Applications now open for IDEA's 2024 Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day

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IDEA aims to inspire, connect, and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through innovation.


When you join IDEA, you’ll have a multitude of resources at your fingertips to support and promote innovative education for all.


Whether you are looking for certifications, needing professional development hours, or simply want to be a life-long learner, IDEA is here to help.

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Congrats to our 2024 EOY Recipients!


Applications now open for Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day 2024

We are excited to once again host our Students for Innovation Advocacy Day (formally known as Tech 20XX) on May 9, 2024!


Students are selected through an application process to present their innovative progress in-person at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield.

Learn More!

Save the date: IDEAcon 2025

Thank you to everyone that joined us in Schaumburg (or virtually) for IDEAcon 2024.


We hope to see you again in 2025!


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THE IDEA BLOG

By John Closen 07 Mar, 2024
Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day is an Illinois Digital Educators Alliance event that has been around for 30+ years. If you’ve never participated or attended, you may not know what it is or why it is so important and impactful. This post offers a former superintendent’s perspective on how Advocacy Day is amplifying student voices in a big way and why you should be involved. Author John Closen was a superintendent at the time he attended his first Advocacy Day, and he has been a staunch advocate for the day ever since!
By Kristy Gilbert 29 Feb, 2024
There is a huge misconception as to what school libraries are all about and many people, including lawmakers, are failing to see the power that school libraries have to redefine learning and create learners who thrive on collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. This is exactly why we need events like IDEA's Advocacy Day. We need a forum that will allow our students a voice to bring awareness to the amazing things happening in our classrooms and in our libraries, especially in times where budgets are being cut and school libraries are disappearing.
By Anna Tansey, SMART Technologies 15 Feb, 2024
Inclusion is one of the most important ways we can level the playing field and deliver engaging learning experiences for all. Strategies that foster inclusion in education are essential to amplify the voices of every student, regardless of their mode of communication. In this blog, I offer strategies and considerations that all educators can take into their classroom to provide inclusive learning environments, regardless of their students abilities or disabilities.

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IDEA relies on partners to be able to achieve its mission: To inspire, connect and provide the educational community with opportunities that transform teaching and learning through technology.

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