OS Ed Tech Professional Learning

~ Vinos Kassab and Lauren Villaluz

Oakland Schools is excited to share a new opportunity for teachers seeking to explore issues of digital citizenship and AI in authentic, student-centered project based learning experiences.

The Community Sparks project invites teachers to engage with summer professional learning with the goal of developing and implementing a Project Based Learning (PBL) experience for students in the Spring of 2027. Each teacher will guide students to develop a community teach-in with their local public library around the topics of digital citizenship and/or AI. Each project will also showcase the highlights of that event at a county-wide celebration of the cohort.

You will join a collaborative cohort where you will:

• Explore AI literacy and digital citizenship through PBL learning;
• Design authentic, community-connected projects;
• Partner with libraries and industry professionals;
• Support students in leading real learning experiences for families and community members.

Program Details

• Launch Institute: June 23–25, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM | Oakland Schools
• Virtual Follow Up Sessions: Sept 21 | Oct 21 | Nov 17 | Dec 7
• Spring Showcase: Date TBD

Stipend: $1,000 for full participation

The Oakland Schools Assistive Technology team has both a foundational Assistive Tech 101 offering that can be supportive to all educators and support staff working with students with IEPs and also a monthly series that highlights a unique topic in the area of assistive technology with practical tips and tricks.

Do you want to help students navigate the pitfalls of misinformation on the internet? Join Joel Breakstone from the Digital Inquiry Group (DIG) to learn about the cutting-edge work in equipping students to engage in the current digital world.

Participants will learn about research-backed strategies for evaluating online information, with an emphasis on the skill of lateral reading. As they learn about how to use this skill with students, they will explore free curricular resources as part of the Civic Online Reasoning curriculum that help students to navigate their online world in the age of AI. They will also address common student misconceptions and the pitfalls of outdated approaches to teaching digital literacy. Leave this session feeling ready to implement these lesson plans in your classroom!

Date: October 13, 2026

Time: 8:30 AM-3:00 PM

Location: Oakland Schools

Cost: $25 (AM coffee, lunch, and materials included)

Click here to register! Open to in-county and out-of-county participants.

Build your technology skills this summer and discover engaging new ways to enhance instruction through REMC’s FREE professional learning opportunities, led by experienced Michigan educators. Best of all, participants can earn FREE SCECHs while learning alongside colleagues from across the state.

• Courses are virtual learning experiences totaling 10 hours, completed within a three-week window.
• Webinars are typically virtual sessions lasting 1–2 hours.
• Workshops are multi-session experiences that may be offered virtually, blended, or in person.

Click here to view all the available courses

Whether you are looking for new instructional ideas, technology integration strategies, or tools to support student success, REMC Educator Resources provide practical, high-quality materials created to meet the needs of today’s classrooms.

Access the REMC Educator Resources here

The Ed Tech Leadership Team is a collaborative network that explores how to leverage & implement high quality and innovative technology tools to suppport and enhance teaching & learning. Leaders are selected by their district to serve as a liason to communicate and share resources & information.

This is a new community for virtual educators to share resources, cultivate ideas, and challenge one another- strengthening the promise of virtual education for all students. If you work in a fully virtual school or provide support for virtual courses in your district, please consider registering to become a part of this community.

The MI CS PLN is a state-wide group for computer science educators. Explore and deepen CS learning through quarterly meetups and professional learning.

In addition to the scheduled professional learning offerings, we are available to offer in-district support as needed. See below for some ideas of the areas and topics where can help:

• ✅ Exploring the Misinformation Landscape for Educators
• ✅ AI, The Digital Landscape & Rumor-Busting Superpowers for Families & Caregivers
• ✅ Promises & Perils of AI in Education Book Study: Fall Cohort & Spring Cohort
• ✅ Tri-County AI Cohort: Year-long
• ✅ Tri-County Computer Science Bootcamp
• ✅ Sphero Symposium
• ✅ PBL with Microbit
• ✅ Human Centered AI: Leading with Purpose, Innovating with Impact

Vinos Kassab

Vinos.Kassab@oakland.k12.mi.us

248-209-2229

Lauren Villaluz

lauren.villaluz@oakland.k12.mi.us

248-209.2283

In accordance with state and federal law, Oakland Schools does not discriminate, nor permit discrimination, on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, (including pregnancy or parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation), disability, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, military service, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, in its educational programs and activities, employment, or enrollment. The District also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other legally designated youth groups. For questions or complaints regarding unlawful discrimination or harassment, employees should contact the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Personnel Management, and Labor Relations at 248.209.2466 or Complaints@oakland.k12.mi.us. Students and others should contact the Civil Rights/Title IX Coordinator at 248.209.2467 or CivilRights.TitleIX@oakland.k12.mi.us.