Click on the workshop titles in the schedule below to access your sessions!
Learn more about the workshops below:
Block 1 – 10:15am to 11:15am EST
AI for Educators: Foundations for Saving Time and Engaging Students
Presenter: Cammie Kannekens
Discover the power of Generative AI in education through Google’s Generative AI for Educators course. This is a perfect starting point for educators new to AI, providing a strong foundation in AI principles and applications. We’ll delve into the course, share practical strategies for using AI in the classroom, and inspire you to unlock AI’s potential for enhancing student learning and engagement.
Quizizz - Your Free AI Tool for Teaching and Learning
Presenter: Andrew Bieronski
Quizizz is a go-to for teachers to search, create and share engaging activities with their students with the help of AI, so you can plan in seconds and not weekends! Come to learn how to quickly share fun yet rigorous quizzes with a variety of question types. Quizizz is now much more than a quiz tool though – learn about our new and improved Lessons tool, which enables you to use your slide deck, add interactivity and questions, and share it to your students to have them follow you live in class or access asynchronously at their own pace. Join us to learn about how and about so much more that Quizizz has to offer. Tool being used: Quizizz.
AI for Impactful Infographics
Presenter: Emma Cottier
Ignite Learning with AI-Powered Infographics. Discover the transformative power of AI in creating engaging and effective infographics. This interactive session will explore how AI can be used to enhance student learning, from fostering independence and organizational skills to promoting empathy and kindness. Join us to learn how to design visually stunning infographics that will leave a lasting impact on your students. Tool being used: Gemini.
Power Up Your Prompting!
Presenter: Danny Leeming
Go beyond basic AI interaction and elevate your prompting skills in this hands-on session designed to unlock the full potential of your preferred LLM, be it ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot, or others. Learn advanced tips and tricks for crafting effective prompts and prompt sequences that generate more relevant, insightful, and useful results. The session will focus on practical examples, strategic techniques, and best practices to help you tailor your prompts for specific educational or professional needs. Participants will also engage in interactive play time, experimenting with prompts to experience firsthand how thoughtful prompt design can enhance their outcomes and streamline their workflow. Tools being used: Copilot or ChatGPT.
AI Through A Social Justice Lens
Presenter: Monica Gadsby
AI through a social justice lens lets us rethink how data is being used within the context of diversity, equity and inclusion. We need to reinvest in what it means to be human with ethics and morales at the forefront of education. In this session we will identify ethical challenges in AI development and deployment. Summarize how AI algorithms can perpetuate bias and discrimination. Relate AI principles to real-world scenarios, considering social justice implications. Connect AI ethics to broader social justice movements. Tool being used: Replika, Google, Gemini, Stable Diffusion.
Block 2 – 11:30am to 12:30pm EST
Brisk Teaching 101: Unleash Teaching Superpowers with AI
Presenter: Darren Maltais
Discover Brisk, the transformative AI-powered Chrome extension that was built to save teachers time. Brisk cuts down your workload by merging effortlessly with your daily digital tools. In this dynamic session, discover how to: give instant feedback; assess student writing; craft engaging lesson content; adapt text levels and translate with a click. You’ll learn through hands-on examples, gather insights on elevating your teaching with AI, and walk away with tips to reclaim hours in your week. With Brisk, you’ll streamline your workflow and free up valuable time each day for you to focus on impactful teaching. Tool being used: Brisk Teaching.
NotebookLM - The Easy Custom AI Toolkit for Educators
Presenter: Danny Leeming
Level up your LLM game with NotebookLM, a powerful and customizable AI tool designed to spark creativity and innovation for educators. This session introduces teachers to NotebookLM’s unique features, allowing them to “think inside the box”—a box they build themselves! Learn how to create custom workspaces tailored to courses or educational projects that seamlessly integrate curriculum, existing resources, and personalized teaching tools. NotebookLM empowers educators to design and organize comprehensive, AI-enhanced learning environments. This tool is a game changer, offering flexibility and creative control that revolutionizes how educators prepare, teach, and engage with students. Tool being used: NotebookLM.
AI in the Library Learning Commons
Presenter: Jen Giffen
This session explores the transformative potential of AI, specifically ChatGPT, in optimizing library services within secondary schools. We’ll demonstrate how AI can streamline research assistance, automate routine tasks, and enhance student engagement with information resources. The session will include hands-on example exercises for participants to work through, as well as time for discussions, where attendees can share ideas and strategies. By incorporating real-world examples and actionable steps, this session will equip library professionals to embrace cutting-edge technologies. Tools being used Chat GPT, Microsoft designer.
AI-Integrated Future within Education
Presenter: Stuart Gray
This session provides an overview of AI integration in educational frameworks, starting with a quick AI primer to establish core understanding. Attendees will learn about the current state of AI, its level of intelligence, and implications for education. The session explores how AI is used to enhance teaching and learning, optimize administrative tasks, and personalize student experiences, while also discussing its broader impacts. Key prompting strategies will be shared to help educators use AI tools effectively. Participants will also explore valuable educator resources and gain guidance on actionable steps to move forward, embracing an AI-integrated future to enrich educational practices. Tools being used OpenAI ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Khan Academy Khamigo, Canva Magic Studio, Suno.
Wayfinding in the Age of AI
Presenter: Bailey Almberg
Feeling overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of AI tools is natural in this era of unprecedented growth and change. This session is designed to provide clarity and confidence amid the uncertainty. Join us to gain insights and practical hints for incremental learning that helps you integrate AI at a manageable pace. Embrace values-led learning, where your principles guide how you explore and adopt AI, ensuring technology aligns with educational ethics and goals. This session will also help you set your personal and professional compass, offering strategies to effectively navigate the evolving AI landscape and make informed decisions that benefit both educators and learners. Tools being used: ChatGPT, MagicSchool, Diffit, Canva, Padlet.
Block 3 – 12:45pm to 1:45pm EST
AI, Policies, Access and the Impact on the Future of Education Panel Discussion
Presenter: Nicole Lakusta
Panel Guests: Danny Leeming – BC, Monica Gadsby – MB, Sam Livingstone – PEI, Whitney McKinley – ON
Join this insightful panel discussion featuring educational technology experts from across North America as they delve into the use of AI in schools. Drawing from diverse experiences and a range of educational systems, panelists will share their firsthand perspectives on policy-making procedures and the critical considerations behind them. Learn about the strategies they employ to implement AI responsibly, balancing innovation with safety and equity. The conversation will also address the ethical dilemmas associated with AI in education, such as data privacy, bias, and the impact on student learning. Gain valuable insights and practical advice from leaders shaping the future of AI in education.
Get Creative with Canva
Presenter: Magy Dimitry & Martin Pelletier
Discover how AI can revolutionize your teaching and learning experience with Canva in this dynamic workshop! Dive into Canva’s powerful AI tools that enable you to create stunning visuals and engaging content effortlessly. Learn to generate unique designs, illustrations, and presentations in seconds, streamlining your creative process. The session will guide you on how to enhance text with captivating effects, produce unique AI-generated images, and modify or refine visuals with ease. Gain hands-on experience with practical applications to make your educational materials more impactful and visually appealing, saving time while boosting creativity. Tool being used: Canva.
About AI: On the Spot Mini Lessons for Teachers
Presenter: Cammie Kannekens
Join this interactive session to gain practical, hands-on demonstrations you can use in real-time discussions with students to teach and reinforce essential concepts “about AI.” We’ll explore foundational topics such as bias in AI, and safety/privacy considerations, empowering students to engage with AI responsibly. The session will also address AI’s limitations, including its lack of creativity, potential plagiarism/copyright issues, and why learning fundamental skills remains crucial in an AI-driven world. Walk away with ready-to-use demonstrations to make these lessons impactful and engaging for students. Tools being used: ChatGPT, Gemini, other LLM, and Perplexity.
Navigating and Utilizing Microsoft Copilot for Educators
Presenter: Shailah Damji
In this session, we will explore a variety of practical and innovative ways for educators to leverage Microsoft Copilot to enhance teaching and learning. Attendees will discover how Copilot can streamline lesson planning, create dynamic content, and automate administrative tasks, freeing up valuable time for more engaging student interactions. We’ll dive into strategies for using Copilot to personalize learning experiences, provide timely feedback, and collaborate more effectively with colleagues. Whether it’s generating creative teaching ideas or simplifying grading, this session will empower educators with tools and tips to maximize the potential of Microsoft Copilot in their educational practice. Tool being used Copilot.
No Wand Necessary! MagicSchool AI
Presenter: Charity Helman
MagicSchool AI is a tool that every learner can benefit from using the tools in MagicSchool AI and every teacher can benefit from the time saving tools they have access to. MagicSchool AI has over 60 tools for teachers and 40 more for students, this tool allows teachers and students to work with AI in a safe guarded environment. In this session, we will dive into the teacher tools and the student tools to demonstrate how your life at school and the learning your students do can be enriched by AI. Tool being used: MagicSchool AI.
