Special sessions at Summit
Special sessions to network, find solutions
There’s so much more than 60-minute sessions at this year’s Ohio STEM Innovation Summit. For 2025, the Ohio STEM Learning Network offers two new session types that offer opportunities for the STEM community to connect, collaborate, and explore ways to enhance their personal practice. Explore these session types and plan to include them in your learning session line up.
- Solver Sessions provide intentional time for educators to deeply explore their personal teaching practices. Participants will share ideas with fellow STEM educators and receive feedback from some of the top practitioners in the state, driving innovation and enhancing educational strategies.
- Networking Sessions offer a relaxed environment where specific groups of STEM educators can connect, engage, and converse informally, sparking curiosity and fostering relationships.
- Learning Hops where attendees choose from multiple 15-minute presentations (at a table with no projector) with informal discussions. After 15 minutes, participants will hop to another section of the room.
Join us to expand your professional network and delve into your teaching practice with the support of a vibrant community of educators.
Looking for main sessions? Switch to this page
Solver Sessions
Solver Sessions at the Ohio STEM Innovation Summit will provide participants with the opportunity and time to delve deeply into their own educational practices and connect with others who are eager to do the same.
These sessions are designed for:
- sharing and refining ideas, whether it’s rejuvenating a lesson, scaling a project-based learning activity from one classroom to an entire school, or
- developing strategies to engage community and business partners.
Participants will benefit from the collective expertise of STEM educators from across the state.
Get feedback and new insights at the Solver Sessions
Solver Sessions at the Ohio STEM Innovation Summit will provide participants with the opportunity and time to delve deeply into their own educational practices and connect with others who are eager to do the same.
Bring your lessons plans and more
Attendees are encouraged to bring lesson plans, unit plans, habits of mind, or communication strategies to these sessions, ready to harness the knowledge and experience of the STEM community present at the Summit to enhance both classroom and school-wide practices.
By the conclusion of these sessions, participants will have acquired new insights, received constructive feedback, and discovered innovative approaches to advance educational practices in their classrooms, schools, and broader communities.
Topics for Solver Sessions
Three PBL grade band sessions for K-5, 6-8, 9-12
For each of these grade-specific sessions, participants are encouraged to bring any project or problem-based learning (PBL) project they’re working on, regardless of its development stage.
Whether it’s a new concept, a project that could use some refreshing, an idea in need of a partnership or real-world audience, or even a few lessons that could evolve into a solid PBL, all are welcome.
During the session, participants will have the chance to present their PBL to a small group and gain valuable feedback.
Developing Partnerships
Connecting with partners can often be challenging and even daunting. Overcome your major obstacles in partnership development during our session.
You’ll have the opportunity to gather constructive feedback on strategies for developing new partnerships, like fine-tuning your 2-minute elevator pitch to a potential partner.
Or bring a unit or lesson that requires a real-world audience and get advice on which partners to engage with to enhance the workforce relevance of your educational content.
Integrated Unit Plans
Do you have two units that could potentially integrate well, but you’re unsure where to start?
Or maybe you’ve attempted to merge units before and encountered obstacles that stalled your progress.
Perhaps you’ve been teaching the same unit for years and are looking for fresh perspectives to revitalize it.
If any of these scenarios sound familiar, this session is designed just for you. Join us to explore, discuss, and gain valuable insights that can help transform your content integration approach.
STEM Schools Reimagined - Bring Your Innovative Ideas
This session is the ultimate “what if” brainstorming arena. No idea is too grand or too modest.
Whether you have a polished 2-minute elevator pitch, or a concept hastily jotted down on a napkin that feels innovative, bold, or perhaps a bit scary, bring it along.
Participants will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and gather feedback from fellow visionaries in the room.
Networking Sessions
The Ohio STEM Learning Network is eager to offer dedicated sessions for STEM educators to unite, interact, and inspire each other during the Summit. These 60-minute networking sessions will provide participants the freedom to forge new connections, explore pressing topics, and expand their professional networks.
Join us at the Summit for the following tailored Networking Sessions:
- New to STEM
- Independent Schools
- Private Schools
- Instructional Coaches
- STEM Veterans
These sessions are designed to cater to specific groups within the STEM education community, ensuring relevant and meaningful conversations. Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance one’s network and share experiences with peers in the field!
Learning Hops
Each presenter will share a resource, strategy, or tool in a 15-minute presentation (at a table with no projector) and informal discussions / Q&A with audience members. After 15 minutes, participants will hop to another section of the room.
Looking for the complete list of all sessions, including full 60-minute presentations? Click here.
Badges for Application of Skills for Long Term Workforce Success
At Global Connection Academy, we believe that true learning happens when students apply their knowledge in real-life scenarios. By focusing on strong foundational academics and essential soft skills, we’re preparing students not just for the classroom, but for a lifetime of success. Our badge checklist concept helps develop those skills in a meaningful way.
It’s about building thinkers, problem-solvers, and leaders—equipped with the tools they need to thrive today and in the future.
- Dawn Fleming, Dean, Global Connection Academy
Session Type: Learning Hop ID: 10988″
Cultivating Curiosity at the Elementary Level: Integrating Science and Reading through hands on exploration
Children are naturally curious about the world in which they live. Learn how we as educators can foster this natural curiosity to engage even our youngest learners through hands-on exploration and inquiry. Through the use of high quality science trade books, educators can create cross-curricular activities that engage students and promote critical thinking skills necessary to become successful throughout their academic journey.
- Kaylin Williams, Literacy Coach, Newton Falls Elementary
Session Type: Learning Hop ID: 12276
Hands-On Activities to Get Students Excited About STEM Careers
Give your middle school students a look inside STEM careers. In this learning hop, we’ll think like computer programmers and decode a secret message using a cipher. Next, you’ll learn where to find eBooks with hands-on STEM activities for your classroom and makerspaces. These activities allow students to explore the world of STEM careers from your classroom. We’ll conclude our learning hop with links to curated collections of eBooks and videos to share with students. Learn more about these resources available at no cost from INFOhio and discover how to use them to open a world of STEM career possibilities to your students.
- Mary Rowland, Senior Instructional Specialist, INFOhio
Session Type: Learning Hop ID: 12302
Light It Up: Creative Circuitry for the Classroom
Electrify your STEM lessons with hands-on circuit projects! In this interactive session, educators will explore the magic of electric circuits using batteries, LED lights, and conductive tape. Get ready to create and experiment with fun, engaging projects like LED name badges, paper circuits, LED lightsabers, and the LED Plant Lab kit. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to expand your STEM toolkit, you’ll leave with practical ideas and the confidence to bring circuitry to life in your classroom. Spark curiosity, creativity, and innovation—one LED at a time!
- Brian Ashcraft, Think Link Education – Co-Owner
Session Type: Learning Hop ID: 12169
Ohio Junior Science Humanities Symposium: An Opportunity for Student Research and Success
This session introduces the Ohio Junior Science Humanities Symposium [Ohio JSHS], a science fair-like competition sponsored by the US Military. Students who already have a project, or can create a project from various STEM categories and apply to present this research for the chance to win awards and scholarship money. Participants will see the benefits of JSHS to the teachers, school districts, and students, along with receiving resources to use this in their classrooms. JSHS presents opportunities for teachers and students to encounter the research process, network with other students and STEM professionals in the field and publishing on their resume and in their district.
- Carmen S. Dixon, Dean-School of Education, Capital University
- Andrea M. Karkowski, Associate Provost, Capital University
Session Type: Learning Hop ID: 12209
STEAM Starter Pack
In this Learning Hop session, educators will be provided with resources to “quick-start” the process of incorporating the arts into their STEM programs. Interested participants will receive a digital STEAM Starter Pack Google Drive folder with the following resources:
- STEAM info: A description of what STEAM is and tips for how to incorporate the arts into your existing STEM programs
- Community Connections Directory Builder: A spreadsheet formatted to gather and organize contact information from various visual and performing arts organizations in your community to make professional connections, share resources, or establish formal partnerships
- Advisory Board Formation checklist: A checklist of tasks to form a STEAM advisory board
Presenter:
- Shannon Mulroy, Teacher, Horizon Science Academy Columbus High School
Session Type: Learning Hop ID: 12061
Unleashing the STEM Leader Within: Inspiring Teen Girls Through LEAD Clubs & Conferences
Discover how Young Women LEAD Clubs and Conferences empower high school girls to explore their leader identity and build essential skills for success in life, education, and careers. This session provides practical strategies and tools to foster self-awareness, goal setting, and resilience in young leaders, equipping them to thrive in STEM fields and beyond. Participants will experience hands-on leadership activities, discuss ways to incorporate leadership identity-building into their own programs, and receive ready-to-use toolkits and resources. Learn how these free strategies help teen girls see themselves as confident leaders, particularly in STEM industries, while addressing the needs of underserved or at-risk populations.
- Kimberly Clayton-Code, PhD, Professor, Northern Kentucky University
Session Type: Learning Hop ID: 10182
Wired for Creativity: Cross-Curricular Lessons with Makey Makey
In this hands-on session, educators will explore how Makey Makey and plug-and-play apps can transform classroom lessons into interactive, cross-curricular experiences. Participants will see real student examples, including creating interactive posters and writing engaging stories that come to life with touch-sensitive inputs. Learn how these projects integrate technology, creativity, and problem-solving skills while offering practical ways to engage students in science, language arts, and beyond. Leave with fresh ideas for using Makey Makey to enhance learning and foster innovation in the classroom!
- Aimee Ashcraft, Gifted Intervention Specialist/ Business Owner of Think Education, Maker Maven Representative
Session Type: Learning Hop ID: 12170