Discover AI’s Present & Future in Education @ IETC 2023

Artificial intelligence is here, and unlike what you’ve seen in the movies, it isn’t coming to destroy humans – it’s coming to disrupt our classrooms. Should teachers and education leaders be excited, afraid or maybe a little bit of both?

No matter how you slice it, there is a lot of buzz around AI right now – especially in the K-12 education community. This year at IETC, our statewide community has an exciting opportunity to cut through that buzz and start a meaningful conversation about AI’s emerging impact in Illinois classrooms during the inaugural AI in Education Summit.

“This is not the Jetsons. This is happening now.”

Joe Fatheree

During this special event, teachers and education leaders will move past talking about the latest AI tools and lean into timely, education-focused conversations, including how K-12 stakeholders can craft effective AI policies that foster ethical use, equitable access, and future work readiness.

Even if you’re new to AI in general, this summit will offer a welcoming space to learn how current students are already harnessing AI and grow more aware of how this computing revolution will shape learning in the years ahead.

An Effingham native, Joe is an internationally-acclaimed AI researcher and visionary. Thanks to his 30+ years of experience as a classroom teacher, Joe remains firmly rooted in the real-world implications of AI’s widespread rollout, ensuring that the educators he works with are mentally prepared to tackle AI’s complex challenges and potential.

As he continues his research into the effects of AI on human cognition, Joe will bring his down-to-earth perspectives to IETC’s center stage. Through him, attendees can sharpen their awareness of AI’s emerging presence in their personal and professional lives, as well as discover strategies for shaping AI-related conversations back in their home districts.

With this need in mind, Joe will focus the first half of his talk on simple awareness – where AI is now, what it is capable of, and how it is already being utilized in medicine, agriculture, and other industries. 

From there, attendees will dive into the future of work, including how AI may impact educators’ work and the skills students will need to succeed in an AI-supported workforce.

Like so many other parts of the AI conversation, there are no easy answers here. Joe believes that if you’re trying to find the singular “right” answer, you might end up flat-footed as AI’s evolution continues apace.

Instead, he wants to encourage education stakeholders to start crafting durable solutions that meet their teachers’ and students’ unique needs. Rather than opting for a one-size-fits-all solution, questions like these can help your district establish ethics-based trail markers that guide productive policy discussions: 

• Why are we bringing in AI tools? What educational goals do they help us meet?
• What criteria are we using to evaluate individual AI tools?
• Who is helping craft AI policy? Do we have diverse voices contributing to the conversation?
• Are there some educational spaces where AI should be intentionally excluded?

You don’t have to wait until the AI in Education Summit to start (or continue) your AI journey. Here are some of Joe Fatheree’s top AI-related media recommendations for curious educators like you:

At IETC 2023, edtech’s bright present and future will be on full display. In addition to the AI in Education Summit, join your fellow educators for three days of learning and networking centered on the tools and strategies needed to bring tech-powered learning to life.

Right now, get an Early Bird discount and save up to $50 on your full conference ticket, which includes access to every workshop and session plus two must-see keynotes – all led by edtech enthusiasts, educators, and innovators like you.