ICHS students take the lead for Ohio Tech Day

WINTERSVILLE -- Indian Creek High School is once again taking part in Ohio Tech Day this Friday, Sept. 25, to celebrate technology and innovation across the Buckeye State.

Companies, schools, universities and organizations are among those taking part, and this is the second year ICHS has been involved. Members of the Creek Squad Student Repair Academy joined students in the engineering design and drone classes to demonstrate their abilities during the inaugural effort, and ICHS Career-Technical Education Head Dave Moffat said his students will take the lead this year by hosting a series of mini-workshops and giving tech talks on topics including cybersecurity and AI.

"Students will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and skills with their peers through hands-on activities focused on areas such as cybersecurity, data protection, approved AI tools, and effective AI prompting," he explained. "One of the biggest differences this year is that the students are taking the lead. Rather than having the teacher deliver all of the information, our students are developing and leading the mini-workshops. This gives them an opportunity to practice communication, leadership, collaboration, and presentation skills while sharing technology skills with others."

Ohio Tech Day is generally held on the last Friday in September to highlight the technology and innovation happening throughout the state while helping students see the many opportunities available in technology-related careers. It is also designed to inspire the next generation of technology leaders and show students that they can build successful technology careers in Ohio.

"Indian Creek High School has participated in Ohio Tech Day for several years. We have continued to be involved because it provides a great opportunity to showcase what our students are doing in technology and to give them an authentic experience beyond the traditional classroom," Moffat added. "I have 10 students working together to plan, develop, and deliver the Ohio Tech Day activities. Each student has a role in helping to prepare the workshops and make the event successful."

He continued that many of his students are exploring a variety of technology-related career paths, from traditional IT and computer-related fields to cybersecurity, programming, artificial intelligence and networking.

"One of the goals of our program is to expose students to the wide variety of careers available in technology so they can discover areas that interest them," he said. "Students are learning a variety of technical and career-focused skills, including programming, computer repair, troubleshooting, technology support, cybersecurity, and responsible use of technology. We also spend time exploring different technology career fields and helping students understand how the skills they are learning can transfer to the workplace. A major part of our program is providing students with opportunities to learn by actually doing the work rather than simply reading about it."

Moffat must also continue learning about the latest innovations to keep up with the ever-changing realm of technology so his students remain on track for a successful future.

"Technology changes constantly, so I have to continue learning as well. I am always researching new technologies, tools, career opportunities, and industry practices so that I can bring current information into the classroom. I also try to teach students how to learn and adapt, rather than simply teaching them one specific technology. The tools they use today may change, but the ability to troubleshoot, problem-solve, research, collaborate, and learn new technology will continue to be important."

He believes Ohio Tech Day is about giving students an authentic experience because they are not only learning about technology, they are using their knowledge to teach others.

"Having students lead the mini-workshops gives them an opportunity to step into a role that looks much more like the real world. They have to prepare, communicate, collaborate, solve problems, and adjust when things don’t go as planned," he concluded. "For me, that is one of the most valuable parts of CTE education: giving students the opportunity to take what they learn in the classroom and use it in an authentic setting."

Photo cutline: Indian Creek High School will participate for the second year in Ohio Tech Day activities this Friday, Sept. 25. Companies, universities and schools statewide will be among those observing the day and highlighting technology and innovation. ICHS students will lead mini-workshops and discuss cybersecurity, AI and other technology topics. Pictured, from left, are students Luke Powers, Nicholas Franklin, Parker Dawson and Sydney Himmelrick with technology instructor and school Career-Technical Education Head David Moffat.