{"id":28762,"date":"2023-09-18T12:56:49","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T16:56:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hic\/?page_id=28762"},"modified":"2025-11-03T12:34:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T17:34:14","slug":"ai-and-education-symposium","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hic\/ai-and-education-symposium\/","title":{"rendered":"AI and Education Symposium"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Cosponsors:<\/span>\u00a0Hariri Institute for Computing and\u00a0Wheelock College of Education and Human Development<\/em><\/p>\n

Date: <\/strong>Thursday, November 30th, 2023<\/span>
\nEvent Start & End Time: <\/strong>10:00am \u2013 1:00pm ET<\/span>
\nLocation (IN-PERSON): <\/strong>Center for Computing & Data Sciences, Boston University, 665 Commonwealth Ave, Room 1750 (17th floor), Boston, MA 02215<\/span>
\n*Enter elevators by Saxby\u2019s to have access to the 17th floor.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Event Description: <\/strong>Hear fresh perspectives on the future of education in the context of emerging AI technologies from researchers, policy-makers, and industry leaders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Agenda<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Begins<\/th>\nEnds<\/th>\nTalks<\/th>\nSpeaker<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
10:00AM<\/span><\/td>\n10:10AM<\/span><\/td>\nWelcome & Introduction<\/span><\/em><\/td>\nDr. David Chard<\/a>,<\/strong> Dean and Professor, Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10:10AM<\/span><\/td>\n10:30AM<\/span><\/td>\nTalk Title<\/strong>: Leveraging AI in Childhood Education: Fostering Computational Thinking in Informal Learning Environments<\/em><\/p>\n

Abstract<\/strong>: Clinical Assistant Professor Nermeen Dashoush, PhD,\u00a0 an expert in early childhood education and STEM learning, will present insights on the integration of emerging AI technologies in children’s media. The presentation will explore work fostering computational thinking skills in children, especially in informal learning settings, preparing them for an AI-intertwined future.<\/span><\/td>\n

Dr. Nermeen Dashoush<\/a>,<\/strong> Clinical Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education, \u00a0Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n

Bio<\/strong>: At Boston University, Dr. Dashoush teaches courses in Child Development, STEM for educators, and Educational Technology. She is the founder of numerous worldwide programs for children and has consistently aimed to bridge the gap in accessibility to quality education. Recognizing the powerful influence of technology and media in today’s educational landscape, she has created various children’s apps, digital educational tools, television series, and even public installations that cater to the developmental needs of young audiences. Her contributions to children’s media have earned her an Emmy nomination. As the Chief Academic Officer and founding educator at MarcoPolo Learning, an EdTech company, Dr. Dashoush has played a pivotal role in pioneering innovative educational solutions for the digital age. Furthermore, her expertise is recognized beyond the academic sphere as she serves as the lead advisor on an upcoming TV show for PBS, set to launch in February 2024.<\/p>\n

\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

10:30AM<\/span><\/td>\n10:50AM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Talk Title<\/strong>: Considerations for AI in the K-12 environment<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Abstract<\/strong>: The introduction of AI brings great potential, risk, and concerns to K-12 education. How do we raise awareness of the benefits of generative AI to a K-12 environment without creating fear that students will cheat or fail to develop basic skills in favor of using AI?<\/td>\n

Mark Racine<\/strong><\/a>,<\/span> Chief Information Officer, Boston Public Schools<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bio<\/strong>: Mr. Racine has served in the role of the Chief Information Officer of the Boston Public Schools for the past 10 years and previously worked as a 5th grade teacher within the district. He has led multiple technology transformation projects, including the switch to remote learning during the pandemic when the district went 1:1 and started teaching remotely in 24 hours.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

10:50<\/span>AM<\/td>\n11:10<\/span>AM<\/td>\nTalk Title:<\/strong> Addressing the Misconception Cascade using Link Prediction Models and LLMs<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong>Abstract: <\/strong>The problem we want to address is the misconception cascade – the way in which unresolved misconceptions undermine learning, and how they are difficult to detect and prioritize. Our solution is to discover a \u201cmisconception map\u201d by creating link prediction models and applying them to our data of students’ responses to diagnostic questions. This map will help us direct learning and optimize interventions. We will show how we have used LLMs for content creation, tutor and teacher assistance and the challenges of direct-to-student usage.<\/span><\/td>\n

\n

Dr. Simon Woodhead<\/a>,<\/strong> Co-founder and Head of Research, Eedi<\/p>\n

Bio<\/strong>: <\/span>Dr. Woodhead is an edtech entrepreneur and researcher with a track record of creating award-winning solutions that apply data science to education. He has secured more than \u00a310M in research grants and established the <\/span>Data Science in Education meetup<\/span><\/a> to foster knowledge sharing in the edtech community.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

11:10AM<\/span><\/td>\n11:30AM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Talk Title<\/strong>: AI in the Classroom<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

Abstract<\/strong>: <\/i>Teaching involves an impossibly long list of cognitively and emotionally demanding tasks. Can AI finally help lighten the load? This talk will cover how AI can change the nature of lesson planning, teaching, and learning, enabling deeper connection and understanding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/b><\/td>\n

\n

Maya Bialik<\/a><\/strong>,<\/strong> Author, Teacher and Founder of QuestionWell AI<\/span><\/p>\n

Bio<\/strong>: <\/span>Ms. Bialik is a middle school science teacher and founder of QuestionWell AI, an AI tool for teachers that writes questions based on a topic or reading. She is the author of AI and Education (2019) and Four-Dimensional Education (2015). She comes to the classroom with nearly a decade of experience in research and consulting, working with schools, districts, publishers, jurisdictions around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

11:30AM<\/span><\/td>\n10:50AM<\/span><\/td>\nPanel discussion<\/span><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/td>\n		\n

Led by Naomi Caselli<\/a><\/strong>,<\/strong> Director AI and Education, Hariri Institute; <\/span>Assistant Professor, Deaf Studies, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12:00 PM<\/span><\/td>\n12:10PM<\/span><\/td>\n\n

Closing remarks<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12:10PM<\/span><\/td>\n1:00PM<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nNetworking Lunch<\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Learn more about the AI and Education Initiative.<\/a><\/p>\n

For questions, contact\u00a0<\/span>Naomi Caselli at\u00a0<\/span>nkc@bu.edu<\/a>.\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cosponsors:\u00a0Hariri Institute for Computing and\u00a0Wheelock College of Education and Human Development Date: Thursday, November 30th, 2023 Event Start & End Time: 10:00am \u2013 1:00pm ET Location (IN-PERSON): Center for Computing & Data Sciences, Boston University, 665 Commonwealth Ave, Room 1750 (17th floor), Boston, MA 02215 *Enter elevators by Saxby\u2019s to have access to the 17th […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10316,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":173,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28762"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10316"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28762"}],"version-history":[{"count":52,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28762\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32015,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28762\/revisions\/32015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}