95th Annual Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education Conference

In this session, some of the more popular AI resources utilized in TREES region schools will be highlighted and explored. TREES has been hosting a series of AI Roundtables in FY '25 with teachers exploring and utilizing a variety of AI resources to enhance their productivity as well as the classroom learning experience. We will highlight some of the most popular resources and ways in which teachers have utilized them to increase productivity and engage students.

This session provides an overview of the Rural IL CTE Project, a partnership between the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools (AIRSS) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The Project seeks to understand the needs and equity gaps of rural CTE programs, and then provide targeted technical assistance to rural districts. In this session, attendees will learn the research insights gained from the first year of the project and then hear the action steps being taken in response to the research in order to support rural CTE programs. Attendees will then have an opportunity to share their own perspectives and input for how the Rural IL CTE Project should proceed.

Unlock the potential of AI to elevate your curriculum with future-ready skills! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to use AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT to design lessons that integrate essential post-secondary competencies. We’ll guide you through creating a custom lesson plan, scripting a 90-second instructional video, and producing it with Synthesia—all within the session. Leave with a ready-to-use lesson model and the skills to build engaging, skills-focused content that resonates with students and enhances their real-world readiness.

This session explores innovative strategies for designing assessments that can accurately measure student knowledge and skills without relying on Artificial Intelligence (AI). In many educational districts where AI use is restricted, teachers must navigate how to create assessments that maintain integrity and authenticity. This session provides practical techniques and examples to develop AI-resistant assessments suitable for today's evolving educational landscape. Participants will gain insights into practical techniques and examples tailored to enhance assessment integrity and authenticity in today's educational landscape influenced by AI technology.