Join Idea

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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT IDEA

Upcoming Events

View all upcoming events

Latest news from IDEA:

Join the IDEA Governing Board!

Are you looking to get more involved with IDEA? Our Governing Board nominations are now open for the new term starting on July 1, 2025.

The open positions include: Currently Central Illinois Valley, Chicago Prep, Egyptian, Kaskaskia, Northwest, Out of State, Southwestern, Starved Rock, Western, Western Suburbs, and all Member-at-Large. Please note that all chapter positions are 2-year terms, and member-at-large positions are 1-year terms.

Submit Your Nomination!

Applications for Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day Now Open!

Illinois educators and students are doing amazing, innovative things in the classroom every single day. At IDEA, our hope is to give these students and educators a platform to exemplify the importance of this innovative learning.

Students are selected through an application process to present their innovative progress in-person  during a one-day event at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. We encourage all schools throughout Illinois to apply!

Apply Today!

Save the Date for IDEAcon 2026!

Thank you to everyone that joined us for IDEAcon 2025! It was another amazing year because of our Presenters, Attendees,  Exhibitors and planning committee.

 






We can't wait to celebrate 40 years in 2026.

Super Early Bird / Pre-Registration options will be announced soon.

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THE IDEA BLOG

ParentSquare and Canva: Partnering to Empower Creative School Communications

By The ParentSquare Team • February 12, 2025
Between websites, social media, and feeds, there’s no shortage of places for districts to share information about events, school achievements, volunteer opportunities, and more. To support districts and educators in creating eye-catching visual content, ParentSquare has partnered with Canva for Education. Read on for some of the tips and ideas they shared for using Canva with ParentSquare and Smart Sites.

On the Road with CodeHS: Illinois Edition

By CodeHS • February 5, 2025
The first week of the CodeHS road trip started in the heart of the Midwest — Illinois! Each classroom visit was packed with hands-on learning, insightful questions from students, and fun coding challenges in Python. Here’s a look back on our first few stops in Illinois, the activities we hosted and incredible students and teachers we met along the way.

Learning Styles: Separating Fact from Fiction

By Phil Pulley • January 30, 2025
For years, the idea of “learning styles” has shaped how educators teach, parents guide, and students approach learning. From being labeled as a “visual learner” to claiming to thrive with “hands-on” activities, the concept seems both intuitive and practical. However, decades of cognitive science research have debunked this widespread myth. This article by IDEA Governing Board member, Phil Pulley, delves into the origins, misunderstandings, and evidence-based alternatives to this popular but misguided theory.

Partner with IDEA

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.

Learn More About IDEA Partners
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