Conference Calendar
Spring CUE 2026
March 19-21, 2026 | Palm Springs, CA
Visit us at our table in the Main Conference Lobby!
Fact-Check the Chatbot: Spotting Misinformation in the Age of AI
Date: Friday, March 20
Time: 1:30-3:30 PM PDT
Learning Lab, Exhibitor Hall
Searching for reliable information can feel like navigating through a jungle of claims, clickbait, and AI-generated content. Fortunately, the strategies professional fact-checkers, journalists and media producers use to find reliable sources still work, whether that information is produced by humans or generated by AI. In this highly interactive CUE Lab from KQED public media, you’ll learn how to support students to develop healthy skepticism without turning into cynics as they gain vital online reasoning skills to use in the classroom and everyday lives. Then, practice evaluating sources using a variety of methods, including Share or Beware!, KQED’s ever-evolving, easily modifiable source evaluation game. You’ll leave with ideas, teaching tips and free, ready-to-use resources to help students find reliable sources no matter where they click.
Place-Based Photo Essays with KQED and CA Parks
Date: Friday, March 20
Time: 4 - 7 PM PDT
Mount San Jacinto State Park
Middle and high school educators: Join KQED and California State Parks to deepen your understanding of the Mount San Jacinto Wilderness and explore place-based storytelling through photo essays. Travel into this remarkable mountain landscape, via the Palm Springs Aerial Tram, to experience its diverse ecosystems, cultural history, and dramatic elevation changes that have shaped both human and natural stories over time.
As you explore, take photos that reflect your experience and capture moments of observation, connection, and discovery. Then combine your images into a photo essay to share with fellow participants and inspire place-based storytelling in your classroom. This accessible format connects to ELA, history, science, art, and cross-disciplinary learning while building critical thinking, reflection, communication, and creative expression skills.
We’ll reconvene on Saturday, March 21, at 8:30am before conference sessions begin at the California State Parks PORTS Van (outside the conference lobby) to share our experience and photo essays.
Space is limited.
KQED Resources
Youth Media in the Classroom
Free, ready-to-use lesson plans, videos and resources that promote youth voice and help students practice media making, media literacy and civic engagement. Find fresh ideas for all grade levels and subjects, aligned to standards like CCSS and NGSS.
KQED Youth Media Challenge
Invite your middle and high school students to share their voices and ideas beyond the classroom by creating original audio, video and images and publishing them on the Challenge Showcase. Choose from three standards-aligned projects that include free step-by-step curriculum and supports. Great for ELA, social studies, STEM and more.
Above the Noise
In this award-winning video series, host Myles Bess cuts through the hype surrounding controversial topics in the news that affect the lives of young people. Each video comes with a lesson plan and viewing guide to help facilitate civil conversation with students about complex topics.
PBS Learning Media
Bring the world to your classroom. KQED and PBS have curated FREE standards-aligned videos, lesson plans, interactive media and more for teachers of grades K-12.
Professional Development
As a leader in public media and education, KQED offers free workshops, courses and certification in making media and media literacy to educators in all roles, subjects and grades.
KQED Teach
KQED offers free hands-on media making and media literacy learning for educators in all roles, subjects and grades. Through live workshops and self-paced courses, teachers learn by doing to build necessary skills to prepare students to analyze and evaluate their media landscape, as well as participate in civil discourse digitally through media creation.
Looking for district or school-level training? Reach out to Almetria Vaba, our Director of Partnerships & Distribution.
Earn Graduate Units for Media Literacy PD
Submit your course completion certificates from KQED Teach to earn grad units from our higher ed partners at the University of San Diego or Teachers College of San Joaquin. Increase your earning power and your media literacy skills at the same time!
About KQED
KQED is a nonprofit, public media station and NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco. As a leader in media innovation, KQED provides free standards-aligned classroom content and professional development courses that educators can trust. Our resources help educators strengthen their media literacy skills, empower youth voices, and encourage civil discourse.
Got questions?
Email us at education@kqed.org.