UIS and Ed3 Launch AI Training for Illinois Educators

Starting September 8, 2026, the University’s Center for Academic and Professional Education and its ION eLearning program will provide a suite of self-paced, online courses. These modules are designed to move beyond basic tool familiarity, focusing instead on research-based pedagogy that integrates artificial intelligence into existing classroom workflows.

Russ Stoup, Acting Director of Continuing and Professional Education at UIS, described the initiative as an effort to expand access to high-quality training. The program offers professional development hours and continuing education units, with stackable micro-credentials that allow educators to build expertise over time. Ed3, which has supported over 20,000 educator enrollments across 48 states, brings a pedagogy-first framework to the collaboration. Vriti Saraf, CEO of Ed3, noted that the initiative addresses the urgent need to translate state-level policy into tangible instructional improvements, positioning the university as a key partner in modernizing teacher training.