Control Alt Achieve: My 2026 OETC Sessions

I am excited and honored to be presenting at the 2026 Ohio Educational Technology Conference (OETC25) in Columbus, Ohio on February 10th through 12th.

I always look forward to an opportunity to see old friends, make new friends, share some ideas, and learn so many new things from others.

You can access more OETC26 information and register for the conference at:

https://oetc.ohio.gov/

Below is a list of sessions I will be presenting at OETC26, along with any associated resources. Please feel free to join me for any of these sessions. I look forward to sharing, learning, and chatting with you!

🧔 My Sessions

📅 Tuesday, February 10, 2026

🧠 FREd Talks - Is AI Making Us Dumb?

Time: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Location: Union Station Ballroom
Whova Page - Resource link
Session Agenda: http://bit.ly/curts-aibrain
Description: When students use AI, are they learning or just offloading? As beneficial as AI can be, overreliance on it can hurt thinking skills, creativity, and understanding. How do we avoid this? This keynote offers the 'Wrestle, Rap, Reflect' framework, a powerful, practical solution that keeps the human in the loop by requiring learners to engage their own brains before and after the AI interaction. We will learn to move students from a passive 'crutch' mindset to an active 'catalyst' partnership, ensuring AI builds intellectual agency, not atrophy.

💻 Chromebooks Can Do That?! Essential Features for Teachers and Students

Time: 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Location: A110
Whova Page - Resource link
Session Agenda: http://bit.ly/curts-cbtips
Description: Chromebooks have become a common tool in schools, but are you and your students getting the most out of them? In this session we will explore powerful Chromebook features including screen capture, screen recording, and screencasting, using the camera for photos, videos, and scanning documents, helpful keyboard shortcuts, managing multiple desks, extending your capabilities with Android apps, offline access for Drive, Gmail, and Calendar, built-in accessibility tools, Chrome Canvas, the Cursive tool, AI tools and more!

🔑 Accessibility Tools to Support all Learners

Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: A124
Whova Page - Resource link
Session Agenda: http://bit.ly/curts-support
Description: There are many tools, apps, extensions, and features available to assist all learners. In this session we take an in-depth hands-on look at a wide range of technology tools to assist any and all learners. These can include text-to-speech, speech-to-text, readability, reading comprehension, artificial intelligence tools, audio support, organization, focus, and more. Learn what tools are available and how to access and use these free tools with your students.

📅 Wednesday, February 11, 2026

🤖 The Power of Personalized Learning: Custom AI Chatbots for Students

Time: 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Location: A114
Whova Page - Resource link
Session Agenda: http://bit.ly/curts-chatbots
Description: AI chatbots are a powerful way to provide safe, monitored, personalized learning experiences for students. Chatbots can be used for a wide range of engaging activities such as interviewing a historical figure, discussing a book, learning about a career, assessing understanding, providing tutoring, or diving into any topic. With AI these chatbots adjust to each student individually to meet their specific needs and interests. In this session we will explore free tools such as Gemini Gems, SchoolAI, Brisk, MagicSchoolAI and more, where you can choose from a wide range of pre-made chatbots or easily create your own.

🎲 Today's Special Classroom Guest: Mr. A.I. Chatterbot for AI Games and Activities

Time: 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Location: A114
Whova Page - Resource link
Session Agenda: http://bit.ly/curts-aigames
Description: AI access for students is often limited because of the students' age or because of school policies. However there are lots of engaging ways for a teacher to use AI in class for interactive learning activities where the students are participating but the teacher is still managing the AI. In this session we will see how you can "invite AI into your classroom" for interactive projects including AI debates on any topic, live interviews where the AI takes on a role, educational games, AI-generated "Choose Your Own Adventure" stories, co-writing activities, and more.

💎 The "Gem in AI" - Google Gemini for Schools

Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: A124
Whova Page - Resource link
Session Agenda: http://bit.ly/curts-gemini
Description: Discover Google’s powerful, free generative AI tool and how it can assist educators and students. In this session we will do a hands-on deep dive in Gemini including prompting, educational uses, fact checking, deep research, guided learning, the canvas tool (for slideshows, coding, and more), custom Gems, Gemini apps, image and audio generation, Gemini tools (in Classroom, NotebookLM, and other Google tools), data privacy features, and more.

📅 Thursday, February 12, 2026

📊 Google Sheets for Schools: From Data Noob to Nerd

Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: A124
Whova Page - Resource link
Session Agenda: http://bit.ly/curts-data
Description: Google Sheets is easily one of the most powerful tools in the Google Workspace suite of programs. Unfortunately many people can feel intimidated by spreadsheets and all of their features. In this session we will take the mystery out of Google Sheets as we cover topics including view options, freezing rows and columns, sorting data, filtering data, formulas, charts and graphs, sparklines, conditional formatting, data validation, pivot tables, mail merge, and more.

👓 Hipster Google - Tools You Probably Never Heard Of

Time: 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Location: A114
Whova Page - Resource link
Session Agenda: http://bit.ly/curts-hipster
Description: Everyone knows about Google Docs, Gmail, Search, and other common Google tools. But there are also loads of smaller, lesser-known, but powerful tools that can be used for teaching and learning. Learn about 90+ hidden gems such as Emoji Kitchen, Interview Warmup, Timelapse, Lens, AutoDraw, ImageFX, MusicFX, VR/AR Models, Read Along, Semantris, GameSnacks, ChromeOS Flex, Teachable Machine, Applied Digital Skills and more (List subject to change based on how cool and unknown the tools remain.)

🕵️ Did a Robot Write this Report? Managing AI Cheating

Time: 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Location: A114
Whova Page - Resource link
Session Agenda: http://bit.ly/curts-aicheat
Description: Although AI can help support students in their learning and work, unfortunately it can also be misused for cheating purposes. In this session we will explore ways to address academic integrity concerns in the age of AI. This will include creating student AI guidelines, adjustments to make assignments more AI-resistant, tools to monitor the use of AI and see what work students have done themselves, and educating students on the proper use of AI.