Innovation in Education is dedicated to transforming classroom practice by positioning students as creators, owners, and architects of their own learning journeys. Founded by Rich Baxter, a Grade 7 teacher at John McCrae Public School in Toronto, this initiative challenges traditional educational models that treat students as passive consumers and instead empowers them as active participants in a democratic, equitable learning ecosystem.

At the heart of our work is Lern2ern, an educational platform where students aged 13+ retain 100% intellectual property rights to their creative work while building blockchain-verified portfolios. Through competency-based learning that values collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity over compliance and standardized testing, we prepare young people to become independent innovators who can address real-world challenges with empathy and agency.

Our approach integrates Web3 technologies—including blockchain, tokens, and decentralized networks—to ensure students receive recognition and attribution for their intellectual contributions. By creating token economies where learning behaviors gain visible value, we’ve demonstrated that students who previously disengaged from traditional assessment become enthusiastic participants when their work is acknowledged and owned by them.

Rooted in anti-oppressive pedagogy and equity-centered design, Innovation in Education emphasizes STEAM education and community partnerships. Our award-winning Bootstrapping Checklist methodology, recognized with a Bronze Award at the QS Reimagine Education Awards, provides structured frameworks for student-driven innovation projects that connect local action to global impact.

We believe that saving public education means preserving democracy itself—by developing informed, creative citizens who can think critically and act ethically. Through curriculum development, professional development resources, and community collaboration, Innovation in Education advocates for educational systems that prioritize student voice, sustainability, and the fundamental right of young people to control their creative futures.

Our vision: Every student becomes an empowered creator whose intellectual work builds genuine career capital and contributes to a more just, sustainable world.

About Rich Baxter

Educator and innovator. Experienced judge for Reimagine Education and ICDL Asia, passionate about innovative EdTech and STEM initiatives. I specialize in evaluating scalable solutions with global impact, balancing cutting-edge tech like AI, IoT, and blockchain with practical applications.

My approach is holistic and evidence-based, focusing on real-world applicability and ethical considerations. Always excited to explore transformative projects that shape the future of education. Let’s connect and share insights on educational innovation.

“At Reimagine Education, we’re keen to reward pedagogical initiatives that are equipping students with the skills necessary to succeed in the 21^st-century economy, valuing as we do the positive formative effects that education should have on employability. In ensuring that students learn – from a young age, and in an engaging, carefully-conceived way – the modes of thinking and hard skills necessary to foster entrepreneurial success, The Bootstrapping Checklist deserves this global recognition. In particular, our Judging Panel commend it for its integration with GitHub, which is a shining example of the project’s efforts to integrate classroom learning with contemporary innovation tools; and its focus on learning as a social, collaborative experience.” Reimagine Education Steering Committee, October 2020

Thank you!

Rich Baxter, Principal

BFA, LLM, BEd

Rich-Baxter

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