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  • January 26, 2022 8:11 AM | Ashley

    IDEA Partners make it possible for IDEA to achieve its mission. 

    And in case you didn’t know -- Our mission is to inspire, connect and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through technology. 

    That is why we are thrilled to welcome our newest Silver Partner, Wakelet!

    Wakelet is a free to use content curation platform that allows you to save, organize, present and share all kinds of online content into visual, engaging collections. It supports independent learning, group based learning, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and digital citizenship.

    Wakelet allows educators to create visual, engaging learning environments for their students, classes, and communities. Educators across the world are using Wakelet to organize, create and share resources, lesson plans, presentations, newsletters, digital storytelling assignments, online portfolios, journals and much more! The flexibility and usefulness of the platform provides for some of the most creative, engaging, and memorable learning experiences that can be had both inside and outside the classroom. Wakelet integrates with all of your favorite tech tools, so educators quickly find Wakelet becoming an essential part of their workflow!

    Check out more about Wakelet here


  • January 25, 2022 2:35 PM | Ashley

    Calling all leaders in Illinois education!

    We are looking for passionate educators who are looking for a fun and exciting leadership opportunity with a growing organization. 

    Is that you?

    If you answered, “HECK, YEAH!”, we encourage you to consider joining the IDEA board. 

    Nominations for IDEA Executive Board and Governing Board are currently open. These positions include:


    Executive Board:

    • Incoming President (serves a 3-year term to include Incoming President/President/Immediate Past President)

    • Secretary (serves a 2-year term)

    • Treasurer (serves a 2-year term)


    Governing Board:

    • Regional chapter positions

    • Member-at-large 


    Learn more about each position with our detailed job descriptions

    Click here to submit a nomination form today or forward it to someone you know that would be a good fit. 

    Board nominations are due March 13, 2022. These nominations will be put on a ballot and sent to the entire IDEA membership for a vote.

    Elected members will be announced at the annual meeting on April 16, 2022, and terms will begin July 1, 2022. For a full overview of the nomination, click here

    Please consider reviewing the following before submitting your nomination:

     

    We hope you will consider joining our team of passionate educators who thrive to uphold the IDEA mission: To inspire, connect and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through technology.

    Click here to learn more about IDEA and here to submit your nomination form. 

  • January 18, 2022 4:29 PM | Ashley

    IDEA Partners make it possible for IDEA to achieve its mission. 

    And in case you didn’t know -- Our mission is to inspire, connect and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through technology. 

    That is why we are thrilled to welcome back as a Bronze Partner, CSTA!

    CSTA creates high-quality, community-centric, equitable programs that help K-12 teachers instruct CS more effectively. CSTA does this by building community, delivering high-quality professional learning, and leading as an independent voice for teachers. 

    CSTA believes every student should have access to a high-quality CS education, which starts with effective CS teachers.




    More about CSTA:

    • BUILDING COMMUNITY: We build strong communities for members to learn with peers and develop their professional identities.

    • ONGOING PD: CSTA provides CS teachers with career-long, professional learning programs.

    • PROVIDING INDEPENDENT GUIDANCE: CSTA agnostically reviews curriculum and offers standards alignment. We also recognize the important accomplishments of teachers and students.

    Check out more about CSTA here.
  • January 18, 2022 4:26 PM | Ashley

    IDEA Partners make it possible for IDEA to achieve its mission. 

    And in case you didn’t know -- Our mission is to inspire, connect and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through technology. 

    That is why we are thrilled to welcome back as a Bronze Partner, Edmentum!

    Whether your objective is to boost test scores, raise graduation rates, implement personalized learning, or improve college and career readiness, a partnership with Edmentum means access to a team of education technology professionals committed to making sure your investment enhances student achievement.


    More about Edmentum: 

    At Edmentum, a single mission guides and inspires us as it defines our core purpose and the contribution we make to society: Founded in innovation, we are committed to being educators' most trusted partner in creating successful student outcomes everywhere learning occurs. 

    At Edmentum, we are a team committed to being educators' most trusted partner in creating successful student outcomes everywhere learning occurs. 

    Check out more about Edmentum here.

  • January 12, 2022 8:23 AM | Ashley

    IDEA Partners make it possible for IDEA to achieve its mission. 

    And in case you didn’t know -- Our mission is to inspire, connect and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through technology. 

    That is why we are thrilled to welcome back as a Silver Partner, BitSpace!

    BitSpace runs after-school programs and summer camps with a focus on design and engineering. BitSpace also provides curriculum for teachers including kits to run maker programs of their own. This awesome company also designs and builds maker spaces for schools. 

    For Parents:

    BitSpace’s hands-on learning programs are designed to unlock your child’s creativity, ramp up their problem-solving skills and develop a “can-do” attitude. Some programs are delivered remotely while others are in person (with safety measures in place).

    For Teachers:

    Earn professional development hours while bringing the joy of hands-on learning to your classroom. BitSpace’s courses are taught by master teachers who are in the trenches themselves, so you’re sure to learn ONLY practical, classroom-tested strategies

    For Schools: 

    If you’re looking to transform an underutilized space in your school to maximize learning, we’ve got you covered! You can either purchase modular furniture ala-carte or hire us to build your makerspace from scratch through our Design & Build service.

    Check out more about BitSpace here

    Be sure to come see BitSpace at IDEAcon 2022! They have an insanely cool setup: Here is a sneak peek:






  • January 11, 2022 11:41 AM | Ashley

    IDEA Partners make it possible for IDEA to achieve its mission. 

    And in case you didn’t know -- Our mission is to inspire, connect and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through technology. 

    That is why we are thrilled to welcome back as a Bronze Partner, Tynker!

    Tynker is the world’s leading K-12 creative coding platform, enabling students of all ages to develop the coding skills to design and power animations, games, music, robots and drones, smart devices, virtual worlds like Minecraft, and more. The company’s award-winning platform helps kids engage at home, school, and on the go, while developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and programming skills to help them be successful today and tomorrow. 

    Tynker’s highly successful coding curriculum has been used by one in three U.S. K-8 schools, 90,000 schools globally, and over 60 million kids across 150 countries. Tynker’s partners include some of the world’s most respected brands, including Apple, BBC Learning, Google, Microsoft, Mattel, PBS, Lego, NASA, and more. 

    Tynker is accessible from any computer with an internet browser, as well as via the Tynker and Tynker Junior mobile apps, and offers both free and paid subscription options. Check out more about Tynker here



  • January 10, 2022 8:28 AM | Ashley

    Breaking Out of My School Box

    By:  Joy Kirr

    Take care of yourself… Make time for self care… Educators are constantly being told to do this - as if we didn’t already know. Um… Really? If we weren’t able to take care of ourselves last year, we wouldn’t still be in this profession this year.

    So, really, make time for an educational conference? I’m trying to take care of myself. I’m trying to have time for ME. Make sub plans for the day(s) I want to go? Even if I’ve gone practically every other year, I’m trying to not add more to my plate. I’m learning how to say NO. I’m trying to do LESS. If you’ve never been to the IDEA conference (IDEAcon), I can totally understand the doubt about attending this year. I’ve been there - I’ve said no to many opportunities this past year. But will I, personally, attend IDEAcon this year? Yes. Yes! I will make the time, and I will create the sub plans, so I can attend this particular conference. Heading to the IDEA conference IS “self care” for me. Let me tell you why…

    I teach in a building - much like a box. My classroom is a box inside a larger box. In my little box, I am surrounded by (mostly) smaller people (13-year-olds) coming in and out, needing me to be there for them - needing me to be my best. Sometimes I move to other boxes within the large box, for lunch, or for a meeting, and then I get in my vehicle and zip home. 

    This means I talk to the same people every day. I’ve got a great team of teachers I work with, and this school year is much better than last year when it comes to consistency. However, this year teachers (I’m no exception) have different issues we’re dealing with, and even though we always try our best, it’s still a huge strain on our minds and bodies. I keep checking the calendar to see how much we have left, and I’m against countdowns! Even though I love so many aspects of the job… even though I have a lot of autonomy in my little box… even though I learned so much last year about how to stay mentally healthy… I keep bugging my husband to rethink when it’s my time to retire.

    So how will heading to IDEAcon help ME? How is it that I can consider this “self-care?” It’s all about my surroundings… 

    Every year I’ve attended IDEAcon, I’m surrounded by educators who are in the same storm as me. They come from their own boxes within boxes. They’ve gone through similar hardships and have tried different solutions I haven’t yet heard of. The educators that attend are searching for - and open to - new ideas. They bring ideas they probably think aren’t the best, but many of them are better than any I’ve tried. We have time to share with each other and to ask questions. We make time to build on each other’s ideas, and it’s typical that I come back with a few gems to share with those who stayed in my building and couldn’t make this conference. These ideas are then spread throughout my setting, and voila! Many of us are rejuvenated or further inspired! 

    As I’m writing this, I’m thinking of the lightbulb icon for this conference - the switch is turned back on, and the electricity gets flowing once again. Inspiration has nestled into the neurons of the brain, and once it’s shared back in my school box, the ideas grow, morph, and infect more minds with more possibilities. 

    Inspiration may come from one of the large keynote sessions that make me feel like I’m where I belong. There is often a message in this presentation that makes me feel seen; my feelings are validated. I feel supported by those around me.

    Inspiration could come from one of the smaller sessions that seem to be tailored just for ME. These educators respond to a need I have. They often provide a very specific activity to take back with me for the very next week with my students.

    And then there are the hallway “sessions.” When you meet an educator friend you’ve only met on Twitter. When you stop for a second, say hello, and then find yourself eating a quick snack on the hallway floor with this person, and you feel like you’ve known them your entire life. They don’t live too far away, and you end up setting a date for a drink next month to discuss this great idea you two just started to develop.

    I’ve been to this conference when it was called the ICE Conference - many times. I’ve presented, I’ve been a “spotlight speaker” (full of nerves), and I’ve taken many selfies with those educators I admire. I’m looking forward to taking them in masks this year - something different for the scrapbook! After a year off, I’m heading back. I’m presenting a session, and I bet I’ll learn something from someone who attends, as I usually do. If nothing else, I’ll enjoy hearing stories from educators in other school boxes - we’ll be breaking down the walls that separate us. We’ll be lifting each other’s spirits, and that has got to count for something during our second February of a pandemic. 

    Take care of yourself… Make time for self care…  One way I’ll be doing that this year is to attend IDEAcon. If you see me, stop for a selfie! Is it really called a “selfie” when it’s two or more people? I’m sure someone at IDEAcon has heard another term for it that I’ll be using soon…

    Click here to register for IDEAcon. I can't wait to see you there!


    Joy Kirr is a 7th grade ELA teacher in her 27th year of teaching, and the author of the books Shift This! How to Implement Gradual Changes for Massive Impact in Your Classroom, and Word Shift: A Different Kind of Dictionary for Educators to Nullify Negativity and Promote Positivity in Schools. She is passionate about students owning their own learning, and has even gone so far as to be the first at her school to try learning without using points. She enjoys being known as a “Genius Hour Evangelist,” and is grateful for how her students have stepped up their learning while giving and receiving feedback in lieu of grades.

  • December 29, 2021 9:52 AM | Ashley

    January is a time to reflect. And as we do, we have seen just how much we learned in 2021. 

    Many of this life-long learning light bulb moments came from the IDEA blog. 

    Some of our favorite blogs were our guest posts from amazing educators like YOU!

    The ETwinz taught us about podcasting and gave a sneak peek into their IDEAcon 2022 sessions.

    Jennifer Waldvogel showed us how powerful dialogue can be and how it is different from debate and discussion. 

    And Teresa Engler demonstrated how you can work smarter not harder when it comes to classroom management

    But what resonated with you the most? 

    We took some time to look at the data. And thanks to Google Analytics, we pulled the top 3 IDEA blogs of 2021 based on views.

    Without further ado, here they are:

    1. Let Your Voice Be Heard: Illinois Learning Standards for Computer Science Update

      It was a big year of standard updates in Illinois. A major one was the computer science standards.

      We vow to continue to be a resource to you in this area. IDEA is prepping content, programming, and professional learning opportunities to help educators in Illinois integrate these standards into Pre-K-12 classrooms. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more information on this programming and future events coming in 2022!

    2. Raise your hand if you’re a teacher-mom!

      This one was written by IDEA’s very own Lindsay Zilly! Lindsay writes this from her point of view as a mom and educator. It’s raw, personal, and hits many of the emotions a lot of parents and educators are feeling. 

      If you missed it - check it out! And don’t worry - we will have more awesome content from Lindsay in 2022.

    3. 3 Reasons to Attend IDEAcon 2022

      IDEA’s IDEAcon Conference Coordinator David Chan put together this article all about IDEAcon! It’s clear David has a passion for this event - and he is not alone!

      Will you be joining us in February? It’s not too late to register! Click here for the 3 reasons to attend, and check out the IDEAcon website to learn more and register today!

    Call to action:

    Have you taken time this month to reflect on 2021? What did you learn and what do you hope to learn in 2022?


  • December 22, 2021 11:48 AM | Ashley

    IDEA Partners make it possible for IDEA to achieve its mission. 

    And in case you didn’t know -- Our mission is to inspire, connect and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through technology. 

    That is why we are thrilled to welcome our newest Gold Partner, DoIT - ICN!

    The ICN is managed by the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) and functions as a state-wide communications network serving K-12 schools, higher education, libraries, museums and local and state government. See www.illinois.net for more information about ICN and our services.

    Illinois K-12 Broadband Network Initiative - Secure Internet access for all Illinois Public K-12 schools at no cost.

    This program removes barriers limiting access to  secure Internet bandwidth essential in today’s digital  learning environment. The key objective is to ensure every Illinois K-12  public school has sufficient and secure Internet access/services to meet the needs of their students, faculty,  and administration at no cost.



    Click here to learn more about DoIT - ICN. 


  • December 22, 2021 8:39 AM | Ashley

    IDEA Partners make it possible for IDEA to achieve its mission. 

    And in case you didn’t know -- Our mission is to inspire, connect and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through technology. 

    That is why we are thrilled to welcome back as a Platinum Partner, Microsoft!

    Microsoft is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. In education, it’s to empower every student. We believe limitless potential is within every student, every educator, every school. Together we can unlock this potential by providing technology that empowers educators and inspires students. 


    Be sure to say hi to Microsoft and listen to their sessions at IDEAcon this February! Click here to register for IDEAcon. 

    Check out more about Microsoft here

Email: info@ideaillinois.org
Call: 630 628 1088

Address:
2735 Hassert Blvd.

Ste 135 PMB 304

Naperville, Illinois 60564

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