Schools in the Age of AI

Schools in the Age of AI: How to make wise choices that enhance human development

Artificial intelligence is evolving at breathtaking speed. In just a few years, generative AI has shifted from curiosity to an everyday tool, raising pressing questions for educators: How can we navigate the fast-paced evolution of AI to enhance learning and human development?

This keynote goes beyond “what is AI?” and focuses on the decisive calls educators must make about if, when, and how AI belongs in learning. Drawing on cognitive science, the science of human development, and emerging education trends, it offers practical wisdom for adopting AI carefully and with confidence. Schools cannot predict the future, but they can equip young people to flourish within it by prioritising the timeless practices that have endured and served learners best over time.

  • Extract lessons from past EdTech missteps to avoid predictable pitfalls.
  • Distinguish between AI for productivity and AI for pedagogy
  • Use insights from psychology and human development to guide decisions about if, when, and how AI should be used.
  • Practise deliberate non-use in some contexts to build and sustain underlying cognitive and interpersonal capacities
  • Double down on enduring practices that form capable learners and connected communities

The future is uncertain, yet the path is clear: schools must strengthen their timeless humanising role. As technology accelerates, they must be more human than ever.

All of Simon’s speaking topics are available as in-person or digital sessions, and can be tailored to fit your desired length.

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