Shaping the Future of Education: Insights from the Teaching and Learning with AI Conference
The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and education is rapidly evolving, presenting both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges for educators, researchers, and policymakers alike. The "Teaching and Learning with AI" conference serves as a vital platform to explore this dynamic landscape, bringing together experts from around the world to discuss the potential of AI in higher education classrooms and beyond. This article delves into the key themes, speakers, and insights gleaned from such conferences, with a focus on empowering educators to navigate the AI revolution effectively.
Introduction: Navigating the AI Revolution in Education
School systems are entering a pivotal moment where decisions about AI will profoundly shape teaching, learning, and operations, often at a pace that outstrips preparation time. The most important thing isn’t attending every event. It’s choosing the spaces that help your team learn together, ask better questions, and move forward with confidence. Conferences like "Teaching and Learning with AI" offer a crucial space to pause, collaborate with peers, and understand how AI can support meaningful student outcomes. These events provide district leaders with concrete ideas, guidance, and real-world examples for implementing AI in impactful ways.
Keynote Speakers and Their Visions
The conference boasts an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, each bringing unique expertise and perspectives on the integration of AI in education.
Dr. Marni Baker Stein: Shaping Content and Credentials for the Future
Dr. Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera, brings over 25 years of experience in producing and scaling online and hybrid education programs. Her expertise lies in improving access and affordability without compromising academic quality. Marni previously held leadership positions at Western Governors University, the University of Texas System, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Her insights into content strategy and partner relationships are invaluable as institutions navigate the evolving landscape of AI-driven education.
Dr. C. C. Edward Watson: Bridging AI, Pedagogy, and Curriculum
Dr. C. C. Edward Watson, Vice President for Digital Innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), is a leading voice in the field. As the founding director of AAC&U’s Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum, he is at the forefront of exploring how AI can be effectively integrated into teaching practices. His recent publications, including "Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning" and "Leading Through Disruption: Higher Education Executives Assess AI’s Impacts on Teaching and Learning," provide practical guidance and insightful analysis for educators.
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Dr. Bryan Alexander: Envisioning the Future of Higher Education
Dr. Bryan Alexander, an award-winning futurist, researcher, and consultant, focuses on the future of higher education. His work involves advising institutions worldwide and contributing to major media outlets, offering a broad perspective on the transformative potential of AI in education.
Reed C. Hepler: Facilitating Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Reed C. Hepler, the Digital Initiatives Librarian for the College of Southern Idaho, plays a crucial role in facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing at the conference. His background in library science, archives management, and digital curation equips him to guide educators in leveraging AI for information literacy and effective education.
Dr. Laura Dumin: Exploring AI's Impact on Writing Classrooms
Dr. Laura Dumin, a professor of English and Technical Writing at the University of Central Oklahoma, specializes in the impact of generative AI on writing classrooms. Her work as a co-managing editor for the Journal of Transformative Learning and her involvement in campus SoTL mentorship make her a valuable resource for educators seeking to integrate AI into writing instruction.
Dr. David Wiley: Championing Open Education and AI for Student Success
Dr. David Wiley, the Chief Academic Officer of Lumen Learning, is dedicated to eliminating race, gender, and income as predictors of student success. His research focuses on combining generative AI, open educational resources, continuous improvement, data science, and professional development to improve student outcomes.
Dr. Jason Gulya: Integrating AI Responsibly into the Classroom
Dr. Jason Gulya, a Professor of English at Berkeley College, focuses on incorporating AI into the classroom effectively and responsibly. His expertise in writing and the humanities provides a balanced perspective on the ethical and pedagogical considerations of AI integration.
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Dr. Tazin Daniels: Promoting Human-Centered Digital Education
Dr. Tazin Daniels, Associate Director at the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching at the University of Michigan, is a leader in human-centered digital education. Her expertise in online teaching tools and generative AI makes her a sought-after speaker on inclusive teaching and instructor preparation.
Dr. Steve Hargadon: Democratizing Learning and Professional Development
Dr. Steve Hargadon, the founder and director of the Learning Revolution Project and Library 2.0, champions the democratization of learning and professional development. His work in creating online communities and virtual events has fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing among educators worldwide.
Conference Themes and Topics
The "Teaching and Learning with AI" conference addresses a wide range of themes and topics relevant to the integration of AI in education. These include:
The Impact of AI on Teaching and Learning
The conference explores the multifaceted effects of generative AI technologies on learning and teaching. It delves into how these tools impact educational abilities, activities, collaboration, communication, literacy, student agency, and independent, informal, and lifelong learning.
Ethical Considerations and Challenges
Recognizing the challenges and concerns surrounding AI, the conference addresses ethical implications such as protecting student privacy, ensuring equity and accessibility, and mitigating bias and misinformation. It also examines the potential impact on academic integrity, transparency, and critical thinking.
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Practical Strategies for AI Integration
A key focus of the conference is providing educators with practical strategies for integrating AI into their curricula. This includes exploring AI teaching and learning applications, collaborating with peers to redesign instruction, and developing assignments that are responsive to AI tools.
AI Tools and Resources
The conference offers an overview of key AI terms and a current list of available AI tools. It also provides resources and examples of assignments across various academic disciplines, such as STEM, Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Business.
Policy and Accreditation
The conference considers the impact of AI tools on academic integrity and the accreditation process for individual programs. It examines policies implemented by different institutions to address these challenges.
Redesigning Instruction with AI
Participants are encouraged to create a redesign plan that integrates what they have learned about AI tools and how they plan to implement them in their courses. This includes considering the scale and timeline that fits with their professional role and responsibilities.
Featured Proposals and Discussions
The conference showcases a variety of proposals and discussions that highlight innovative approaches to teaching and learning with AI. Some notable examples include:
Perspectives on Learning and Teaching with AI
This proposal explores diverse perspectives on how AI can be used to enhance learning and teaching experiences.
Creating an AI Tutor for Your Course
This session provides guidance on how to develop an AI tutor to support students in their learning.
Empowering Students with Generative AI for Lifelong Learning
This presentation focuses on using generative AI to empower students for lifelong, fast, and fun learning.
Assessing Students' Attitudes Toward Generative AI Use
This research presentation shares preliminary data on students' attitudes toward using generative AI in their studies.
Inviting Writers to Use AI Tools
This session explores how to encourage writers to use AI tools effectively and responsibly.
Additional AI in Education Conferences
In addition to the "Teaching and Learning with AI" conference, several other events provide valuable opportunities for educators to learn about and engage with AI in education.
FETC (Future of Education Technology Conference)
FETC is one of the largest gatherings of education technology leaders in the country, drawing district administrators, instructional leaders, and IT teams for workshops, sessions, and peer learning.
Panoramic
Panoramic is an annual virtual summit created specifically for K-12 teams navigating AI implementation. It centers real district experiences, practical demonstrations, and clear frameworks teams can apply right away.
SXSW EDU
SXSW EDU is a four-day conference and festival that brings together educators, innovators, and leaders from across the country. With hundreds of sessions and workshops, the event explores the future of learning broadly.
CoSN’s Annual Conference
CoSN’s Annual Conference is a national convening for K-12 technology and systems leadership. Technology leaders and district teams come together to explore infrastructure, data systems, and planning.
ISTELive
ISTELive is one of the most established gatherings for educators focused on instructional technology. Teachers, coaches, and district leaders attend for hands-on learning, classroom strategies, and opportunities to explore new digital tools.
Online Programs and Resources
For educators seeking to deepen their understanding of AI and integrate it into their curricula, online programs like "Teaching with AI" offer a comprehensive learning experience. These programs typically include modules that cover key terms, AI tools, ethical considerations, and redesign strategies. They also provide opportunities for collaboration and peer learning.
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