Professional Learning Catalog

Is your district wanting to add 3D printing to the curriculum? Does your district currently have a 3D printer that’s just not being used effectively in the classroom? Join us for an informative session on the basics of 3D printing and 3D printers. We will explore the fundamentals of 3D printing, the best printers for education, the software and apps needed for successful printing, how to plan for a 3D printing space, and some curriculum integration essentials. 3D printing has SO many real-world, practical applications and can be easily integrated across the curriculum. Come see how!

By leveraging social media, educational leaders can connect with experts across their communities and the world to expand their perspectives, build relationships, and create opportunities for student learning. Face-to-face networks provide leaders with opportunities to engage local peers in deeper conversations about the educational landscape. Understanding the social media landscape will also equip leaders to help professional staff as they integrate these powerful tools in their instruction. This course will provide the knowledge and skills required to become connected leaders by focusing on multiple social media platforms (Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc.) and productive face-to-face networking opportunities (EdCamps, PLNs, etc.) to help them leverage the power of social networks for professional learning and community engagement.

Technology coaches help ensure high-quality, ongoing, job-embedded professional learning for educators, and a strong partnership between technology coaches and principals is critical to ensuring coaching success. The principal-coach partnership depends on a common, forward-thinking vision for technology and instruction; a culture of collaboration, innovation, capacity building, and empowerment; clear definitions, roles, and responsibilities; shared ownership and accountability for professional growth; and meaningful planning, policies, and implementation. This six-week online session will explore these topics and provide specific strategies to create and/or strengthen the technology coach/principal partnership, and ultimately, the coaching program. Three times during the course, participants will meet in a 60-minute synchronous video conference. Weekly, they will complete required reading(s); and post and respond to a weekly “slow chat Tweet” based on a guiding question. The course is designed to be a joint learning experience between the principal and technology coach(es), but it can be taken by the administrator or coach alone.

Personalized and Digital Learning: Systems for Transformation will prepare district leaders to plan and implement personalized learning in their schools. Participants will be guided through a planning process to produce a road map for transforming schools. Key questions that will be addressed include: What supports do teachers need to transition to personalized learning? What systems need to be in place for a successful personalized learning transition? How do I plan for sustainability of personalized learning initiatives? These questions and more will be explored through online resources, on and offline activities, online and face-to-face discussions, group activities, presentations, multimedia explorations, and hands-on experience with technology tools used in personalizing learning. Throughout the day, participants will be working on a Personalized and Digital Learning Road Map which will serve as a final product and help participants plan and implement the transition to personalized learning in their schools.

Future Ready administrators are the foundation of a successful Future Ready Schools and are critical to sustainable growth in student outcomes. For personalized learning to thrive, administrators must create a culture of innovation that brings together students, teachers, other administrators, parents, and the community to share a vision for an improved learning experience. The Future Ready Framework is a research-based planning tool for digital learning, visioning, planning, and implementation focused on personalized student learning.

Resilient pedagogy combines course design principles with teaching strategies to withstand sudden changes to learning environments whether due to snow days, emergencies, or global pandemics. While remote instruction may not be the desired choice for teaching and learning, it can be implemented successfully to reach all learners including those who do not thrive in traditional settings. When programs are designed for remote learning, educators can use in-person instruction to reinforce strategies or checks for understanding. Keeping these design principles in mind, educators can create an academic program that can withstand the absence of a brick and mortar classroom.

This academy will prepare participants to develop a plan of action to be leaders in data privacy at their districts. Participants will develop an understanding of current state and federal student data privacy legislation, how to assess current data privacy policies and practices, examine relationships with third-party technology providers, support and empower district employees, and communicate with stakeholders how student data privacy is being protected. Throughout the sessions, participants will review best practices in student data privacy from state and national organizations supporting student data privacy. Participants can feel confident drafting policies and procedures for their districts after reviewing sample and exemplar policy and procedure examples provided throughout the session. Upon completing the academy, participants will have an action plan to help guide their work to improve student data privacy in their districts.

In this course, leaders will learn about the history and current state of digital citizenship education. Leaders will then critically evaluate the explicit, implicit, and null curriculum around digital citizenship in their schools. Throughout the course, participants will dive deep into each of the six competencies of a digital citizen by growing in their own competency knowledge, examining resources to bring into their schools, and considering how each competency can be further supported. Leaders will finish the course by developing an action plan to improve digital citizenship education that addresses immediate, short-term, and long-term goals.

Districts that have success with technology integration have done so through planning and alignment to district goals. To ensure consistency and equity throughout classrooms it is important to implement a technology framework that aligns with district goals and allows teachers to integrate technology at the stage they are most comfortable at. This academy introduces participants to several research-based frameworks that are used with technology integration: SAMR, TPACK, Triple E Framework, and the Four Shifts. Participants will examine and assess each framework to determine which aligns with their district’s vision and mission. Participants will be asked to confer with stakeholders to determine if a technology framework is needed and if so create a timeline for implementation which includes how staff will be trained in the framework adopted by the district. Participants should obtain access to their district School Improvement Plan prior to beginning the online academy.

This workshop is designed to help participants understand the importance of computer literacy, digital 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, and digital citizenship and identify the skills all students need for each of these important components of technology use. Throughout the workshop, participants will learn how and when students should be exposed to these different components. Lastly, participants will complete a plan of action for implementation in their school and/or district.

Microsoft is working hard to make sure all students have the tools they need to succeed! Learn about the accessibility features that are seamlessly built into the Microsoft platform such as:

• Translator
• Immersive reader
• Dictation
• Math Support
• Live captions/translations

*Note: Most of these features are available in many Office 365 apps, but are all centrally located within OneNote

Google Classroom provides teachers and students a powerful learning space to organize and effectively manage digital coursework during learning, whether that be remote or in-person. This session will explore the advanced features of Google Classroom and how it can integrate with dozens of web applications and other digital tools. Join us to see how Google Classroom can assist in streamlining workflow and engaging your students in a remote, hybrid, or in-person learning environment.

Learn about this team building, critical thinking hot topic! Participants will experience a “breakout”, see where they can find free games and learn tips and tricks for managing this at all levels from kindergarten through adult!

When someone opens up a Google Slides, their immediate thought is to create a Powerpoint like presentation. However, Slides can accomplish so much more than just creating a presentation! In this session we will explore how to transform your use of Slides into interactive activities, such as interactive notebooks, daily journals, choice boards, and more!

Join instructional technology coaches from around the state to share best practices and network with like-minded individuals. Anyone involved or interested in educational technology – including teachers, administrators, and technology specialists – is welcome to join.

Focused on K-6 code.org’s free curriculum. Explore the program and learn how to manage it in a K-6 setting. Learn about Hour of Code and other coding programs that are free to educators.

Using a combination of the Microsoft MakeCode app and the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express, students can let loose a storm of creativity to build their own coding projects! Participants will not only learn the basics of coding, but will also be able to participate in a hands on “maker session” to create their own, unique, coding creation.

Explore different collaborative tools that can be used in a remote, hybrid, or in-person learning environment. This session covers many of the most popular apps out there today, including Dotstorming, Flipgrid, Padlet, and Jamboard. Participate as a student in this collaborative tech tools.

Adding Google Forms into your educator toolbelt can be easy and fun! In this session, participants will learn a variety of ways that Google Forms can transform their classrooms. Forms allows teachers to do everything from gathering student or parent information simply and conveniently to converting current paper tests into online assessments which can be modified to meet the diverse needs of all learners. Harness the power of Google Forms!

Would you like to integrate more meaningful digital resources into your STEM curriculum, but have no budget to do so? CK-12 is an excellent Open Educational Resource that is free and easy to use. Digital resources include PLIX interactives and simulations, adaptive practices, study guides, and FlexBook digital textbooks. CK-12 FlexBooks are online platforms for assembling, authoring, and distributing interactive, multi-modal educational content. FlexBooks can be downloaded and used as-is, or can be customized by teachers to match their students’ learning styles and their school’s curricula. Inside each book, chapters can be rearranged, added, removed, and edited. FlexBooks can be shared, for free online, by email, or on platforms including Facebook and Twitter or through Google Classroom. All FlexBooks are aligned to national and state curriculum guidelines, Common Core Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards.

The Google tools have many uses that allow us to create an interactive learning experience for our students. When used to the fullest our students can use the Google tools to explore content and create and curate digital artifacts that demonstrate what they know, think, feel, and understand. In this session, we will explore how to use the HyperDoc process to transform the learning experience using the full Google Workspace: including Slides, Forms, Sheets, Drawings, and MyMaps. There is far more to using Google in the classroom than simply sharing a Google Doc with your students, join us to learn more! Participants should bring a Chromebook or laptop to the workshop.

Unlock the creative potential of the Chromebook and move beyond using the device for word processing, productivity, and organization. The session will explore the creative potential of the Chromebook to give your students the ability to craft amazing multimedia masterpieces! Participants will explore various apps, web tools and extensions available for students to create multimedia such as interactive images, video, and audio. In addition, learning strategies and thoughtful approaches to Chromebook creation will be woven throughout.

As more and more devices enter into our classrooms, teachers are presented with an opportunity to expand the way students are able to demonstrate their learning. Traditionally, teachers opt for written work or have students stand in the front of the room to present on a topic. Now, with all of the technology currently available to students, alternate ways of presenting knowledge are readily available. Video creation and screencasting can be powerful alternatives to traditional ways students demonstrate their thinking and understanding in the classroom. In this workshop, participants will be presented with the benefits of student-created videos, the steps to take when implementing a short video project with students, and the tools for creating those amazing videos using mobile devices, Chromebooks, and laptops.

This course is designed to help administrators understand common cybersecurity threats and appropriate responses. This course will also provide foundational best practices to secure student data. Through this course, you will develop a collection of cybersecurity resources and policies for your school or district. This course was created in partnership by Ed Leaders Network, Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology, Illinois Principals Association, and the Learning Technology Center.

This course is designed to help educators understand common cybersecurity threats and appropriate responses. This course will also provide foundational best practices to secure student data. This course was created in partnership by Ed Leaders Network, Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology, Illinois Principals Association, and the Learning Technology Center.

As school districts develop Remote & E-Learning Plans, it is vitally important that teachers develop strong and meaningful Remote Learning activities for students. Recent legislation requires that classroom activities be inclusive of students with special (IEP/504) needs, as well as students with no or limited Internet connectivity at home. This workshop explores ways to design engaging instructional activities that will support student learning no matter what the weather brings. Join us as we explore:

• Remote & E-Learning legislation and ISBE’s requirements for classroom activities
• Samples of successful Remote & E-Learning implementation and activities
• Suggestions for including students with special (IEP/504/EL plan) needs
• Strategies for including students with limited or no Internet connectivity at home

Online learning activities do not have to be simply a recording of teaching activities that would normally be conducted in person. Educators participating in this micro-credential will learn a variety of ways to construct and deliver remote learning activities. Participants will demonstrate their ability to deliver remote learning activities through written and video evidence.

Learn how Digital Citizenship and Online Safety plays a role in the school ecosystem and how educators can help create and maintain positive experiences online. This session will demonstrate examples of how Digital Citizenship and Online Safety can be integrated into classrooms to create positive life long habits for students.

As schools transition to the new normal of virtual, online, and hybrid learning, save time and your sanity by packaging your online assignments! This workshop will explore the concept of digitally packaging all of your online content using Google Sites. Save yourself valuable instructional time and streamline your classroom workflow by packaging your assignments so that students have EVERYTHING they need in one place. This will save you so much time answering questions. It is also very handy for absent work and demanding parents. Come see how you can use Google Sites to create a digital content library for your class!

In this workshop, participants will learn the ins and outs of Google Classroom and best practices for integrating this amazing tool with their students! In this session, we will do more than just walk through Google Classroom. Participants will also deep dive into how Classroom integrates with other apps and extensions, and how teachers can successfully manage their digital workflow.

As drones continue to grow in both popularity and functionality, businesses are rapidly expanding their uses of unmanned aerial vehicles. As we look for new ways to prepare our students for the changing workforce economy, we can look at adding drones to our curriculum. Bringing unmanned aerial vehicles into our schools and classrooms can provide an engaging opportunity to teach our students real-world skills. This workshop will provide an introduction to drone terminology, safety issues, legal concerns, requirements, and drone options. The workshop will be a hands-on experience as participants explore the set-up and operation of a drone. We will aslo explore ways that participants can bring drones to their own curriculums.