Artificial intelligence is no longer a future issue for schools to monitor from a distance. It is already shaping how students research, write, solve problems, and engage with course material. The challenge for educators is not whether AI belongs in education. It is how to guide its use in ways that strengthen learning, support teachers, and protect the human relationships at the center of education.
On March 25, 2026, Boston University Wheelock will host its annual BU Wheelock Forum, this year focused on “AI and the Future of Education.” The event asks a timely question: What do teaching and learning mean in an AI world? The forum is designed for educators, learning leaders, ed technologists, and others engaged in education, and will bring together presenters from Boston University and beyond to explore the promise, risks, and real-world implications of AI in education.
It is the right conversation at the right time. College Board research found that the share of high school students reporting use of generative AI tools for schoolwork increased from 79% in January 2025 to 84% in May 2025. That growth makes one thing clear: educators and education leaders need more than awareness. They need judgment, strategy, and the ability to make sound decisions about how AI should and should not be used in real learning environments.
To meet this moment, that is also why Boston University’s new Online Master of Education in AI & Education has been developed.
Why This Conversation Matters Now
AI in education is often discussed in extremes. Some see it as a breakthrough that will personalize learning, expand access, and reduce administrative burden. Others focus on the risks: bias, privacy concerns, over-reliance, and the possibility of weakening the social and cognitive work of learning.
The reality is more demanding than either headline suggests.
Schools need people who can evaluate AI claims with rigor, ask better questions before adopting new tools, and design learning environments that keep student and teacher agency intact. BU Wheelock’s forum reflects that need directly. Its focus is not just on what AI can do, but on how educators and institutions can guide what comes next responsibly.
Online Master of Education in AI and Education: At a Glance
- Format: Fully online
- Credits: 30 credits
- Tuition: $30,000 total tuition
- Designed for: Educators, administrators, researchers, policy experts, and ed tech professionals who want to lead human-centered AI in education-related settings
- Flexibility: Offered online, with part-time options available
A Degree Designed for Educators and Leaders Navigating AI in the Real World
Boston University’s Online EdM in AI & Education is built for professionals who want to do more than react to change. The program prepares educators and leaders to guide human-centered AI in real educational settings. BU describes the program as designed to help students evaluate AI tools and claims, design AI-supported instruction, and use data to inform decisions about teaching, assessment, and learning outcomes.
This is not a degree about chasing trends. It is a program for people who want to make better decisions about AI in classrooms, schools, districts, higher education, and related learning environments.
What You Will Learn
- Develop professional judgment to decide when and where AI should be used to support student learning
- Address privacy, bias, and accessibility considerations in AI implementation
- Create implementation plans that build trust with educators, families, and decision-makers
- Co-create and pilot AI-supported practices through residency experiences with PreK–12 districts, universities, community organizations, or education-focused companies
Who This Program Is Best Suited For
This program is designed to be completed on a schedule that works for you. Choose part- or full-time enrollment and adjust your course delivery—live online or asynchronous—based on your professional commitments.
Typical Profiles
- K–12 teachers, learning assistants, and tutors seeking ways to use AI and establish classroom guidelines
- K–12 administrators and counseling staff searching for strategies to regulate and guide AI use
- Textbook writers and publishers looking to inform and future-proof instructional materials
How to Tell if This Program Is the Right Fit
Choose AI and Education if you want to:
- Lead responsible AI adoption in schools, districts, and related educational settings
- Design and evaluate AI-supported instruction
- Ensure technology enhances—rather than replaces—the social and cognitive work of learning
Take the Next Step
If you want to help shape the future of AI in education, start with the BU Wheelock Forum: AI and the Future of Education on March 25, 2026. It is an opportunity to hear from educators, researchers, and thought leaders who are actively exploring what teaching and learning should look like in an AI-shaped world.
And if you are ready to go further, explore Boston University’s Online Master of Education in AI & Education, a fully online 30-credit program designed to help educators and leaders guide AI adoption with judgment, responsibility, and impact.
You can learn more about the degree through BU Online and register for the forum through BU Wheelock.