IDEA is turning 40! 🥳

Share Your IDEA Story

Whether you’ve been with us since our early days as ICE or joined along the way, your voice is part of our story. We invite you to share your favorite memories or reflections on what makes this community meaningful to you. Your stories will help us celebrate our past, illuminate our present, and inspire our future.

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:

Support Illinois Students at IDEA's Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day!

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!

IDEA launches our official podcast: That's the IDEA!

In each episode, Don Sturm and Stefanie Crawford will dive into fresh perspectives and innovative ideas with guests who challenge conventional thinking.



Tune in, get curious, and discover the next great idea that could transform the way you think and work!

Listen on Spotify!

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

New partner blog: Amplifying Student Voice in the Age of AI. At the bottom is a megaphone and WeVid

Amplifying Student Voice in the Age of AI

By WeVideo • August 6, 2025
This blog from WeVideo discusses how video learning is an AI-proof method to amplify student voice, nurture originality, and showcase learning outcomes.

Lessons to Address High School Vaping

By Christina DeBartolomeo • April 2, 2025
According to the U.S. Data from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey 1, 8.1% of students reported current use of any tobacco product. While we may not fully understand the long-term effects of students vaping, science shows that any kind of substance addiction can impact the brain and body, leading to long-lasting impacts. With EVERFI’s interactive high school vaping prevention courses, students can come to understand what vaping is, how it affects the body and the implications of vaping during a global pandemic. This blog article includes in-depth resources to help you get started on the path to your own vaping prevention program for high school students.

IDEAcon: A Partner’s Perspective

By Jennifer Ehehalt, Common Sense Education • March 19, 2025
A few weeks ago, I had the incredible opportunity to represent Common Sense Education at IDEAcon, a thought leadership conference focused on current education topics and innovative practices.The experience was transformative, bringing together featured speakers, a dynamic exhibit hall and highlighting educator stories. Read on to see my session recap.

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