K-12 Organizer
Learning Technology Center
Illinois
Technology support and professional learning for Illinois K-12 educators
The Learning Technology Center is Illinois’ technology system of support for K-12 school districts and educators. A program of the Illinois State Board of Education, LTC provides technology-driven services, support, and professional learning across classroom integration, computer science, digital leadership, data privacy and cybersecurity.
www.ltcillinois.org/ ↗Speakers
- AApril MardockCISO
- CCourtney Wilson
- DDr. Megan TolinAccount Executive
- DDr. Sarah PhelpsDirector, Computer Science and STEM
- DDuane ShafferDirector of Technology Services
- EEmilie Rio-WawrzynskiInstructional Technology Coach
- EEmily FlachRegional Educational Technology Coordinator, South
- EEmily PoolCS & STEM Professional Learning Specialist
- GGiovanni Torres
- JJessica WilliamsSolutions Architect
- KKumar KayasthaCoordinator of Instructional Technology
- KKyle BushEducation Consultant
- LLisa VillaniNational Account Executive
- MMatt SherrillProgram Manager, AI & Innovation
- MMichael TerrellDirector of Learning Partnerships
- NNate HerkertInstructional Technology Coach
- PPatricia FerrisRegional Educational Technology Coordinator
- PPolly Chen SmithLearning Partner
- RRachel SwansonTechnology Coach
- VValerie BrockCurriculum Lead
Upcoming webinars
- Sat, October 10 · 10:00 AM EDT
Code/Art Intro to Creative Coding Series, Session 2: Game Design with Scratch
This is session 2 of 4 of the Intro to Creative Coding Workshop Series, a synchronous online PD opportunity that combines introductory computer science and art!
- Wed, October 14 · 4:30 PM EDT
Meaningful Projects That Build Resourceful Future Leaders with Stiix
Join the STIIX team for this session on how to make your career exploration and engineering learning easier than ever! We’ll share affordable ways to bring meaningful career exploration to your program.
- Thu, October 15 · 8:00 PM EDT
Google AI Educator Series
AI is now part of the classroom conversation, but finding time to learn it isn’t easy. The Google AI Educator Series is a free professional learning series built for busy K-12 educators and higher education faculty. Courtney Wilson from Bluum presents Introduction to Gemini for Education.
- Sat, October 17 · 10:00 AM EDT
Code/Art Intro to Creative Coding Series, Session 3: Self-portrait w JavaScript
This is session 3 of 4 of the Intro to Creative Coding Workshop Series, a synchronous online PD opportunity that combines introductory computer science and art!
- Mon, October 19 · 4:30 PM EDT
Finding the Real Problem: A Student & Educator’s Guide to Human-Center AI
The coolest AI tools aren’t just clever. They make real life better for real people! Before you start building your project for the Illinois AI Challenge, take a step back and ask: Who are we actually helping, and what do they really need?
- Tue, October 20 · 1:00 PM EDT
[Technical Tips] Identity is the New Perimeter: 2SV, Context-Aware Access, and the Account Recovery Workflows You Hope to Never Need
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and the highest-leverage control in any K12 environment is no longer the firewall. It’s identity. This session moves into specific Admin Console levers that protect staff and student accounts at scale, including 2-Step Verification, hardware security keys and context-aware access rules.
- Tue, October 20 · 4:30 PM EDT
Tech Treks: Top Teacher Tools in MagicSchool
MagicSchool is packed with AI tools for educators. But which ones are worth your time? In this interactive Tech Trek, you’ll explore five MagicSchool tools that are popular with educators across the country and discover practical ways to use them in your classroom.
- Tue, October 20 · 4:30 PM EDT
Tech Tuesday: Google Classroom Updates
Google Classroom got a massive upgrade, and you don’t want to miss out! Join us for an action-packed tour of new tools designed to save time and boost learning. We’ll explore Classroom’s visual refresh and the standards alignment features that make tracking student mastery a breeze.
- Wed, October 21 · 1:00 PM EDT
Creating a Culture of Safety: Rapid Incident Response for Every Campus
Every second matters during a school emergency. Empower your staff and improve incident response times by ensuring everyone has a fast, reliable way to call for help. Learn the safety strategies successfully employed by districts nationwide to protect their students and staff.
- Wed, October 21 · 1:00 PM EDT
[Gemini Training] Using Google AI to Consolidate your Tech Stack
Join us for an inspiring look at how Orono Public Schools took control of their digital ecosystem with Google AI. Discover how OPS is transforming their tech stack by using Google AI to design native, homegrown tools tailored to their district’s exact needs.
- Wed, October 21 · 1:00 PM EDT
TinyEYE Therapy Services
Lisa Villani will talk about who TinyEYE is, how we have dealt with each of these challenges at many districts across the country, and how we can help Illinois with the same struggles.
- Wed, October 21 · 4:00 PM EDT
Creative Projects That Actually Work
You’ll leverage creative projects with built-in support and less setup.
- Wed, October 21 · 4:30 PM EDT
Playlab Demo: Student AI Challenge Pitch
In this live session, Polly Chen Smith (Playlab) demos how districts can turn the Illinois AI Challenge into a chance for students to build real AI web apps, grounded in their own curriculum (not just generic chatbots), with the goal of getting students creating (not just consuming).
- Thu, October 22 · 4:30 PM EDT
Supercharge Your Classroom! Differentiate & Scaffold with Gemini
Let’s be real: differentiating every lesson for every student can feel like a second full-time job. If only you had a teaching assistant who could tirelessly adjust lesson materials to suit your students!
- Sat, October 24 · 10:00 AM EDT
Code/Art Intro to Creative Coding Series, Session 4: Op Art with JavaScript
This is session 4 of 4 of the Intro to Creative Coding Workshop Series, a synchronous online PD opportunity that combines introductory computer science and art!
- Mon, October 26 · 4:30 PM EDT
Building AI Literacy: Smart Prompting, Safe Data, and Better Results
Once you have a great problem to solve, how do you actually work with AI to build a great solution? Level up your team’s AI literacy in this hands-on, 1-hour workshop designed for Illinois AI Challenge students and teachers.
- Tue, October 27 · 2:00 PM EDT
SentinelOne + LTC Platform for Illinois Schools
K-12 schools have become high-value targets for cybercriminals, with thousands of privacy breaches occurring every year. To help protect our campuses—both physical and digital—LTC has partnered with SentinelOne to provide Illinois K-12 schools with best-of-breed security solutions at a more affordable cost.
- Tue, October 27 · 2:00 PM EDT
AI for Social Studies: Navigating Narratives & Building Citizens
This virtual workshop is for social studies teachers ready to harness AI for critical inquiry and dynamic engagement. Get hands-on with AI to differentiate primary source analysis, generate diverse perspectives on complex events, create interactive interviews with historical figures, and simulate civic dilemmas and debates.
- Tue, October 27 · 4:30 PM EDT
Think Like a Coder, Without the Computers
Computer science doesn’t start with a device. It starts with how students think. Let’s get our students thinking like coders – no computers needed! Join us as we make the case that powerful CS skills—problem-solving, logical thinking, and pattern recognition—don’t require a single screen.
- Wed, October 28 · 4:30 PM EDT
AI Is Already in the Classroom. AI Literacy Isn’t.
AI is already shaping how students learn, communicate, and make decisions, but using AI is not the same as understanding it. In this interactive session, Day of AI will introduce educators to our free, research-informed PreK–12 AI literacy curriculum and explore what developmentally appropriate AI literacy can look like across grade levels.
- Thu, October 29 · 4:30 PM EDT
Tricks & Treats: Gemini for Education Goodies
Unwrap the magic of AI in education with a session packed full of tricks, treats, and hands-on discovery! Join us as we explore how the Gemini App can transform learning through innovative techniques like Vibe Coding.
- Mon, November 2 · 4:30 PM EST
The AI Toolbox: Creating, Designing, and Prototyping your Challenge Project
You’ve defined a real problem and learned the basics of prompting. Now, it’s time to bring your ideas to life! Join us for a guided tour of the best, most accessible AI tools available today for students and educators.
- Tue, November 3 · 1:00 PM EST
Give Student Work a Real Audience
Learn how to showcase and celebrate student work through digital and physical experiences. (Special midday time)
- Wed, November 4 · 4:30 PM EST
Creating Inclusive Engineering Experiences with Sphero Blueprint
What happens when every student has a role, a voice in the design process, and an opportunity to contribute? Engineering becomes more collaborative, approachable, and meaningful for every learner! Explore K–12 engineering experiences with Sphero’s Blueprint Engineering continuum.
- Thu, November 5 · 4:30 PM EST
Less Friction, More Learning: Streamlining Digital Resources for Everyone
Multiple tools, multiple grade levels, endless tabs open. Sound familiar? Managing a modern K-12 tech stack shouldn’t require a computer science degree for parents or a 24/7 help desk for instructional coaches.
- Mon, November 9 · 4:30 PM EST
Closing the Loop: Human-Centered Feedback, Accessibility, and Final Polish
You’ve built a prototype. Now, it’s time to see how real people actually use it! In this final Illinois AI Challenge workshop, focus on user testing, incorporating feedback, and making sure your AI solution works for everyone.
- Tue, November 17 · 1:00 PM EST
[Technical Tips] From Pilot to Production: A Technical Playbook for Deploying Gemini for Education Across Your Domain
Most districts have moved past “should we turn on Gemini?” and into the harder question. How do you actually deploy it well? This session is a Console-first walk through the lifecycle of a Gemini for Education rollout, age-based access and data governance.
- Tue, November 17 · 4:30 PM EST
Build AI Routines You’ll Actually Use Again
AI can save you real time, but only if it actually fits into your day. Too often, educators try AI once, get a decent result, and then start from scratch the next time they need it. It’s time to break that unproductive cycle.
- Wed, November 18 · 4:00 PM EST
Make Student Thinking Visible with Webpages
Design classroom opportunities for students to document their process, reflection, and growth.
- Thu, November 19 · 4:30 PM EST
Fostering Inclusive Collaboration in CS
Computer science education is shifting away from isolated coding tasks toward building equity-centered team practices. Explore Inclusive Collaboration, one of the four crosscutting practice categories in the new 2026 CSTA PK–12 Computer Science Standards.
- Tue, December 1 · 4:00 PM EST
Get Started with Adobe Express
Learn the basics of navigating and creating in Adobe Express with confidence. Discover ways to enrich your students’ learning experience.
- Wed, December 2 · 9:30 AM EST
Declutter & Enhance Your Google Digital Life
There’s a better way to work! This workshop for daily Google Workspace users will help you develop a workflow that improves efficiency, cuts down on digital clutter, and helps you get stuff done everyday.
- Tue, December 15 · 5:00 PM EST
Reflect, Connect, and Inspire: Using Learning Blade to Deepen Career Exploration
Discover how Learning Blade can be used to create meaningful STEM and career exploration experiences while encouraging student reflection and personal growth. Explore strategies for integrating Learning Blade’s project-based lessons into classroom instruction.
- Wed, December 16 · 4:00 PM EST
Build Creative Learning Experiences with Less Prep
You’ll create reusable branded systems that streamline communication and collaboration.
- Thu, December 17 · 1:00 PM EST
What’s New with Workspace Paid Editions: 2026 Quarter 4
Updates and Use Cases for Workspace Paid Editions from 2026 Quarter 4
- Tue, January 12 · 10:00 AM EST
Promptly Planned: Crafting Intentional Lessons with AI
This workshop is all about balancing efficiency with intentionality—using AI to build robust, standards-aligned lessons without losing your free time to endless prep work. Look at a step-by-step workflow that starts with your existing curriculum to map out the entire arc of a lesson.
- Tue, January 12 · 1:00 PM EST
Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM): Practical AI, Powered by Your Content
Frustrated by chatbots giving generic or unreliable answers? Meet Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM)—a personal AI research workspace by Google that builds its intelligence exclusively from the files you upload.
- Thu, January 14 · 9:45 AM EST
Hi, AI! Online Conference — Day 1
Hi, AI is a virtual conference for K-12 educators, administrators, and technology leaders to explore artificial intelligence’s rapidly evolving role in schools. One $65 fee covers both days ($75 after November 18, 2026). Schedule time zone is not specified; confirm with the organizer.
- Fri, January 15 · 9:45 AM EST
Hi, AI! Online Conference — Day 2
Hi, AI is a virtual conference for K-12 educators, administrators, and technology leaders to explore artificial intelligence’s rapidly evolving role in schools. One $65 fee covers both days ($75 after November 18, 2026). Schedule time zone is not specified; confirm with the organizer.
- Tue, February 2 · 9:45 AM EST
SecurED Schools Online Summit — Day 1
At this online summit, join technology professionals and school leaders from across the Midwest to take part in panel discussions and hands-on demonstrations led by local and national cybersecurity experts. One $60 fee covers both days ($75 after November 5, 2026). Schedule time zone is not specified; confirm with the organizer.
- Wed, February 3 · 9:30 AM EST
SecurED Schools Online Summit — Day 2
At this online summit, join technology professionals and school leaders from across the Midwest to take part in panel discussions and hands-on demonstrations led by local and national cybersecurity experts. One $60 fee covers both days ($75 after November 5, 2026). Schedule time zone is not specified; confirm with the organizer.
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