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AIxEd[Connect]

[Connect]Expert Sessions

Full access to [Connect] program- $99*

Open Format | Continuous Throughout Both Days

*Free for Educators and Administrators.

Space is limited

Register for free admission

AI in Education Focus
Deep-Dive Sessions

Intimate sessions led by practitioners, researchers, and leaders who are successfully implementing AI in educational settings.

What Makes These Different: While Upskill Labs focus on general AI skills, Expert Sessions dive deep into education-specific applications, challenges, and solutions.

Session Themes:

Classroom Implementation: Real strategies for integrating AI into daily instruction
Assessment & Evaluation: Using AI to enhance, not replace, meaningful assessment
Equity & Access: Ensuring AI benefits all students, not just some
Professional Development: Supporting teachers through AI transitions
Curriculum Design: Reimagining learning outcomes in an AI-enhanced world
Student Agency: Teaching students to be critical, creative AI users
Administrative Applications: Streamlining operations without losing the human touch
Research & Evidence: What the data tells us about AI's educational impact

[Speakers]

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Kristi Girdharry

Babson College

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Erik Noyes

Babson College

Pelin Bicen

Suffolk University

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Luke Hobson

MIT

Rachel Schechter

LXD Research

Wendy Colby

Boston University

Asher Scott.jpeg

Asher Scott

New Visions for Public Schools

Dan Serig.jpeg

Dan Serig

Northeastern University

Chris Unger.jpeg

Chris Unger

Northeastern University

Rayna Freedman

Jordan/Jackson Elementary

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Ola Ozernov-Palchik

Boston University / MIT

Rachel Slama

Cornell University

Sabrina Mansur.jpg

Sabrina Mansur

Mass AI Hub

Kathleen Courvieu.jpg

Kathleen Courvieu

Boston University

Gamze Yilmaz.jpg

Gamze Yilmaz

UMass Boston

Ying Xu.jpg

Ying Xu

Harvard Graduate School of Education

[EXPERT SESSIONS] PROGRAM

Speaker

Session Title

Session Description

More sessions announcing soon

Kristi Girdharry
Erik Noyes

Community Before Compliance: Co-Learning in the Age of AI

We've seen institutions often defaulting to unclear rules and restrictions that can lead to confusion and even division. This session considers an alternative path: beginning with community. Drawing on the experience of launching an interdisciplinary AI initiative called "The Generator" at Babson College, we will explore how faculty leadership, student engagement, and institutional alignment can create durable, values-driven responses to AI. This session will offer attendees glimpses into initiatives we have taken on from a community-first perspective. Examples include an AI Teaching Training program, the development of new courses, research support, and community engagement initiatives. The session will include space for participant thought and dialogue about what community-building might look like in their own contexts with particular attention to the issue of resources.

Pelin Bicen

SAIL in Action: Teaching First-Year Business Students AI Literacy Through a Real Client Challenge

This session presents a replicable model for integrating AI into undergraduate business education using the SAIL Framework (Social Intelligence, AI Literacy, Innovation/Inquiry, Leadership). I will walk through a first-year course project where students partnered with the Boston Globe on a multicultural marketing challenge. The course requires AI use and includes structured training on AI tools before students apply them to client research, audience analysis, and strategy development.The audience will leave with a practical framework and specific design principles for embedding AI literacy into experiential, client-based courses.

Luke Hobson

Build, Design, Transform: A Hands-On Guide to Gen AI in Online Education

AI is reshaping higher education, but knowing where to start is half the battle. In this hands-on session, we'll cut through the noise and explore how generative AI can practically transform teaching, instructional design, and the student experience. Together, we'll dig into real-world learning strategies using tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Notebook LM, etc. You'll leave with practical takeaways, fresh ideas, and a clear picture of what's next—so you and your institution can stay ahead of the curve.

Asher Scott

From Idea to App: A Hands-On Build Session for Educators Who Want to Make Things

Most AI sessions show you a finished product. This one walks you through building one. Using TimeSaveAI as a case study, the session traces the arc from real educator pain point to working AI tool. Then participants do it themselves, picking a problem from their own context, drafting a system prompt, and testing it live. No coding required, just a laptop and a problem worth solving.

Meg Riordan

Teaching in the Age of AI: Human-Centered Learning x High Quality Tech for the Future of Work

The conversation about AI in education often centers on tools and efficiency. This workshop shifts the focus to a deeper question: How can AI expand human potential and build durable skills that position young people for in-demand careers? Drawing on innovations at The Possible Zone, we will explore how AI can support competency-based learning and stronger teacher-tech-student collaboration. Participants will leave with concrete strategies for using AI to deepen learning.

Format:

30-60 minute focused sessions
Extended Q&A and discussion
Opportunity to connect with presenters afterward
Sessions organized by educational level (K-12, higher ed, or both)

Full [Connect] Expert Sessions full agenda and schedules will be published in April 2026.

Space is limited - get your tickets now!

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