IETA 2025

Research has shown that instructional coaching is instrumental in the success of any change initiative. The coach provides support and professional learning for teachers, advocates for best instructional practices, and supports their principals as they lead change initiatives. In other words - instructional coaches are superheroes, skilled at various tasks and often asked to move mountains. In this session, we invite you to explore how to take your coaching to the next level as you reflect on your coaching practice and cultivate your leadership skills. Whether you're a seasoned coach or just starting your journey, you'll leave with strategies to empower the teachers you serve and gain deeper insights into your unique strengths.

You want your students to be prepared for the AI world, but where do you start? For students who want to not just use, but build the AI tools of the future, they need to have the technical skills and scientific knowledge necessary to understand AI at all levels. Many high schools already offer computer science courses, but data science courses are also critical as a starting point for students to learn important skills that prepare them for jobs in data analysis, data science, machine learning engineering, and AI science. In this talk, we will look at an introductory course that has been adopted at Boise State University that could be offered at the high school level for concurrent enrollment credit, as well as fulfilling many of the Idaho Computer Science Standards for Data and Analysis, Impacts of Computing, and Algorithms and Programming.

Attendees will learn how one district leverages the power of Microsoft Office 365 and Windows 11 to support diverse learning needs across their classrooms. The session will highlight specific strategies and tools that are used to create more inclusive and accessible learning experiences for all students. Features like Immersive Reader, Dictate, Live Captions, and Translator in Word, PowerPoint, and Edge as well as accessibility options in Windows 11 to support students with learning differences will be discussed. Bring your laptop and Microsoft Office login for this hands-on session. Attendees will walk away with practical, ready-to-implement ideas for using Office 365 and Windows 11 within the universal design for learning framework.

This session is focused on what some may characterize as non-traditional STEM careers, ranging from healthcare to technology to other industries that are not commonly recognized as such. The goal is for attendants to learn cohesive ways to present STEM careers (and the paths to achieving those careers) for students of all ages. These careers are not found within linear confines but are characterized by skills (hard and soft), networking, and academic trajectories.

Join us for "Next-Gen Tools for Next-Level Learning: Mastering Diffit and NotebookLM in Education," a dynamic professional development session that empowers educators to utilize cutting-edge tools for creating interactive, visually engaging instructional materials. This workshop will explore how to differentiate instructional content by adapting language and reading levels, integrating multimedia, and employing best practices such as Thinking Maps and Eduprotocols for enhanced learning outcomes. Participants will gain practical skills to enhance lesson engagement, improve material quality, and foster a collaborative classroom environment, all aimed at elevating student learning experiences.

Did you know Idaho has new technology standards K-12? Come to this session for an overview of the K-12 technology standards and spend some time diving in and taking a look at what these standards mean for our learners. We will also look at how these standards can be integrated into other subject areas.

You may be able to receive Microsoft Fundamentals certifications, offered through Certiport, at no charge to you or your school through the Idaho Statewide Certification programs. Join us to learn more about the Idaho Certification Programs, how to join the program and the Microsoft Fundamental certifications that are provided to the members.

As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in our students’ lives, it’s time to shift our perspective from seeing it as a threat to academic integrity to viewing it as a powerful tool for enhancing learning. In this session, we’ll explore how AI can be integrated into writing instruction to support creativity, critical thinking, and skill development. We’ll discuss practical approaches to teaching students moving beyond detection and prevention toward empowering students to harness AI’s potential. Attendees will leave with some lesson plan ideas and strategies for incorporating AI in your classroom, as well as an introduction to Class Companion, a program designed to help students receive targeted feedback on their writing.

Discover Boise on this jam-packed immersive inquiry as we tour near the Convention Center and learn about the history & the communities that shape the city. Using curiosity as a catalyst, we’ll ignite creativity with Google Photos, leverage digital tours, publish to curate learning & provide resources to use with students.

The Participants will…
-Gain a better understanding of Boise's history and the cultural diversity that influences the city's identity.
-Develop the ability to use curiosity as a driving force for inquiry and creativity.
-Acquire skills to enhance and edit photos using Google Photos, transforming them into compelling visual narratives.
-Learn how to integrate digital tours into educational settings effectively.
-Be equipped with practical strategies and resources to bring these experiences and tools into their classrooms, promoting a deeper connection between students and historical and cultural contexts
-Collect images, articles, videos, and podcasts to layer multimedia that differentiates for learners, builds background knowledge, and sparks curiosity.
-Create a mini-inquiry for students to introduce and explore a new content area.
-Leverage a handful of easy-to-use tools that invite students to create and scale for authentic audiences.

Learn how to use CYBER.ORG’s grant-funded range to bring cybersecurity into classrooms. Paired with CYBER.ORG’s no-cost curricula, K-12 US educators can gain access to CYBER.ORG’s Range to help teach hands-on cybersecurity and networking lessons. Observe how cyber-attacks work and how professionals use cyber tools through a preview of labs while content developers share their knowledge of guidelines, best approaches, and experiences of the range in middle and high school classrooms. We encourage teachers to sign up for our no-cost curricula access(https://cyber.org/form/curricula-sign-up) and Range access (https://apps.cyber.org/apply) prior to the professional development session.

In this session, educators will explore the fundamentals of using Micro-bits and Hummingbird Robotics Kits. These tools are accessible to learners of all ages, from elementary school through the collegiate level, and serve as excellent resources for introducing computer science concepts to students of varying abilities. During the session, participants will engage hands-on with Micro-bits to learn the basics of the equipment. Educators will leave with practical examples and resources they can immediately implement in their classrooms. This workshop is designed for educators who are new to, or have some experience with, Micro-bits and Hummingbird Robotics Kits.

Join us to learn about the Idaho Statewide Certification programs that provide Microsoft and Adobe certifications, offered from Certiport, and online curriculum for your classes. These benefits are provided at no cost to you or your school. We will discuss the program, how to join, Microsoft Office Specialist certifications, Adobe Certified Professional Certifications and BrainBuffet curriculum provided to you through the program.

Join us for "AI Playgrounds: Exploring School AI Spaces and Magic School Student for Student Innovation," a professional development session designed for educators ready to enhance AI learning. This workshop will introduce School AI Spaces and Magic School Student—tools for creating safe, engaging AI sandboxes. We'll cover setting up these environments, integrating AI activities into curricula, and strategies for teaching AI fundamentals. Educators will learn to monitor progress and provide feedback, ensuring a supportive space for students to develop AI skills effectively. Ideal for teachers looking to foster creativity and problem-solving through interdisciplinary AI education.

Providing training for teachers and staff alike as a teachers teacher can be a difficult job; whether as an IT professional or in a professional development position. Having the time to sit down one on one or engage in remote help can be draining or time consuming. This session helps unite Google's Screencast tool and Scribe with Google Sites to create an internal resource page for teachers and staff. In our time together my hope is to be able to bring creatively and innvotion by using free tools that come with our Google Education Domains to provide how-to's, instructionals, and troubleshooting content so that teachers and staff can provide "self-help". Learn how to link calendars, PDF how-to's, and videos through Screencast to make a vibrate area of learning that is easy to use and simple to manage.

Copilot: Assists teachers in creating lesson plans with resources in just minutes.​
Magic School:​ An award-winning, most used, and most loved AI platform for schools around the world. Educators use MagicSchool to help lesson plan, differentiate, write assessments, write IEPs, communicate clearly, and more.
Reading Coach: Provides personalized, engaging AI-powered reading fluency practice for all learners.​
Microsoft Class Teams Assignments: Enables teachers to craft clear and concise instructions quickly. 

Step into the future of education as IDLA’s Launchpad Program showcases how AI has been harnessed to combat the summer slide and bridge reading skill gaps across Idaho's school districts. In this session, we’ll dive deep into IDLA’s cutting-edge approach to synchronous classrooms, exploring how AI not only transforms the online learning experience but also enriches traditional brick-and-mortar settings.

Unveil powerful, time-saving AI tools designed to enhance and differentiate curriculum for students of all abilities. Engage with strategies that tie student involvement directly to relevant content and standards. Discover how IDLA can become your essential partner in addressing literacy challenges and driving successful ELA outcomes.

Join us to explore evidence-based practices, adaptive technology, and personalized learning solutions that empower educators and students on the path to proficient reading. Don’t miss this chance to level up your ELA instruction with IDLA's proven methods and digital innovations—because, at IETA 2025, we're cranking it to 11!

Microsoft Search Progress/Search Coach is a feature within Microsoft Class Teams for Education aimed at improving students’ information literacy. It enables educators to assign and monitor research projects while offering real-time guidance on crafting effective search queries and recognizing trustworthy sources. It is a helpful tool to streamline information literacy instruction. Let us share with you how we have used Search Progress/Search Coach in our classrooms grades 3-5 and ways to use Search Progress/Search Coach in grades 6-12.