science curriculum.
This collaboration underscores the LTC’s dedication to fostering educational excellence and equity, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to explore the vast potential of computer science.
