March 2026

Innovation isn't a slow burn—it's a spark that catches. This year, OKATE is focused on the "Possible." Whether you are leading a district, a library, or a classroom, your spark is the one that ignites the fire for our students.

🧨The Strategic Lead

Audience: Tech Directors, CTOs, & Administrators

The Spark: Fueling district-wide transformation through secure physical infrastructure and common-sense digital balance.

• READ: The IT Closet is Not a Closet: Best Practices for Securing Physical Infrastructure

• LISTEN: The K-12 Tech Talk Podcast: Real-world Infrastructure and Cybersecurity

• TRY: Review your campus "Screen Time" philosophy using Sal Khan’s Common Sense approach.

Did you know that OKATE (OKSTE) is the CoSN State Chapter leader?

For more information, contact Donna Campo, executivedirector@okste.org

CoSN is offering a free webinar on Screen Time in Schools on Monday, April 6, 2026, from 1:00-2:30 pm. For more information and to register, click the button below. 

ℹ️ The Information Lead

Audience: Librarians & Media Specialists

The Spark: Fueling student discovery by connecting ideas and finding the "cartoon-like" joy in innovative problem-solving.

• READ: Everything I Needed to Know About Innovation I Learned from Cartoons

• LISTEN: The Librarian Influencers Show: Making an Impact

• TRY: Map out your next collaborative project using this Hexagonal Thinking Guide to help students see the connections between complex ideas.

Check out Monthly Updates, PD opportunities, On-Demand videos, and more from the Office of AI and Digital Learning at the Oklahoma State Department of Education

🧠 The Innovation Lead

Audience: Instructional Coaches, Tech Specialists, & Classroom Teachers

The Spark: Fueling classroom agency by providing students with the routines they need to move from "stuck" to "sparked."

• READ: 6 Routines to Get Students Unstuck

• LISTEN: The House of #EdTech Episode 244: Empowering Students Through Choice

• TRY: Use this Canva Design Thinking Template to help your students prototype solutions to real-world problems.

DID YOU KNOW? AI literacy is the new essential skill. Canva has launched a free "AI Skills for Students" course designed to help your students move from consumers to creators. It covers everything from prompt engineering to AI ethics in a way that’s actually engaging.

[Ignite Student Creativity: Access the Course]

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