Focus Area

Digital Literacy & Wellness

Resources, professional learning, and support for building the next generation of engaged, knowledgeable, and responsible digital citizens.

District, school, and classroom strategies & support

Digital literacy and citizenship are essential for K-12 students in our interconnected world. These skills go beyond basic tech use, encompassing the ability to critically interpret, create, and share online content across various media. Students learn to examine how digital texts promote certain viewpoints while potentially silencing others, developing crucial critical thinking skills.

The Learning Technology Center (LTC) supports educators and districts in cultivating these complex digital literacies. We provide resources and training to help teachers integrate these concepts into their curriculum, focusing on developing students’ ability to navigate, create, and critically analyze digital content. From media interpretation to responsible content creation, the LTC offers tailored strategies for both individual classrooms and district-wide implementation, ensuring students are prepared for the nuanced digital landscape they’ll encounter.

Services
Consulting

Education Consulting

Consulting on all tech-related teaching and learning topics.

Free
Resources
Articles
New Year’s Resolution: Help your Students Set Healthy Tech Boundaries
Digital Literacy & Wellness

New Year’s Resolution: Help your Students Set Healthy Tech Boundaries

Start fresh with these student-focused strategies for breaking digital dependency, adding intentionality, and building healthy boundaries – both now and throughout the school year.

From Safety to Success: Building Digital Citizens
Digital Literacy & Wellness

From Safety to Success: Building Digital Citizens

Digital citizenship isn’t a one-time lesson; it’s a lifelong skillset that helps students think critically, communicate responsibly, and shape a digital footprint they’ll be proud to carry into the future.

Featured Resource: Parent Toolkit for Supporting Digital Balance at Home
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Featured Resource: Parent Toolkit for Supporting Digital Balance at Home

Digital balance starts at home. Educators can kickstart those conversations with this toolkit, which examines the roots of digital dependency and provides actionable strategies for parents.

Digital Literacy for Littles
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Digital Literacy for Littles

Navigating the digital world with young kids isn’t easy, but it can start with something as simple as a song. Our guest walks us through helping PK-3 students build healthy, lasting…

Adding Intentionality to Tech Use: Strategies for Teachers
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Adding Intentionality to Tech Use: Strategies for Teachers

Self-regulatory tech habits start in the classroom. These nine strategies can help you model intentional tech use and create spaces for meaningful offline connection.

Critical Optimism with Digital Thriving
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Critical Optimism with Digital Thriving

What does it mean to thrive with technology? Explore how educators can push back on tech burnout and take control of their digital lives – all while remaining optimistic about…

Developing Digital Literacy
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Developing Digital Literacy

Today's students need to know how to analyze and contextualize digital media to thrive in the classroom and beyond. Digital literacy can teach them how, and this week's guest Darren…

AI & Digital Citizenship with Mike Ribble
Digital Literacy & Wellness

AI & Digital Citizenship with Mike Ribble

This month, we're welcoming Dr. Mike Ribble to discuss the role of digital citizenship and digital literacy as we all come to grips with artificial intelligence, both in society and…

3 Ways to Relieve Tech Fatigue for Teachers
Digital Literacy & Wellness

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…

Share What Works in Digital Literacy @ #DigLitCon
Digital Literacy & Wellness

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…

Prioritizing your Mental Health with Summer Self-Care
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Prioritizing your Mental Health with Summer Self-Care

With summer starting, now is a great time for all educators to perform a mental health check-in. Along the way, you should also consider adding new self-care routines to your…

JUST RELEASED – DigLitCon Agenda is Now Live!
Digital Literacy & Wellness

JUST RELEASED – DigLitCon Agenda is Now Live!

Big news! The Digital Literacy Conference agenda has just been released! In it, you’ll find an assortment of engaging sessions on many of the most important aspects of digital literacy.…

Charting a New Frontier in Literacy at #DigLitCon
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Charting a New Frontier in Literacy at #DigLitCon

Digital literacy has been on the tip of the tongue for many educators recently. This summer's Digital Literacy Conference will help further that discourse and help educators chart a course…

Digital Literacy Conference Registration Now Open!
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Digital Literacy Conference Registration Now Open!

Exciting news! The Digital Literacy Conference is now open for registration. This one-day gathering of educators from around Illinois will offer teachers, administrators, library media specialists, and more an opportunity…

Now Accepting Proposals for the Digital Literacy Conference
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Now Accepting Proposals for the Digital Literacy Conference

This summer, the Learning Technology Center (LTC) is proud to host the Digital Literacy Conference, a timely virtual gathering centered on one of education's most relevant topics. We want you…

5 Things Students Should Do to Stay Safe and Secure Online
Digital Literacy & Wellness

5 Things Students Should Do to Stay Safe and Secure Online

Today is Safer Internet Day, an occasion to recommit to best practices for protecting digital identity. In the spirit of this important celebration, we're featuring a special collection of resources…

Building on Digital Citizenship Week 2020
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Building on Digital Citizenship Week 2020

Digital Citizenship Week 2020 may have come and passed, but that doesn’t mean that your students have missed out on an opportunity to grow their 21st century skillset. Check out…

Digital Citizenship Resources for Every Classroom
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Digital Citizenship Resources for Every Classroom

Today’s students have access to more information than ever before. Many students enter the data-rich world with few skills to manage the myriad of opportunities and pitfalls they might encounter.…

What is media literacy and why should you teach it in your classroom?
Digital Literacy & Wellness

What is media literacy and why should you teach it in your classroom?

How many advertisements do you come across in one day- ten, fifty, hundreds, thousands? How can you teach your students to navigate this stream of information effectively?

Digital Citizenship Week Recap
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Digital Citizenship Week Recap

Bring digital citizenship to your classroom with these resources!

3 Great Resources to Teach Digital Citizenship
Digital Literacy & Wellness

3 Great Resources to Teach Digital Citizenship

Three websites that can help you, as an educator, prepare your students to be good digital citizens.

Encourage Digital Media Literacy with Listenwise and Allsides
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Encourage Digital Media Literacy with Listenwise and Allsides

An important aspect of digital citizenship is learning how to decipher what is quality sourced information, and what is not.

What Does Your Tattoo Say About You?
Digital Literacy & Wellness

What Does Your Tattoo Say About You?

Do you have a tattoo?  What’s the story behind it?  What does it say about who you are? The term “digital footprint” is well known and represents what trace of…

Happy Digital Citizens Week!
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Happy Digital Citizens Week!

These are outstanding, ready-to-use resources and lessons to help you get the most out Digital Citizens Week with your tween and teen students.

Google Wants Your Students to Be Internet Awesome!
Digital Literacy & Wellness

Google Wants Your Students to Be Internet Awesome!

How can we, as educators, help students navigate online situations properly? One option comes from Google’s Be Internet Awesome Digital Citizenship and Safety Curriculum.

Courses

K-12 Digital Literacy & Wellness Toolkit

The Digital Literacy & Wellness Toolkit provides a starting point for supporting responsible technology use in K–12 education, offering curated resources on district leadership, classroom instruction, and family engagement.
Resources for District Leaders

District leaders need clear frameworks and trusted resources to guide digital literacy and wellness initiatives. The following collection includes foundational definitions, community engagement strategies, and practical toolkits to support policy development, family partnerships, and district-wide implementation.

Foundational Understanding

Awareness & Community Engagement

Community Resources

Illinois-Specific Guidance

Teachers and parents play a critical role in helping students build healthy, informed digital habits. The following resources provide practical lessons, professional learning opportunities, and family-focused guides to support classroom integration and at-home engagement. Together, these tools equip educators and caregivers to foster digital citizenship, media literacy, and overall student well-being.

Foundational Understanding

Student Lessons

Professional Learning

Parent & Educator Resources

District leaders need clear frameworks and trusted resources to guide digital literacy and wellness initiatives. The following collection includes foundational definitions, community engagement strategies, and practical toolkits to support policy development, family partnerships, and district-wide implementation.

Foundational Understanding

Awareness & Community Engagement

Community Resources

Illinois-Specific Guidance

Teachers and parents play a critical role in helping students build healthy, informed digital habits. The following resources provide practical lessons, professional learning opportunities, and family-focused guides to support classroom integration and at-home engagement. Together, these tools equip educators and caregivers to foster digital citizenship, media literacy, and overall student well-being.

Foundational Understanding

Student Lessons

Professional Learning

Parent & Educator Resources