Stop drowning in heavy paper folders! Learn how to use a simple Google Form to track student behavior digitally and save desk space. This quick session will show you how to collect accurate ABC data on your phone or computer in seconds. Join us to make your behavior tracking fast, paperless, and stress-free!
Join a former educator and current central office employee to discover how Looker Studio can turn overwhelming Google Sheets full of survey results, budgets, or classroom data into clear, visual stories. You will learn how to connect your Google Sheets to dynamic dashboards and reports that automatically track trends and goals in real time. Walk away with the confidence to build "set-it-and-forget-it" reports that save you time and make your data actionable for every stakeholder.
What do you expect learning to look like for your youngest students? And how can technology play a role? Join us for a discussion around how the use of technology should be intentional and natural, as well as age appropriate to meet the abilities of each learner. We’ll also explore how iPad can help your youngest students communicate, create, and learn at their own pace.
Ready to clone yourself? Learn how to build custom "Gems" within Google Gemini to automate your most tedious teaching tasks, from drafting parent emails to generating differentiated reading materials.
Hi, my name is Joy Blake, an educator with technology at the forefront. I am a 6-8th grade Math Teacher at Poe Classical.the Prior to this position, I worked as the Manager of STEM Implementation and Supports for the STEM Department. a Skyline Math Curriculum Designer, an Instructional... Read More →
Discover how AI tools can deepen student learning in project-based learning environments rather than simply accelerating it. In this hands-on session, explore practical, classroom-ready strategies for using AI to scaffold research, spark creativity, and facilitate real-time collaboration across STEM, humanities, and beyond. You'll leave with concrete ideas for integrating AI into your next PBL unit while navigating key ethical considerations like bias and responsible use.
LeeAnn is a Professional Development Specialist at CodeHS, where she designs and delivers professional learning that helps educators confidently bring computer science into their classrooms. She presents at conferences and leads workshops across a range of CS topics, specializing... Read More →
Bring reading instruction to life using Lumio and Google tools your students already know. This session focuses on practical ways to design interactive literacy lessons that encourage participation, comprehension, and meaningful discussion in a digital classroom. Discover how to turn Google Slides into collaborative reading activities, checks for understanding, and engaging tasks that students can complete independently or together. You’ll also explore accessibility-friendly features and strategies that help ensure all learners including those needing reading supports or accommodations can successfully engage with lesson content.
This session will focus on how to leverage the various tools within Google Sheets to streamline coaching and communication with coachees. The session will offer some introductory functions of Google Sheets, as well as some more advanced techniques for those familiar with Google Sheets!
This session uses the DJ as a metaphor to help educators rethink how they select and combine EdTech tools. Attendees will learn strategies to curate and remix digital resources and flexible “playlist” that boosts engagement and streamlines workflow & support teachers in optimizing technology use efficiently and effectively."
I am a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in Vocal Music and an ISTE Certified Educator, currently pursuing my doctorate with a focus on Race-Based Traumatic Stress (RBTS) informed curriculum. I teach at a 9-12 Chicago Public School, where I am developing my own piano curriculum... Read More →
Friday August 14, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT Virtual for CPS
Geometry is the most underutilized tool for teaching logical reasoning in secondary education — and engineering design is its most compelling context. In this session, participants will explore how tessellations and fractal geometry, expressed across multiple coding environments including Python, Autodesk Fusion 360, and CUDA on NVIDIA hardware, build the same spatial logic that governs the hexagonal crystal domain morphology of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), atomically thin semiconductors at the frontier of post-silicon electronics. Whether you teach math, CTE, or write grants for STEM programs, you will leave with a replicable framework connecting classroom geometry to cutting-edge semiconductor science — scalable from a student Chromebook to a research-grade GPU, no advanced background required.
Learning how to read allows students to learn, enjoy, and understand the world through the words around them. Join us to explore how iPad can foster reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through hands-on learning experiences that empower students to become engaged, independent readers. We’ll also share ways that multimodal approaches paired with international practice can help students make meaning from text and bring the joy of literacy to life.
Not every parent or guardian has the same level of technical experience, and it can make conversations about AI in education even more challenging. To address this, the AI Literacy Working Group has created a series of family facing videos to help explain the role of generative AI and artificial intelligence as a whole within CPS' instructional vision. Each video ranges from 3-5 minutes in length and is intended for all levels of technical experience. Session participants will watch some of the videos created by the working group and also learn of other the strategies and materials to use when communicating with families and community members about generative AI in the district.
Discover engaging and time-saving literacy resources and tools from TeachingBooks that you can easily incorporate to support and enhance your lessons and build literacy connections across the curriculum. Hook readers with author recordings, book trailers, complete book readings, puzzles, and games. Then extend learning with discussion guides, ready-to-use lessons, reader’s theater scripts, and activity kits. Support early literacy development with our new phonics and phonological awareness tools. Create custom lists, discover teaching ideas, standards connections, and more! TeachingBooks is a comprehensive Pk-12 literacy service provided to CPS educators through CPS Libraries.
Shift from punitive approaches to purposeful and restorative interventions by transforming ISS into a time for growth and skill-building. In this session, explore how Everfi’s courses support knowledge gain and behavior change through topics like decision-making, vaping and cannabis use, prescription drug use including the dangers of fentanyl, alcohol education, and navigating peer conflict Learn how to align these resources with intervention goals, track student engagement, and use data to inform more effective, equitable discipline practices. Walk away with a practical model for turning ISS into a meaningful part of your student support system.
Learning how to read allows students to learn, enjoy, and understand the world through the words around them. Join us to explore how iPad can foster reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through hands-on learning experiences that empower students to become engaged, independent readers. We’ll also share ways that multimodal approaches paired with international practice can help students make meaning from text and bring the joy of literacy to life.
Have you ever wanted to teach a concept, but their are no materials that seemed to mirror your thought process of instruction? In this session we will model and create think aloud infographics for effective instruction.
As an Education Pioneers Fellow in Summer 2026, I had 10 weeks to conduct a literature review, create insights, and make recommendations to improve usability for the CPS websites. My insights take three perspectives: the student, the teacher, and the district. My project also addresses information architecture and and UX consolidation.
Ally is pursuing his Master’s in Business Administration focusing on Behavioral Strategy at the DePaul University and will be working with us as an Information Systems Fellow on the ITS (Information Technology Services) team. He’ll support web development, improve site design... Read More →
Friday August 14, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT Virtual for CPS
Get your classroom Back to School ready with visual supports, posters, picture schedules, social stories and more. Learn how to create meaningful visuals that help students learn routines and classroom expectations right from the start!
Teachers, Therapists and Parents can create custom learning materials for their classroom and teacing needs. Create cheap picture cards, use our powerful ...
Friday August 14, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT Virtual for CPS
The Google Classroom team will you through some of our newest features, such as incorporating learning standards, tracking student progress, creating teacher-led AI activities to support students, and more. We'll also give you a tour of some new surfaces in Classroom, too!
The Learning Ally Audiobook Solution® is designed to bridge the gap between a student’s ability to decode text and their capacity to understand the content. Hearing a human narrated voice helps bring the text to life, and each sentence is highlighted so students can follow along and learn. With the Audiobook Solution, educators can provide immediate access to grade-level content, assign titles to as many students as needed without wait times or limits, and increase the rate of students’ reading growth with specific skills development.
Teching in the Content Areas is for all educators of all content areas. Ideas for using tech in lessons that build students’ enthusiasm, allow for student voice, generate student discourse, and display students’ creativity are demonstrated by students via prerecordings and the presenter.
Too many tabs, scattered files, repeated tasks, and disconnected systems can make digital work feel overwhelming. In this practical session, participants will identify one frustrating workflow and use Google Workspace tools to simplify the steps, organize the information, and create a system that is easier to manage. Attendees will leave with a clearer, more sustainable process they can apply in their classroom, school, or office.
I am a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in Vocal Music and an ISTE Certified Educator, currently pursuing my doctorate with a focus on Race-Based Traumatic Stress (RBTS) informed curriculum. I teach at a 9-12 Chicago Public School, where I am developing my own piano curriculum... Read More →
Friday August 14, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT Virtual for CPS
This virtual session introduces Chicago Public Schools educators to the basics of Sora, including core tools, navigation, and how to get started with digital reading in CPS classrooms. Participants will explore why digital reading matters, how Sora supports student engagement and accessibility, and practical strategies for using the platform to support instruction. The session also highlights Public Library Connect, showing how CPS students can seamlessly access an expanded collection of ebooks and audiobooks from their local public library—all within Sora.
Customer Success Account Manager, Sora by Overdrive
Kristen Hein is an Account Manager who helps schools maximize the impact of Sora to increase student reading and engagement. A former history teacher, mom, and avid reader, she is passionate about connecting students with books and supporting educators in building thriving reading... Read More →
Friday August 14, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT Virtual for CPS
Motivating students shouldn't empty your wallet or create a logistical nightmare. Discover sustainable, high-impact incentive systems designed to build community, joy, and deep engagement in your classroom.
Hi, my name is Joy Blake, an educator with technology at the forefront. I am a 6-8th grade Math Teacher at Poe Classical.the Prior to this position, I worked as the Manager of STEM Implementation and Supports for the STEM Department. a Skyline Math Curriculum Designer, an Instructional... Read More →
We are excited to share the latest enhancements to the Savvas Realize platform designed to improve your teaching experience and boost classroom productivity. Join us for a quick looks at the new features you can enjoy for Back To School 2026. EnVision, myView, myPerspectives, Experience Science.
Transform how you manage your classroom by letting AI do the heavy lifting—absolutely zero coding experience required! In this hands-on session, you will learn how to use Gemini to instantly build custom automations to supercharge your daily workflow. From seamlessly processing Google Form submissions and analyzing grade data to generating instant small-group feedback and running exciting student prize raffles, you’ll walk away with practical, ready-to-use shortcuts that eliminate hours of busywork.
As the Principal at Greeley, Faren D'Abell knows firsthand how overwhelming the demands on a modern educator can be. That is why he has spent the last three years mastering AI tools to find the ultimate shortcut to classroom efficiency. A power user of Gemini, ChatGPT, and specialized tools that handle everything from cr... Read More →
Friday August 14, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT Virtual for CPS
Google Forms can do much more than collect basic responses. In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to improve confusing, inefficient, or underused Forms by applying better question design, branching, response validation, prefilled links, quizzes, file uploads, and connected Sheets workflows. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for building Forms that are clearer for users and more useful for the people managing the data.
I am a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in Vocal Music and an ISTE Certified Educator, currently pursuing my doctorate with a focus on Race-Based Traumatic Stress (RBTS) informed curriculum. I teach at a 9-12 Chicago Public School, where I am developing my own piano curriculum... Read More →
Starting the school year is easier than ever with Wayground. This session showcases the newest Wayground features and updates to enhance instruction, engagement, and maximize the efficient use of Wayground in the classroom with AI tools to streamline workflows, accommodations to meet the needs of all learners, and so much more.
Ready to revolutionize your school’s digital communication without spending a dime or installing messy plugins? Join us online to discover how Google Workspace can automate your scheduling and completely transform your parent newsletters. You will learn to launch live, real-time booking pages for virtual conferences and design stunning, branded Gmail layouts that command attention in any inbox.
Our CPS Google Workspace accounts have never been more interconnected and time-saving! Between easily keeping track of tasks, automatically sending emails, re-using templates, identifying learning standards...etc there are dozens of ways to save time using tools already freely available to you. These are tips I use every year in my actual day-to-day teaching and managing records. Note: this is an AI-free session! None of the tips or tricks discussed in this session involve AI/Gemini.
Our CPS Google Workspace accounts have never been more interconnected and time-saving! Between easily keeping track of tasks, automatically sending emails, re-using templates, identifying learning standards...etc there are dozens of ways to save time using tools already freely available to you. These are tips I use every year in my actual day-to-day teaching and managing records. Note: this is an AI-free session! None of the tips or tricks discussed in this session involve AI/Gemini.
Hi there! I've taught English/ELA in CPS for 10 years! I'm a Google Certified Educator Level 1 & 2, as well as a Google Certified Trainer. I've conducted training for CPS staff, Illinois State University, WITS (Rochelle Lee Teaching Award), and teachers all across the Chicago area... Read More →
AI is a serious challenge to education in 2026. Students need to be taught how to use AI effectively and in a way that doesn't shortcut their own learning. In this session I will share tips and tricks that will help students use AI for learning and within parameters that you provide for them. I'll also teach YOU how to be a model of how to use and cite AI tools that you use as an instructor.
This session explores how culturally relevant pedagogy, small-group instruction, and equity-centered leadership can transform teaching and learning outcomes for Black and Brown students. Participants will learn practical strategies for building sustainable instructional systems grounded in MTSS, student voice, inquiry-based learning, and data-driven practices that increase engagement, rigor, and achievement. Attendees will leave with actionable tools and leadership frameworks that can immediately be implemented within their schools and classrooms.
A successful assessment window depends on seamless planning. This 60-minute session equips administrators and test leads to manage a smooth i-Ready Inform BOY window. Participants will preview platform features, school-wide proctoring expectations, and engage in a hands-on experience to monitor and troubleshoot within the dashboard.
See how to streamline your district's daily communications and keep your campuses connected using Rise Vision. This live demo covers how to manage centralized digital signage, broadcast instant emergency alerts, and use AI-powered tools to simplify content creation. You will walk away knowing how to easily turn your existing school displays into effective tools for student engagement and safety.
Ready to transform your digital classroom from a chaotic digital filing cabinet into a self-running learning hub? This session reveals the exact workflows and automation hacks you need to streamline curriculum delivery inside Google Workspace. You will learn how to connect Google Sheets, Classroom, and Docs to build an automated system and recover hours of prep time.
I am a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in Vocal Music and an ISTE Certified Educator, currently pursuing my doctorate with a focus on Race-Based Traumatic Stress (RBTS) informed curriculum. I teach at a 9-12 Chicago Public School, where I am developing my own piano curriculum... Read More →
Join us for this interactive session to discover how Gemini is now integrated into your Google Classroom workflow. In this session, we'll explore practical strategies to streamline lesson planning, differentiate assignments instantly, and generate creative resources that engage every learner. Leave with ready-to-use techniques to make AI your new favorite teaching assistant.
Senior Strategist, Google for Education Programs, CDW, Google for Education Programs, CDW
Prior to joining CDW, Tammy Lind was an Instructional Coach based in Southeastern Wisconsin. With a background as a former special education teacher, Tammy is dedicated to incorporating innovative technologies to create inclusive and engaging learning environments for all stu... Read More →
This session will focus on how to leverage the various tools within Google Sheets to streamline coaching and communication with coachees. The session will offer some introductory functions of Google Sheets, as well as some more advanced techniques for those familiar with Google Sheets!
Students with autism and other neurodiverse learning profiles often benefit from predictable, organized learning environments that promote independence and reduce reliance on adult support. In this session, participants will explore practical structured teaching strategies, using Gemini, that can be implemented immediately in the classroom. Drawing from real-world experiences in a middle school low-incidence classroom, this session will demonstrate how classroom zoning, visual schedules, structured work systems, work-break routines, and prompting hierarchies can increase student engagement, independence, and success.
