AI Readiness For Educators Workshop
A Critical Thinking Approach to Exploring the Future
If Canada’s educators do not have AI literacy and ethical understanding of AI, Canada’s educators will not be equipped to teach and guide young people and future leaders with the necessary skills.
As AI technologies become more integrated into daily life, there is an urgent need to prepare students for this reality. At I-Think, we believe in harnessing the power of AI to revolutionize learning experiences and that starts by helping educators become AI Ready.
“That much more focus and effort must be applied to thinking about how AI can connect us, see patterns in our own behaviours, and help us build community in ways that we couldn’t before, in spite of our best efforts”
— participant
Why this workshop?
I-Think takes a unique approach to exploring the messy, real-world problems we face – like what AI will mean to us and our future. AI is not a technology that we can just understand conceptually – we need educators and leaders to both learn about it, and to wrestle with the ethics and challenges it brings to the classroom. The I-Think AI Readiness focuses on three core areas:
- Real-World Applications: We engage educators and leaders with real-world AI challenges, partnering with industry experts to provide hands-on experiences. This approach not only enhances learning but also prepares leaders to tackle actual questions and concerns they may encounter in their careers.
- AI Literacy: We aim to demystify AI for educators and leaders, providing them with a foundational understanding of AI technologies, their potential, and their limitations. This includes ethical considerations and the societal impact of AI.
- Skill Development: Through our Challenge Kits and Integrative Thinking tools, we equip students with critical skills such as creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. These skills are essential for students to effectively interact with and contribute to the development of AI technologies.
Who is this workshop for?
There is a lot of AI information out there, this workshop is designed specifically for educators and leaders in education. Designed for collaboration, these workshops give participants hands-on experience to expand their understanding of AI and the specific challenges that educators face in classrooms and in schools.
What you’ll experience:
- Learning Environment: You’ll be welcomed into a collaborative learning environment of peers who value sharing insights, developing new ideas, and building valuable connections.
- Scavenger Hunt with AI: Kickstart the day with a fun, hands-on ‘scavenger hunt’ using AI engines and tools. Discover how students might already be leveraging this technology in their daily lives and how it can be a powerful tool for them and you
- AI and Critical Thinking Concept Modules:
- How Large Language Models Work: Understand the mechanics (in plain language) behind AI language models and their classroom applications.
- Algorithms, Bias, and Heuristics: Dive into the ethical considerations and biases inherent in AI algorithms.
- Mental Models: Explore how mental models shape our interaction with technology and problem-solving.
- Opposing Models: Leveraging multiple perspectives to identify insights and uncover deeper understanding.
- Problem Solving Framework: Utilize the Pro-Pro Chart, a critical thinking tool developed by I-Think and inspired by the Integrative Thinking methodology, to explore opposing models of AI integration in education. This tool is part of the I-Think Real-World Problem Solving journey, helping educators to deepen their understanding and develop nuanced views on AI’s potential uses and implications.
“Knowing its capabilities has opened my eyes to utilizing AI as an actual tool to assist my classroom curriculum planning and increasing engagement.”
— participant
