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OETC'26 - Reboot & Reimagine

Call for Proposals Now Open!

We’re excited to invite passionate educators, innovative leaders, and tech-savvy professionals to submit proposals for the 2026 Ohio Educational Technology Conference (OETC), taking place February 10–12 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. This year’s theme - Reboot & Reimagine: Fueling Learning with Purpose and Possibility - calls for bold ideas, fresh approaches, and inspiring stories that push learning and leadership forward. Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, tech director, or media/library specialist, we want to hear how you’re transforming education through purposeful technology use.

Deadline: Proposals must be received by October 5, 2025

 

Presenter Eligibility:  Presenters must be employed by a school, district, or state educational institution.

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For questions about proposals or presenting, email betsy@myoetc.org.

1. Choose One or More Strands

Conference Strands: OETC is accepting proposals that address strands aligned to the conference theme.  

Choose one or more that align specifically with your session content.

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  1. Practical Classroom Practices
    For teachers seeking strategies and lesson ideas to implement tomorrow
     

  2. STEM & Computer Science
    Sessions on integrating science, technology, engineering, math, coding, and robotics across grade levels
     

  3. Educational Leadership & Vision
    For administrators and district leaders focusing on digital transformation, policy, and culture-building
     

  4. Professional Learning & Coaching
    For instructional coaches, PD facilitators, and teacher-leaders interested in mentoring, PLCs, and capacity-building
     

  5. Wellness, Connection & Belonging
    Exploring how digital tools can support emotional health, resilience, and overall wellness for students and staff
     

  6. Family & Community Engagement
    Using EdTech to connect classrooms with families, caregivers, and the wider community
     

  7. IT, Security, & Infrastructure
    For technology coordinators, IT staff, and system administrators: networking, device management, cybersecurity, etc.
     

  8. Equity in Access
    Designing learning experiences that remove barriers and ensure access for all students by supporting diverse needs, abilities, and learning styles through the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and inclusive technology practices
     

  9. Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy 
    Equipping students with the skills to act responsibly online, evaluate digital content, and understand the long-term impact of their digital actions
     

  10. Assessment & Data-Informed Instruction
    Innovative ways to use data and digital tools for formative/summative assessment and personalized learning

2. Select a Platform

Primary Platform Selection:  Does your session focus HEAVILY or PRIMARILY on tools from one of the following platforms?  (Select one if applicable. This will help us with room scheduling.)

 

  • Google

  • Microsoft

  • Apple

  • Not Applicable

3. Choose a Session Format

Session Format: Presenters must choose one of the following four session types.

 

  1. Concurrent Sessions (45 minutes)
    These sessions share practical strategies and offer insights into tools, approaches, and real-world examples that help educators, administrators, technology directors, and library/media specialists reboot current practices and reimagine what’s possible. Focused on instruction, leadership, digital tools, or system-level change, these sessions are designed to fuel purposeful learning across all roles. 
     

  2. Lesson Lab Live! (Micro-Demos, 20 minutes)
    Your express pass to innovative, tech-infused teaching! These short, high-impact demonstrations feature tech-enhanced lessons you can take straight to the classroom. Attendees become students as we dive into cutting-edge classroom strategies and tools, witnessing firsthand how technology can transform learning, engage students, and simplify complex concepts. You'll leave with actionable insights, practical tips, and a jolt of inspiration, ready to elevate your lessons the very next day.
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  3. Deep Dive Sessions (2 hours, hands-on)
    Immerse yourself in extended learning designed for meaningful application. These sessions provide time to explore tools, strategies, or systems in depth, giving participants the space to practice, collaborate, and reimagine what's possible.
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  4. FREd Talks (Finding Real Education Talks, 5 minutes)
    A fast-paced, five-minute presentation format designed to spark curiosity, conversation, and change. These short but powerful talks are meant to spotlight ideas that challenge the status quo, introduce a new approach, or offer a fresh perspective that will leave educators wanting to learn more.

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Are you an innovative educator with a bold idea at the intersection of technology and education? Then we want to hear from you! 

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What’s a FREd Talk?
A FREd Talk is a focused, five-minute presentation (max 20 slides) that’s direct, relevant, and packed with purpose. It’s a chance to share a meaningful idea that matters to educators and drives innovation in practice.

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We’re looking for ideas that:

  • Are innovative and future-forward

  • Center around educational technology and/or digital learning, but don't focus on specific tools. 

  • Have practical applications in K–12 or higher education

  • Inspire others to explore, try, or think differently
     

If you are selected to present a Concurrent or Deep Dive session, do  you want to also present a Flash Talk? 

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Flash Talks (15 minutes)
Presenters with accepted Concurrent or Deep Dive sessions have the option to offer a Flash Talk as a preview or highlight reel - perfect for attendees short on time or those looking to sample what your full session offers. Flash Talks are fast-paced, 15-minute (or less) bursts of inspiration designed to spark fresh ideas and energize your practice. These dynamic sessions showcase impactful tips, tools, or takeaways that ignite curiosity and encourage exploration. Flash Talks are ideal for educators on the move who want meaningful insights in a short format.

4. Complete Your Proposal

Session Description

To help reviewers and attendees understand the focus of your session, write a clear and detailed session description that highlights your topic, approach, and the value it brings to participants. Use specific language and avoid vague or overly broad terms. A strong proposal clearly communicates what the session is about, who it’s for, and what attendees will gain.

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Be sure your proposal includes the following required elements:

  1. Digital resource(s) or platform(s) featured or demonstrated in your session
     

  2. Intended audience, such as: Educators (please specify grade level band), Administrators, Curriculum specialists, IT/Tech Directors, Media specialists
     

  3. Attendee take-aways or learning targets – What will participants learn, create, or be able to implement as a result of attending your session?

Proposal Review Criteria

Conference Session Proposal Selection

Each year, the Ohio Educational Technology Conference (OETC) and its session review team carefully review all proposals to ensure that the sessions selected offer high-quality content, practical value, and meaningful learning experiences for attendees.

 

How Proposals Are Reviewed

Every session proposal is carefully reviewed by a team made up of educators, tech leaders, and other professionals who understand the needs of schools and districts. Each proposal will be looked at by multiple reviewers to ensure it receives fair and thoughtful consideration.​

The following criteria will be used by the individual review team members to evaluate each assigned proposal.

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Criteria​

  1. Session Title - Is the title clear and does it inform attendees of the content the session will cover?
     

  2. Session Description - Does the description clearly state the topic/tools that the session will include?  Does the description include the required elements?
     

  3. Relevant Topic - Is the session aligned with current and/or in-demand educational technology trends, tools or best practices?
     

  4. Alignment to Conference Theme - Does the session meaningfully connect to the overall theme of the conference?
     

  5. Audience Appropriateness - Is the session content appropriate and useful for the intended audience (e.g., teachers, administrators, tech directors)?
     

  6. Practical Application - Will participants leave with ideas, tools, or strategies they can apply in their work?
     

  7. Promotional Content - Does the proposed session represent a sales pitch for a specific product, service, or individual’s platform available for purchase? 
     

  8. Flash Talk - has the presenter agreed to doing a Flash Talk?
     

  9. Strand Alignment - Does the proposal clearly align with at least one of the designated session strands for the conference?
     

  10. Is the presenter currently employed by a school or state educational institution?
     

  11. Overall Value - Does this session enhance the quality of the conference program?  

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