Learning Technology Center

09/01/2026

UPCOMING ADMIN ACADEMY 🔴 Join Attorney Brandon K. Wright for a comprehensive and actionable overview of the legal frameworks governing K-12 tech use, including:

☑️ FERPA, SOPPA, COPPA, and PPRA
☑️ Evolving guidance around AI,
☑️ Data breach response
☑️ Accessibility compliance (e.g., WCAG 2.1)
☑️ Vendor agreements.

📅 (9/30) Technology & the Law: What Every School Leader Must Know (AA 4230)

📌 Hosted by Sangamon-Menard County Regional Office of Education (ROE 51)

🔗 https://www.ltcillinois.org/event/technology-the-law-what-every-school-leader-must-know-aa-4230/

08/31/2026

⌛ 🥾 There's no time left to wait around base camp. Early Bird discounts end August 31 (that’s today!) at midnight.

Lace up your boots and start on your IETC adventure now to save up to $45 on each full-conference ticket.

Register now before the school year gets busy. Your inner edtech explorer will thank you ☺️

🔗 TICKET OPTIONS | https://www.ltcillinois.org/ietc/attend/

08/27/2026

Time to put a face to your next edtech “a-ha” moment 🙂

Meet our Digital Content Partners. These instructional coaches and technology leaders are joining forces for a slate of can’t-miss webinars that feel like a quick call with your smartest tech-savvy friend.

Get to know our 2026-27 Partners and tune in for their webinars, coming soon to your school-issued device:

▶️ Kumar - (9/15) Flip the Script on Screen Time and Transform Learning with Technology
▶️ Emilie - (9/22) Mission Impossible: How to Organize a Building-Wide Tech Challenge
▶️ Nate - (10/22) Think Like a Coder, Without the Computers

📖 NEW BLOG | Meet our Digital Content Partners

🔗 https://www.ltcillinois.org/digital-content-partners-26-27/

08/27/2026

Write the code for a successful school year by joining our statewide networking group for CS & STEM educators 0️⃣ 1️⃣ 0️⃣

Each online meeting - led by the LTC’s Emily Pool - offers space to share resources, discuss challenges, and explore fresh opportunities to grow as CS and STEM educators:

Upcoming meetings:

📅 September 10
📅 October 13
📅 November 16
📅 December 9

🌱 Know a new CS or STEM educator? Invite them so that they can connect with experienced peers in their area and around the state.

🔗 https://www.ltcillinois.org/network/cs-stem-statewide-networking-meeting/

08/26/2026

K-12 LEADERS ❇️ Are you eager to build durable, impactful AI policies for your district?

The LTC is convening a year-long, cross-functional cohort of rural Illinois school districts dedicated to helping them build the AI policies, guidance, and teacher training plans they need — without relying on outside consultants.

We're looking for 10 rural, NCES-defined Illinois school districts that are ready to commit real leadership time to this timely goal.

Share your interest now and learn more about the cohort ⤵️

📝 SHORT INTEREST SURVEY | https://forms.ltcillinois.org/f/ruralai

🔗 LEARN MORE | https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jOmQVcnYvOQMyhl86Ku40qsBVm6tIG9wMkQD_fVKuow/edit?usp=sharing

👏 Made possible by funds from aiEDU's Community Catalyst Program

08/26/2026

COMING UP on Monday, August 31 ⤵️

New, new, new Google and Canva features, just in time for the new, new, new school year 🆕 🏫

Tune in for demos of fresh features that support resource creation and cut into tasks that eat up your prep period.

Featured updates:

✅ Google Workspace: Docs, Slides, Forms, and Classroom
✅ Google Gemini: AI features for brainstorming, creating, organizing
✅ Canva for Education: New AI-powered tools, design features, and classroom resources

📅 Skip the Tutorial: What’s New in Google and Canva | August 31 | Webinar

🔗 https://www.ltcillinois.org/event/skip-the-tutorial-whats-new-in-google-and-canva/

08/26/2026

SESSION PROPOSALS 📣 The call for proposals has RE-OPENED for a limited time, ending September 18.

This is the second chance you’ve been waiting for! Your peers are eager to learn how you’re using tech to support:

✅ Content areas (ELA, Math and Social Studies)
✅ Special education
✅ K-5 learning
✅ Libraries & media centers
✅ K-12 cybersecurity
✅ Managing networks & devices

You have an idea, strategy or practice that’s working in your classroom or district. Share it now to help your peers blaze new trails toward student success ⤵️

🔗 https://www.ltcillinois.org/ietc/presenters/

08/25/2026

Put away your map. The schedule is here and it’s taking you off the beaten path and into edtech's ambitious terrain 🏔️

Explore all 110+ sessions and workshops now for a taste of the adventure ahead:

🔵 Igniting Creativity in the Elementary Classroom | Farmer Faubs
🔵 ELA in the Age of AI | Mae Scott
🔵 Exploring the Future of Computer Science: A Guide to the Newest Standards | Dr. Sarah Phelps & Emily Pool
🔵 Designing Student and Faculty AI Use Guidelines | Dr. Steve Baule

Eager to lace up your boots yet? Register before August 31 to save up to $45 🥾 ⌛

🔗 FULL SCHEDULE https://www.ltcillinois.org/ietc/schedule/

08/19/2026

“Ed tech is profitable. It is also mostly useless.” 🗑️

That provocative The Economist headline hit close to home for us. But in it, we hear echoes of a sentiment that has been quietly building among teachers, school leaders, parents, lawmakers, and researchers.

On the upcoming One-to-One season, we’re hearing from them all – people with a real stake in the discussion – and chasing diverse perspectives on where edtech is succeeding (and where it is coming up short).

🔗 LISTEN NOW and subscribe | https://www.ltcillinois.org/one-to-one-season-four-preview-is-edtech-mostly-useless/

08/03/2026

SCHOOL LEADERS 📵 Starting soon, Illinois schools must limit cell phone usage during instructional time.

Get ahead of this new legislation. Learn what your district needs to know to lead a successful and cost-effective implementation:

✔️ What devices the law does (and doesn’t) cover
✔️ Important exceptions for student accommodations
✔️ Keys to communicating your new policy to students and families
✔️ Tips for comparing secure cell phone storage options

📖 NEW BLOG | Illinois School Cell Phone Ban: What School Districts Need to Know

🔗 https://www.ltcillinois.org/cell-phone-ban-il/