September 2026 EdTech Newsletter
September 2026
Welcome Back from the TIPS Team!
Welcome back! The Technology Integration and Planning Support (TIPS) team is excited to support you and your school to use educational technology to its fullest potential this year. Supports include school/catchment staff professional learning, school technology planning on popular topics such as:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy, Ethics, and Teaching and Learning Tools
Digital Citizenship
Interactively Display Training
New Features of Google Workspace
And More!
Check out who your TIPS person is for your school/catchment here.
Tech Spotlight - Featuring Jeff Greeniaus, Newest Member of the TIPS Team!
We are very excited to introduce and welcome Jeff Greeniaus as the newest member of the TIPS team! Jeff has served Edmonton Public Schools since 2017, spending the majority of his career at amiskwaciy Academy teaching math and science across elementary, junior high, and high school levels, while also serving as an EdTech lead. As part of the TIPS team, Jeff is passionate about helping educators use technology as a powerful pedagogical tool to spark student curiosity and deepen learning.
His work focuses on practical, hands-on tech integration—from creative coding in Scratch and immersive learning through Minecraft Education, to innovative projects like integrating 3D scanning and printing into cultural learning or using drones in Science, CTF, and CTS classes. He is also deeply interested in guiding the ethical use of AI in education and helping teachers navigate new digital tools thoughtfully and responsibly.
Jeff holds a B.Ed. in Secondary Education, an MSc. in Paleontology, an LQS certification, and is currently completing an M.Ed. in STEM Education. In his free time, he enjoys nature photography, astronomy, and being walked by his cat. Jeff supports the City Centre, Jasper Place, and Lillian Osborne catchments.
EdTech Lead Network Meetings
Welcome back EdTech Leads! The September EdTech Lead Meetings are coming up, so please keep an eye on your email inboxes for invites to the Division 123, or the High School EdTech Leads Network meetings respectively. We look forward to another exciting year of collaboration around effective EdTech integration!
This month’s meetings are as follows:
- Division 123 EdTech Leads Network
- Tuesday, September 22, 2026 - 3:45PM to 4:45PM
- High School EdTech Leads Network
- Wednesday, September 23, 2026 - 3:45PM to 4:45PM
Google Chat Spaces Update
A reminder that Google Chat spaces have been refreshed and changed for the 2026-2027 school year. As such, all previous Chat spaces and direct message histories have been deleted, and there are new settings enabled. For more information, please see Google Chat: Set up your team spaces in Connect.
TIPS Professional Learning Opportunities 2026/27
The TIPS team has a full slate of professional learning opportunities available for teaching staff wanting to dig into EdTech topics this year. Topics include:
AI Literacy
Guided Staff use of Gemini and Gemini Notebook
Considerations for Student Use of AI
Digital Citizenship
Leading Instructional Technology
Browse and register for all our PL opportunities through the TIPS Page here.
EDU 595 Technology in Schools University of Alberta Collaboration
For the 2026-2027 school year the format of the EDU 595 Technology in Schools University of Alberta collaboration is changing to better meet the needs of Division staff. EDU 595 is a collaborative effort between EPSB and the University of Alberta that allows Division staff to use participation in TIPS led professional learning toward earning graduate studies credit at the University of Alberta.
This year the technology PL opportunities that staff can take part in to meet the course requirements have grown to include All TIPS offered PL including Edtech Lead network meetings, AI COP meetings and School/Catchment offered TIPS sessions. This reduces the requirements for additional cohort PL to a single PL day offered on April 5, 2027.
Staff will still need to meet the University criteria as follows
Total of 24 hours of TIPS led PL, 7 hours on April 5, 2026 and 17 hours of other TIPS PL (Over 36 hours of TIPS PL sessions available on PDR to choose from)
Collect a portfolio of items connected to your technology learning in 2026-2027
Complete a self reflection on your technology learning in 2026-2027
Write and submit a 1500 word paper to the University of Alberta in Summer Semester 2027
Tuition support through the Teacher Development Program may be available for permanent Division teaching staff.
If you are interested in taking part in this learning opportunity or would like to learn more please reach out to Will Rice at will.rice@epsb.ca. A cohort of 20 participants is required to offer this opportunity.
After School Tech Tips Theme: Back to School
Welcome back! TIPS is continuing with its monthly After School Tech Tips which showcase updates, step-by-step tutorials, and tips and tricks with technology for teaching and learning. These videos will be available on our TIPS PL Calendar and the YouTube After School Tech Tips Playlist.
For the month of September, our theme is “Back to School - New AI Features!” Our lineup for this month is:
- September 9 - Google Classroom Updates (Staff)
- September 16 - Gemini for Students: Update
- September 23 - Google Class Tools
EPSB Responsible Use of Technology Agreement (RUTA)
The new school year is an opportunity to craft the digital learning environment in your classroom or school, starting with the EPSB Responsible Use of Technology Agreement (RUTA).
What is the RUTA?
A school template to be tailored collaboratively by staff teams
A document with positive action statements in student friendly language
Based on the ISTE 5 Competency model for Digital Citizenship
Some ways to use the RUTA could include:
Share it with parents to create common expectations and vocabulary
Post it in your classroom/school for regular reference and reflection
Choose an action statement to focus on for each lesson using technology
Connect the action statements to the outcomes of the Health & Wellness Curriculum
Google Workspace Updates
- Redesigned Google Classroom homepage: Google Classroom has introduced a redesigned homepage globally across all editions to help teachers, students, and administrators easily find relevant content, resources, and tools tailored to their specific roles. Learn More
- Streamlining rubric generation in Google Classroom with Gemini: To make it easier to create rubrics and grade in Google Classroom, educators can now instantly generate a new Classroom-ready rubric during their assignment creation workflow, using context from their assignment. Learn More
- Gemini app can now generate interactive simulations and models: Gemini can transform your questions and complex topics into custom and interactive visualizations — directly within your chat. Learn More
- Gemini Chat History can now be managed by users: School staff are now able to manage their chat history. Users can rename and even delete items from their recent conversations or in bulk through the Activity section of the Gemini settings. Learn More
Profile of an AI-Ready Graduate
Check out the NEW resource from the International Society for Transforming Education (ISTE): Profile of an AI-Ready Graduate
“Students need to know how to partner with AI to become better thinkers, creators, and problem solvers. The Profile of an AI-Ready Graduate defines the higher-order skills that emerge when students and AI work together.”
Relates to the ISTE Standards for students and teachers
Guide meaningful use of AI for learning
Adaptable to align with your school initiatives
Connects each competency to actionable skills and practices to develop in the classroom
For more AI tools and resources from previous months, see our AI resources website.
myBlueprint for ALL EPSB students
With planning for the new school year underway, edtech tool integration may be top of mind. myBlueprint is an online, interactive education and career planning tool that includes e-portfolios, goal-setting, self-reflection and career exploration for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and beyond. Every student in Edmonton Public Schools has a myBlueprint account, which is accessible through SchoolZone. Teachers and students access their individual accounts through a single sign-on
process in SchoolZone. Look under the Apps tab and click on the myBlueprint logo.
Click HERE to find more information on Connect.
Want to keep up to date with technology tips and tricks or hear more TIPS updates?
- Click the "Subscribe" button at the bottom of this newsletter (if you're not already subscribed)
- Join our Google Space for regular technology announcements - EPSB EdTech Announcements
More Questions? Looking for technology PD for your school? Email the TIPS team or connect with your TIPS team member directly. Bookmark our TIPS.epsb.ca website for more updates and resources.