Focus Area

Digital Literacy & Citizenship

Resources, professional learning, and support for building the next generation of engaged, knowledgeable, and responsible digital citizens.

District, school, and classroom strategies & support

Digital literacy and citizenship are essential for K-12 students in our interconnected world. These skills go beyond basic tech use, encompassing the ability to critically interpret, create, and share online content across various media. Students learn to examine how digital texts promote certain viewpoints while potentially silencing others, developing crucial critical thinking skills.

The Learning Technology Center (LTC) supports educators and districts in cultivating these complex digital literacies. We provide resources and training to help teachers integrate these concepts into their curriculum, focusing on developing students’ ability to navigate, create, and critically analyze digital content. From media interpretation to responsible content creation, the LTC offers tailored strategies for both individual classrooms and district-wide implementation, ensuring students are prepared for the nuanced digital landscape they’ll encounter.

Services
Service
Database

Badge & Certification Directory

Database of education and edtech certifications.

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Professional Learning

Custom PD for Districts and Schools

Customizable

Customized edtech professional learning to meet the needs of districts and schools.

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Professional Learning

DigLitCon Conference

September
$40+

DigLitCon is the LTC’s annual digital literacy conference.

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Professional Learning

IETC Conference

November
$175+

The Illinois Education and Technology Conference, held annually in Springfield, brings together educators and tech experts to explore innovative teaching methods and leverage technology for enhanced learning statewide.

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Network

LTC Online Community

Free

A free online community for educators, admin, and technology leaders.

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Professional Learning

Regional Workshops and Events

Variable

Over 650 regional events and conferences on educational technology topics.

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Professional Learning

Webinars

Free

Register for our regular webinar series and view recordings.

Resources
Resource
GuidanceResource

Building Balance between Online Connections and the Offline World

Digital balance and digital wellness start at home. This parent-focused guide offers actionable insight and strategies for recognizing signs of excessive tech use, fostering self-regulating tech habits, responsibly managing social media use, and more.

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Podcast

One-to-One Podcast

Conversations from the heart of education and technology with Brian and Matt.

Resource
GuidanceStandards

Illinois Media Literacy Framework | The What & Why of Media Literacy

Developed by the Illinois Media Literacy Coalition, this brief guide offers a framework for adapting media literacy into high school classrooms, including rationale and guiding principles for implementation.

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Tools and Apps

Google’s Phishing Quiz

Identifying phishing can be harder than you think. Phishing is an attempt to trick you into giving up your personal information by pretending to be someone you know. Practice telling what is fake using Google’s

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Video

EdTech for All: Creating Accessible Digital Content

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Video

Digital Literacy: Leveraging Technology To Inform

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Video

Beyond Digital Citizenship: Using Technology to Advocate for Good

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Organization

News Literacy Project

The News Literacy Project is a nonpartisan education nonprofit building a national movement to create a more news-literate America. They offer tools, resources, events, and a community related to digital literacy.

Resource
Curriculum & Lesson Plans

Be Internet Awesome

The Be Internet Awesome is a free digital citizenship curriculum developed by Google that gives educators the tools and methods they need to teach digital safety fundamentals.

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Best Practices

Copyright and Fair Use for Educators

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Best Practices

Connect Safely

Connect Safely resoures support the safe and responsible use of technology resources at all grade levels and includes printable guides on a wide variety of specific and special topics related to technology use in classroom

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Best Practices

Family Online Safety Institute

Events

Library Media Specialist Learn & Networking Zoom-UP

Apr 10, 2025
$50

Join us for an exciting PD session and networking meet-up explicitly designed with today’s Library Media Specialists in mind. This is your opportunity to actively participate and shape the discussions based on your needs and

Holly Kelly
Holly Kelly
Human-Centered Technology Specialist, Learning Technology Center

Library Media Specialist Networking Meeting

Apr 11, 2025
Free

Join the LTC’s Holly Kelly for a monthly virtual networking meeting explicitly geared to the needs of today’s library media specialists.

Holly Kelly
Holly Kelly
Human-Centered Technology Specialist, Learning Technology Center

AI: The School Secretary’s Assistant

Apr 25, 2025
Free

Discover how artificial intelligence can streamline your communication, automate tedious tasks, and enhance your overall efficiency. Learn to leverage AI tools for managing emails, drafting documents, updating school communication systems, and even bridging language barriers.

Emily Flach
Emily Flach
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Southern Region, Learning Technology Center

Declutter Your Digital Life

Apr 28, 2025
Free

Join us to discover a tech-forward way to work smarter and increase your efficiency – no matter what your day throws at you!

Emily Flach
Emily Flach
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Southern Region, Learning Technology Center
Articles

“That’s a wrap!” – Highlights from IETC 2020

The 27th annual Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC) wrapped up on Saturday, November 21. This year marked the conference’s first venture into the virtual realm, with all sessions, workshops, and networking held online. Read

AR/VRNetworkingProfessional LearningRobotics

“Keeping it real with real educators” – Takeaways from IETC 2021

The 28th annual Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC) wrapped up on November 19 after three days packed with exploring edtech’s latest integration strategies and best practices. Read up on highlights from this year’s conference,

Tim McIlvain
Tim McIlvain
Executive Director, Learning Technology Center
NetworkingProfessional Learning

2023 Education Conferences for Teachers, Administrators & Coaches

No matter your role in education and technology, conferences remain one of the best places to explore new strategies, discover new resources, and connect with peers. Check out all of these note-worthy edtech conferences coming

Lisa Schwartz
Lisa Schwartz
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | West Central Region, Learning Technology Center
Digital Citizenship

3 Great Resources to Teach Digital Citizenship

Three websites that can help you, as an educator, prepare your students to be good digital citizens.

Lisa Schwartz
Lisa Schwartz
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | West Central Region, Learning Technology Center
CybersecurityDigital CitizenshipDigital Literacy

5 Things Students Should Do to Stay Safe and Secure Online

Today is Safer Internet Day, an occasion to recommit to best practices for protecting digital identity. In the spirit of this important celebration, we’re featuring a special collection of resources and recommendation geared toward helping

Nicole Zumpano
Nicole Zumpano
Director of Instructional Technology Coaching, Learning Technology Center
Learning SpacesNew TeacherProfessional LearningSocial Emotional Learning (SEL)

7 EdTech Books to Add to your Summer Reading List

Still have a little room left in your vacation-bound suitcase? Why not slip in an edtech book so that you can continue growing while you soak up some well-earned rest and relaxation. These 7 books

Sam Fishel
Sam Fishel
Digital Content Manager, Learning Technology Center