Present at the Ohio STEM Innovation Summit
Share how you inspire students with other STEM educators
The Ohio STEM Innovation Summit brings together educators and leaders to share breakthrough STEM strategies. We’re seeking presenters who are transforming STEM education in their schools and communities. Proposals should align with Ohio’s Quality Model for STEM and STEAM Education and deliver practical takeaways for immediate use.
Session formats
- Learning Lab (60 min): Immerse attendees as “students” in a hands-on activity, lesson, or strategy that models high-quality STEM pedagogy.
- Listen to Learn (60 min): Share an innovative practice or present findings from research with clear classroom or program implications.
- Learning Hop (15 min, rotating): Present a concise resource, strategy, or tool at a table (no projector), followed by informal Q&A as participants rotate.
Why present?
- Presenter training materials and branded templates
- 1:1 prep session with an Ohio STEM Learning Network expert
- On-site technical and event support
- Complimentary registration for accepted presenters (Limited and non-transferable)
Note: Learning Hop presenters do not receive the 1:1 presenter support package.
Applications close February 3, 2026. Apply now.
Not presenting? Help review proposals
The Ohio STEM Learning Network seeks a diverse group of practitioners and partners from across the state to join a team of session proposal reviewers. Last year, a team of 25 reviewers played a crucial role in shaping the summit. Becoming a reviewer is straightforward. Simply complete a brief form, provide a short STEM biography, and share your expertise in the following areas:
- School grade band
- Academic content area
- STEM teaching approaches
Join us in making a significant impact on the summit by contributing your knowledge and insights. Applications for reviewers close on January 8, 2026.
Tips for applying to present
Here’s what we’ll be looking for in presentation applications.
Successful presenters will:
- Align with one of the following themes listed below
- Share tools and methods to help build STEM community and support industry partnerships;
- Engage disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in STEM;
- Have firsthand experience with their topic and understand their audience;
- Provide practical, application-focused teaching and learning strategies for teachers and school leaders;
- Present effective, STEM-based strategies for teachers and school leaders;
- Include an interactive focus with participant engagement;
- Demonstrate ideas, activities, teaching practices, etc. with proven effectiveness.
Focus areas for the Ohio STEM Innovation Summit
Culture for Learning
STEM cultural strategies
Schools exhibit STEM cultural strategies including innovation, an entrepreneurial spirit, inquiry, and collaboration with individual accountability.
Creating an inclusive mission
Learning opportunities recognize and value student cultures, language, and experiences.
STEM school leadership
Leadership creates a schoolwide vision for STEM and establishes structures and expectations to support all staff in growing their STEM practice.
Governing body, STEM/STEAM advisory group, and curriculum teams
School leverages community and business partners to strengthen and advance STEM curriculum and practices.
Learning and Teaching
Interdisciplinary Learning Experiences
Standards-based learning experiences require students to integrate knowledge from two or more disciplines.
Authentic, problem-based learning and design thinking
Students engage in problem-based learning and design thinking to solve real-world problems.
Computational thinking and technology
Students learn how to identify and use modern technology to solve problems. Schools integrate computational thinking into instruction and/or offer computer science courses to students.
Personalized learning
STEM and STEAM schools provide opportunities for students to engage in personalized learning, an educational approach that tailors instruction and curriculum to meet the individual needs, interests, and learning styles of each student.
Preparing STEM/STEAM teaching staff
Schools will participate in regular STEM-focused professional learning and share knowledge of best practices.
Pathways to Success in Careers
Career access and exploration
Schools develop age-appropriate opportunities to explicitly connect learning to professional STEM/STEAM careers and provide business and industry awareness.
Partnerships which extend learning opportunities
Schools have established partnerships with institutions of higher education and businesses that share resources and provide support in instruction and career readiness by providing ideas for design challenges and problem-based learning.
STEM-relevant local community learning experiences
Schools ground student learning in their local community, including providing opportunities for service learning and solving authentic problems relevant to students and their communities.
Selected presenters will be notified in March 2026.
NEW: Presenter support package
This year, the Ohio STEM Learning Network is investing in their presenters, providing comprehensive supports to ensure a high-quality and seamless experience for session attendees.
Supports will include:
- Presenter Training Materials – Guidance and best practices to prepare for an engaging and impactful session.
- Branded Presentation Template – A required slide deck to ensure visual consistency across all Summit sessions.
- 1:1 Presenter Prep Session– A dedicated meeting with Ohio STEM Learning Network staff to review presentation content, confirm room setup, and finalize logistics.
- Technical and Event Support – On-site assistance and access to the event app for real-time updates and resources.