Code.org CS Fundamentals

Thu. June 12, 2025 | 8:00 am - 4:00 pm | Free
Microsoft Cortex 4220 Duncan Ave #501, St. Louis, MO, United States

CS Fundamentals is an introductory workshop designed for elementary educators new to teaching computer science who want to explore how to begin teaching Code.org's CS Fundamentals curriculum. Over 85,000 teachers have participated in this original workshop already, allowing their schools to grow their in-district capacity for teaching robust CS courses!

Join your peers and experienced facilitators to get a hands-on intro to computer science, pedagogy, overviews of the online curriculum, and Code.org's teacher dashboard, as well as strategies for teaching “unplugged” classroom activities.

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

AI 2.0: Master AI Teacher Tools and Image Creation

Thu. June 12, 2025 | 9:00 am - 2:00 pm | $40
ROE 47: Lee/Ogle/Whiteside 1001 W 23rd St, Sterling, Illinois, USA

Dive into the world of AI-driven education with this hands-on workshop. Explore cutting-edge tools like Brisk Teaching and Magic School, designed to streamline your teaching workflow and enhance student engagement. Discover how to leverage AI for tasks like generating personalized learning materials and providing instant feedback. Additionally, learn the fundamentals of AI image creation, enabling you to produce visually stimulating content for your lessons.

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

AI Playbook: Crafting Guidelines and Policy for Staff and Students

Fri. June 13, 2025 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | $25
ROE 17: DeWitt/Livingston/Logan/McLean 201 E. Grove Street, Suite 300, Bloomington, IL

As AI becomes a key player in education, establishing clear policies and guidelines is essential for responsible use in schools. 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

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

Fri. June 13, 2025 | 9:00 am - 2:00 pm | $40
ROE 28: Bureau/Henry/Stark 107 S State St, Atkinson, Illinois, USA

Discover how to grow an organic interest in computer science FarmBeats for Students, a program that combines an affordable micro:bit-based hardware kit with a free, curated curriculum and hands-on activities.

Emily Pool
Emily Pool
Professional Learning Specialist, Learning Technology Center

AI Playbook: Crafting Guidelines and Policy for Staff and Students

Fri. June 13, 2025 | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | $25
ROE 17: DeWitt/Livingston/Logan/McLean 201 E. Grove Street, Suite 300, Bloomington, IL

As AI becomes a key player in education, establishing clear policies and guidelines is essential for responsible use in schools. 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

AA: Literacies of the Digital World

Wed. June 18, 2025 | 8:30 am - 2:30 pm | $25
Sauk Valley Community College 173 IL Rt 2, Dixon, IL, United States

This workshop is designed to help participants understand the importance of computer literacy, digital literacy, AI Literacy, and digital citizenship and how these skills are necessary for all students to be successful in the classroom, their careers, and for the rest of their lives. Participants will learn the differences between computer literacy, digital literacy, AI […]

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

AI for Administrators: Boosting Efficiency and Streamlining your Workday

Wed. June 18, 2025 | 9:00 am - 11:00 am | Free
ROE 4: Boone/Winnebago 300 Heart Blvd, Loves Park, Illinois, USA

This workshop is designed for district-level administrators who are eager to learn how to leverage the power of AI for increased efficiency and productivity. We'll move beyond the theoretical and dive into practical applications of AI tools that can be implemented immediately.

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

Physical and Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure (SummIT Pre-Conference)

Mon. June 23, 2025 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm | Free
ROE 9: Champaign/Ford 3358 Big Pine Trail, Champaign, Illinois, USA

Open to SummIT attendees and all K-12 technology leaders, this course lays the groundwork for collaboration among individuals and organizations responsible for both physical and cybersecurity - including K-12 schools, law enforcement, and more.

Duane Shaffer
Duane Shaffer
Director of Technology Services, Learning Technology Center

CS PD Week 2025

Mon. June 23, 2025 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm | $400 – $1200

Join fellow K-12 CS educators for a 5-day learning experience centered on building prosperous computer science programs in every Illinois school district.

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

SummIT

Tue. June 24, 2025 | 9:30 am - 2:30 pm | $100
University of Illinois- Campus Instructional Facility 1405 W Springfield, Urbana, IL, United States

Gain valuable insights and practical strategies for tackling the toughest IT issues facing your school district while connecting with fellow tech directors and IT staff in a collaborative environment.

Duane Shaffer
Duane Shaffer
Director of Technology Services, Learning Technology Center
Eric Muckensturm
Eric Muckensturm
IT Strategy Manager, Cybersecurity, Learning Technology Center

Area 6 AI Summit

Wed. June 25, 2025 | 9:00 am - 2:30 pm | $100
Rend Lake College Event Center 468 North Ken Gray Parkway, Ina, IL, United States

Come discover AI's current and future role in education during the Area 6 AI Summit, hosted by the Learning Technology Center, ROE 12, ROE 13, ROE 20, ROE 21, and ROE 30.

Brian Bates
Brian Bates
Associate Executive Director of Professional Learning, Learning Technology Center
Ben Sondgeroth
Ben Sondgeroth
Lead Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Northern Illinois, Learning Technology Center

AA 4054: Designing a Comprehensive CS Program for School Leaders

Thu. June 26, 2025 | 8:30 am - 4:00 pm | $125
Capital Area Career Center 2201 Toronto Road, Springfield, IL, United States

K-12 school leaders: discover how to successfully meet Illinois' computer science learning mandates by following research-informed practices for creating an implementation plan.

Charity Freeman
Charity Freeman
Principal Consultant, CS for Success