The Innovative Classroom: Edtech Symposium for Early Career Educators

This dynamic, hands-on day of learning will equip teachers with practical tools, strategies, and confidence to integrate technology in ways that engage students and spark creativity. Programming will focus on AI, coding, media making and other innovative topics, led by area experts. 
 
Highlights Include:

  • Inspiring keynote on creativity and innovation in teaching by Crachad Laing from Nassau, Bahamas
  • Breakout sessions with hands-on learning strategies focused on media making, AI, and coding that can be integrated into lessons and curriculum
  • Collaborative planning time with coaching support

*This event is sponsored by The Ohio State University and offered at no cost to participating districts or educators. In addition, breakfast, lunch, and on-campus parking will be provided.

Completion certificates for CEU credit will be available following the event.

Partnering District Registration

Individual Educator Registration

For more information, please contact Emily Hiatt at hiatt.30@osu.edu

Facilitator and Keynote Information

Keynote Speaker

Crachad Laing

Crachad Laing

Crachad Laing is the Head of Ed Tech at King's College School in the Bahamas. An active advocate for engineering and technology education, he leads programs that impact hundreds of students across the Bahamas. 

Born and raised in Nassau, Crachad has always had a passion for problem-solving. He pursued higher education in the United States, earning a BS in Engineering Technology and Engineering Management.
 
His professional journey led him to education, where he has applied his engineering expertise in the classroom. An engineer by training but an educator at heart, Crachad is dedicated to fostering the development of young people in STEM fields. He aspires to inspire a generation of innovators.

Facilitators:

Dr. Rick Voithofer

Ohio State Rick Voithofer headshot

Rick is an associate professor in the Learning Technologies program in the department of Educational Studies. He is program coordinator for the program where he directs the online Master of Learning Technologies degree. His research focuses on the intersections of technology, equity, and learning, along with examining questions around preparing and supporting educators to engage with innovative pedagogies using technology.

Emily Bricker

Emily Bricker

Emily is a Middle School Mathematics teacher with Southwestern City Schools. She has been teaching Middle School Mathematics for 9 years and currently serves as her building level department leader and active member of the district curriculum planning committee.  Emily has participated in various professional development cohorts with the College of Education and Human Ecology, served as a Teacher Innovation Fellow with the Creativity and Innovation Design Network, and has facilitated various professional development workshops for K12 educators looking to innovate and integrate technology into their classroom.

Mariah Hagadone- Bedir

Mariah Hagadone-Bedir

Mariah Hagadone-Bedir is a PhD student and Graduate Research Associate in Educational Studies at The Ohio State University. She received her M.Ed. in Critical Studies of Education from Ohio University and previously taught high school biology. Her research interests focus on wearable technologies, technology-enabled personalized learning approaches, and examining the effects of ICTs on educational outcomes and the educational system. 

Dr. Detra Price

Detra Price in her Ohio State office

Dr. Detra M. Price is the Executive Director of the Center for Digital Learning and Innovation and a Professor of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology. Her award-winning scholarship examines the intersection of critical literacy, learning technologies, curriculum development, and equity-oriented pedagogies. She develops collaborative initiatives with professional organizations, institutions of higher education, and K-12 school districts to foster impactful teaching practices for digital learning.

Dr. Julie Johnson

Julie Johnson

As a dedicated K-16 educator and Apple Ambassador, I am interested in transforming learning through innovative technology integration. My research focuses on multimodal composing in educational settings exploring how students can express ideas through diverse media formats. My work also extends to integrating cutting-edge technologies into teacher education, preparing teacher educators and future teachers to effectively incorporate digital tools and pedagogical approaches into their classrooms.

Currently serving as Director of Outreach for the Creativity and Innovation Design Network, I work to advance CIDN’s mission of fostering creating and innovative approaches to design thinking and digital composition across educational contexts, connecting educators across all grade levels.

Add to Calendar 2025-10-14 09:00:00 2025-10-14 15:00:00 The Innovative Classroom: Edtech Symposium for Early Career Educators This dynamic, hands-on day of learning will equip teachers with practical tools, strategies, and confidence to integrate technology in ways that engage students and spark creativity. Programming will focus on AI, coding, media making and other innovative topics, led by area experts.    Highlights Include: Inspiring keynote on creativity and innovation in teaching by Crachad Laing from Nassau, Bahamas Breakout sessions with hands-on learning strategies focused on media making, AI, and coding that can be integrated into lessons and curriculum Collaborative planning time with coaching support *This event is sponsored by The Ohio State University and offered at no cost to participating districts or educators. In addition, breakfast, lunch, and on-campus parking will be provided. Completion certificates for CEU credit will be available following the event. Partnering District Registration Individual Educator Registration For more information, please contact Emily Hiatt at hiatt.30@osu.edu Facilitator and Keynote Information Keynote Speaker Crachad Laing Crachad Laing is the Head of Ed Tech at King's College School in the Bahamas. An active advocate for engineering and technology education, he leads programs that impact hundreds of students across the Bahamas.  Born and raised in Nassau, Crachad has always had a passion for problem-solving. He pursued higher education in the United States, earning a BS in Engineering Technology and Engineering Management.   His professional journey led him to education, where he has applied his engineering expertise in the classroom. An engineer by training but an educator at heart, Crachad is dedicated to fostering the development of young people in STEM fields. He aspires to inspire a generation of innovators. Facilitators: Dr. Rick Voithofer Rick is an associate professor in the Learning Technologies program in the department of Educational Studies. He is program coordinator for the program where he directs the online Master of Learning Technologies degree. His research focuses on the intersections of technology, equity, and learning, along with examining questions around preparing and supporting educators to engage with innovative pedagogies using technology. Emily Bricker Emily is a Middle School Mathematics teacher with Southwestern City Schools. She has been teaching Middle School Mathematics for 9 years and currently serves as her building level department leader and active member of the district curriculum planning committee.  Emily has participated in various professional development cohorts with the College of Education and Human Ecology, served as a Teacher Innovation Fellow with the Creativity and Innovation Design Network, and has facilitated various professional development workshops for K12 educators looking to innovate and integrate technology into their classroom. Mariah Hagadone- Bedir Mariah Hagadone-Bedir is a PhD student and Graduate Research Associate in Educational Studies at The Ohio State University. She received her M.Ed. in Critical Studies of Education from Ohio University and previously taught high school biology. Her research interests focus on wearable technologies, technology-enabled personalized learning approaches, and examining the effects of ICTs on educational outcomes and the educational system.  Dr. Detra Price Dr. Detra M. Price is the Executive Director of the Center for Digital Learning and Innovation and a Professor of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology. Her award-winning scholarship examines the intersection of critical literacy, learning technologies, curriculum development, and equity-oriented pedagogies. She develops collaborative initiatives with professional organizations, institutions of higher education, and K-12 school districts to foster impactful teaching practices for digital learning. Dr. Julie Johnson As a dedicated K-16 educator and Apple Ambassador, I am interested in transforming learning through innovative technology integration. My research focuses on multimodal composing in educational settings exploring how students can express ideas through diverse media formats. My work also extends to integrating cutting-edge technologies into teacher education, preparing teacher educators and future teachers to effectively incorporate digital tools and pedagogical approaches into their classrooms. Currently serving as Director of Outreach for the Creativity and Innovation Design Network, I work to advance CIDN’s mission of fostering creating and innovative approaches to design thinking and digital composition across educational contexts, connecting educators across all grade levels. The Ohio State University, Longaberger Alumni House America/New_York public
Date
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Time
9:00am to 3:00pm
Location
The Ohio State University, Longaberger Alumni House