May is here, and the end of the school year is in sight! This is the perfect time to explore new edtech concepts designed to help educators prepare for the next school year. Dive into a fresh lineup of engaging virtual professional development courses. We’re geeking out for Google in May with our latest Google-centered courses tailored for you on OTIS for educators!

Check Out What’s Brand New This Month!

• Using Gemini to Power Student Research

Empower your students to move beyond “copy-paste” and toward responsible digital citizenship. Join us for this course, where we’ll explore how to integrate Google Gemini into the research process as a sophisticated “research assistant” rather than a mere search engine. The session will focus on Gemini’s built-in double-check response feature, which uses Google Search to visually verify claims with color-coded citations. By the end of this session, you will be able to teach students how to cross-reference AI-generated content, identify reliable versus “hallucinated” data, and use Gemini as an acceptable research tool. Transition your classroom from passive AI consumption to active, evidence-based inquiry, ensuring students develop the skepticism and verification skills they need for the future.

• Beyond the Sticker Chart: Building Internal Motivation in Early Ed

While gold stars and sticker charts might offer a quick fix for classroom management, they can lack true, lasting autonomy. This session is designed for K-2 educators looking to transition from external rewards to a robust framework that sticks. We will explore practical strategies for helping young learners develop a sense of agency, moving beyond compliance, to a place of genuine curiosity and self-regulation. By focusing on classroom environment, language shifts, and fostering student-led problem-solving, you’ll leave with a toolkit of actionable ways to help your students build the internal drive they need to succeed—long after the sticker is gone.

• CER in Science: Analysis and Revisions

Turn “okay” answers into evidence-based, thoughtful responses. This session focuses on the “Analysis” and “Reasoning” of the CER framework. Discover how to help students bridge the gap between what they see and what it means, using targeted revision techniques that elevate scientific literacy.

• Google Workspace for Education: Sheets

Are you ready to become more efficient with your classroom data? In this course, we’ll cover some of the basic features of Google Sheets, so you can easily add, organize, and analyze data. We’ll also share some ideas to motivate your students to use Google Sheets in classroom activities. Join us to learn how you can streamline organization, increase productivity, and enhance instructional clarity.

• Brain-Based Culturally Responsive Teaching

Following up on the success of our introductory December course on Brain-Based Learning, this session will dive into how teachers can bridge the gap between cognitive science and educational equity. Join us for this session in which we will focus on understanding how our students process information, emotion, and identity, followed by practical ways teachers can implement brain-based learning strategies to foster a classroom environment that is not only brain-compatible but also culturally responsive.

• Canva Visual Aids for ELLs

In today’s digital age, visual aids play a crucial role in language learning, especially for English language learners. In this course, we’ll harness the power of Canva to equip educators and language enthusiasts with skills to craft captivating visual aids that are tailored to the needs of ELLs. Learn how to find and design vocabulary flashcards, grammar posters, and interactive presentations that enhance comprehension and engagement.

• Google Workspace for Education: Google Calendar

Looking for an effective way to organize your time? Google Calendar is a helpful tool for time management and scheduling. Join us to learn the basics, how to integrate it with your other Google Workspace for Education apps, and to explore some additional features.

An overall look at OTIS for educators

Visit the online PD course calendar for a complete list of courses for May. Furthermore, with OTIS for educators, you’ll always get:

🧠 A diverse course library

In fact, OTIS now offers over 900 courses across 50+ categories, covering everything from instructional strategies to edtech tools. Moreover, these are designed by experienced educators and align with standards like ISTE, making them practical and relevant.

📅 Live weekly sessions

Additionally, new live content is broadcast weekly, so May will feature timely sessions on trending topics in education. These often include AI in the classroom, Microsoft and Google tools, management, and inclusive teaching practices.

📚 On-demand access

All courses are available anytime, anywhere, and also on any device–perfect for spring learning. Additionally, educators can explore tutorials, state-approved PD, and curated playlists to meet their goals.

🎓 For all roles

Whether you’re a teacher, admin, or paraprofessional, OTIS PD supports unlimited users per school or district license. This undeniably makes OTIS a great resource for team-wide growth.

You can visit OTISpd.com to sign up and also explore the full course catalog. Want help picking a course based on your interests or goals? In that case, we’d love to help with that! To learn more, visit teq.com!

For more tips, tricks, and tools for teaching in and out of the classroom, check out more content on the Teq Talk blog or our YouTube channels OTIS for educators and Tequipment.

We also offer virtual professional development, training, and support with OTIS for educators. Explore the technology and strategies that spark student success — no matter where teaching or learning are happening!

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