WOSU Classroom joins Ohio PBS stations to host 2026 Ohio Educational Technology Conference for educators statewide
COLUMBUS, OHIO, January 28, 2026 – WOSU Classroom (WOSU Public Media) will serve as a host station and partner for the 2026 Ohio Educational Technology Conference (OETC), a statewide collaboration of Ohio PBS stations, Ohio Ed Techs, dedicated to empowering educators with practical, innovative technology tools.
The OETC, to be held Feb. 10–12 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, is one of the nation’s premier PK–20 state educational technology conferences, designed to build professional networks and inspire innovation by showing educators how technology fits into today’s classrooms.
With the Ohio Ed Techs hosting the OETC for the first time in its nearly 30-year history, this transition marks a pivotal shift toward a practitioner-led, "for educators, by educators" model.
“As public media educators, we approach OETC as stewards of trust and public resources. Reboot & Reimagine reflects our focus on high-quality content, responsible technology use, and professional learning that delivers real value. This conference is intentionally designed to put educators at the center of educational technology decisions, with an emphasis on practical experiences that support teaching, learning, and broad student access.”, said Amy Palermo, Chief Content Director of Education Technology, WOSU Classroom and 2026 OETC organizer.
As collaborative hosts, the Ohio Ed Techs shape the conference’s strategic vision by curating sessions, designing interactive learning opportunities and ensuring educators can test technology before implementing it in their classrooms. Their stewardship helps maintain OETC as an affordable, high-impact professional development experience built on maximizing public resources.
In partnership with WOSU Classroom the Ohio Ed Techs includes the following Ohio PBS stations: Ideastream Public Media, CET and ThinkTV, WGTE Public Media, WOUB Public Media, PBS Western Reserve and WBGU PBS.
Collectively, the Ohio Ed Techs alongside a network of educational partners curated a holistic educational experience that will serve more than 2,000 attendees and feature more than 300 sessions.
- Instruction & Media: INFOhio provides the digital resources that anchor many of the conference’s sessions and Ohio PBS stations bring world-class educational media and storytelling expertise.
- Technological Expertise: OCALI ensures that accessibility and assistive technology are central themes and CSTA Ohio leads the charge for computer science and coding standards.
- Infrastructure & Systems: The Management Council (Ohio’s Information Technology Centers) and the Ohio Distance Learning Association provide the technical backbone and expertise for remote and hybrid learning environments.
- State Support: The Ohio Department of Higher Education, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the Broadcast Educational Media Commission provide vital strategic guidance and support, ensuring the conference aligns with state workforce and literacy goals.
- Ohio Educators directly shape the event designed for them by curating session content, recruiting speakers and building connections with vendors.
About Ohio Ed Techs
The Ohio Ed Techs is a statewide collaborative of regional agencies (including SOITA, WOSU Classroom, Ideastream Public Media, PBS Western Reserve, WGTE, WBGU, NWOET and CET/ThinkTV) dedicated to supporting educators through technology integration, professional development and high-quality instructional resources.
CONTACT:
George Davis III
Director of Marketing & Communications
O: 614-292-3942 | george.davis@wosu.org
About WOSU Classroom
WOSU Classroom provides trusted educational content and services needed for a lifetime of learning as a teacher, student, parent or caregiver.
About WOSU Public Media
The mission of WOSU Public Media is to engage, inform and inspire our diverse community. An NPR and PBS affiliate licensed by The Ohio State University, WOSU is a noncommercial multimedia organization serving over two million citizens in Central Ohio through broadcast, digital, programming, public engagement, and education experiences.