Keynote Session
Keynote Speakers: Elliot Soloway, The University of Michigan, and Cathie Norris, The University of North Texas
Location: Main Room
Time: 11:10 AM – 12:30 PM, EST
Using Artificial Intelligence Responsibly in K-12
AI is everywhere – from AI managing your stock portfolio, to AI defining a restaurant’s luncheon menus, to AI controlling a just-in-time manufacturing plant. Similarly, in K-12 there are “adaptive learning programs” that manage a student’s learning (At best, though, they work in very narrow domains, e.g., math skills). In contrast, in surgery, AI supports the surgeon as the surgeon uses a joy stick and a video monitor to raise and lower surgical scalpels during a surgical procedure. The surgeon, not the AI, is in control. Following the T-shirt slogan “Hydrate Responsibly” – we believe that AI should play a supporting role in the K-12 classroom – assisting teachers and students.
The classroom teacher – like the surgeon – is in control at all times. Following this philosophy, we are carefully adding AI elements to the Collabrify Roadmap Platform, a visual, interactive, and effective learning environment that supports K-5 students as they engage in learning. For example, in MakeMyLetters, an app inside “Collabrify” that supports kindergartners learning to block print, AI is identifying children – to their teachers - with specific handwriting issues; and, in MediaWriter, another app inside “Collabrify” AI is identifying YouTube videos for teachers to better support struggling learners or accelerated learners. In our presentation, then, we will describe the Collabrify Roadmap Platform and how we are using AI responsibly in support of teachers and learners.
Biography:
Cathleen Norris is a Regents Professor, in the Department of Learning Technologies at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX. From 1995-2001, Norris was President of the National Educational Computing Association, and led its merger with ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education, creating the largest, international organization for technology-minded educators in the world. Norris was Co-President of ISTE from 2001-2004. Norris’ 14 years in K-12 classrooms – receiving a Golden Apple Award from Dallas ISD along the way – has shaped her university R&D agenda: developing resources to support K-12 teachers as they move into 21st century classrooms. Norris is currently co-founder and Co-Director of the UMich. Center for Digital Curricula.
Elliot Soloway is an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, School of Education and School of Information, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. In 2001, undergraduates selected him to receive the “Golden Apple Award” as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year at UMich. In 2004 and in 2011, students in the College of Engineering HKN Honor Society selected Soloway to receive the “Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award.” Towards supporting K-12’s digital transformation, in 2019 Soloway co-founded the Center for Digital Curricula, whose mission is to provide free, deeply-digital curricula to K-12 teachers. Over the past years, 10,000+ K-5, children have used the Center’s curricula – and demonstrated increased scores on standardized tests.
Location: Main Room
Time: 11:10 AM – 12:30 PM, EST
Using Artificial Intelligence Responsibly in K-12
AI is everywhere – from AI managing your stock portfolio, to AI defining a restaurant’s luncheon menus, to AI controlling a just-in-time manufacturing plant. Similarly, in K-12 there are “adaptive learning programs” that manage a student’s learning (At best, though, they work in very narrow domains, e.g., math skills). In contrast, in surgery, AI supports the surgeon as the surgeon uses a joy stick and a video monitor to raise and lower surgical scalpels during a surgical procedure. The surgeon, not the AI, is in control. Following the T-shirt slogan “Hydrate Responsibly” – we believe that AI should play a supporting role in the K-12 classroom – assisting teachers and students.
The classroom teacher – like the surgeon – is in control at all times. Following this philosophy, we are carefully adding AI elements to the Collabrify Roadmap Platform, a visual, interactive, and effective learning environment that supports K-5 students as they engage in learning. For example, in MakeMyLetters, an app inside “Collabrify” that supports kindergartners learning to block print, AI is identifying children – to their teachers - with specific handwriting issues; and, in MediaWriter, another app inside “Collabrify” AI is identifying YouTube videos for teachers to better support struggling learners or accelerated learners. In our presentation, then, we will describe the Collabrify Roadmap Platform and how we are using AI responsibly in support of teachers and learners.
Biography:
Cathleen Norris is a Regents Professor, in the Department of Learning Technologies at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX. From 1995-2001, Norris was President of the National Educational Computing Association, and led its merger with ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education, creating the largest, international organization for technology-minded educators in the world. Norris was Co-President of ISTE from 2001-2004. Norris’ 14 years in K-12 classrooms – receiving a Golden Apple Award from Dallas ISD along the way – has shaped her university R&D agenda: developing resources to support K-12 teachers as they move into 21st century classrooms. Norris is currently co-founder and Co-Director of the UMich. Center for Digital Curricula.
Elliot Soloway is an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, School of Education and School of Information, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. In 2001, undergraduates selected him to receive the “Golden Apple Award” as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year at UMich. In 2004 and in 2011, students in the College of Engineering HKN Honor Society selected Soloway to receive the “Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award.” Towards supporting K-12’s digital transformation, in 2019 Soloway co-founded the Center for Digital Curricula, whose mission is to provide free, deeply-digital curricula to K-12 teachers. Over the past years, 10,000+ K-5, children have used the Center’s curricula – and demonstrated increased scores on standardized tests.