Workshop Overview

This workshop is designed to empower educators to engage confidently and critically with AI technologies in their teaching practice. With a focus on ethical awareness, pedagogical effectiveness, and practical classroom integration, this session will explore the transformative potential—and the associated responsibilities—of using AI tools in education.

Participants will gain a solid foundation in the current landscape of AI in education, including what generative AI is, how it functions, and where its applications are proving most valuable. The workshop will also examine the risks, limitations, and ethical dilemmas associated with AI use, from bias and misinformation to surveillance and data privacy.

Throughout the session, educators will be introduced to frameworks for evaluating AI tools, designing AI-integrated learning activities, and establishing clear, responsible use policies with students. Key routines and habits for cultivating digital literacy, critical thinking, and student agency in an AI-enabled classroom will be explored.

The workshop will also include pre-workshop reading and collaborative planning time, where participants will begin developing their own lesson, policy, or unit plan that meaningfully incorporates AI in alignment with ethical teaching principles. Participants will leave with practical resources, a shared vocabulary, and a more nuanced understanding of how to harness AI for equitable, inclusive, and forward-thinking teaching.

Facilitator:

Reid Pierce

Reid is deeply committed to reimagining education through inclusive leadership, philosophical depth, and global engagement. With over 15 years of cross-sectoral experience across law, consulting, and international education, Reid brings a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective to his work with schools, NGOs, and higher education institutions. His career spans senior roles such as Director of Admissions at Woodstock School in India and Faculty at UWC Mahindra College, where he also led initiatives in professional development. Prior to his work in education, Reid served as a management consultant advising on strategy, risk, and innovation. Reid holds a Master’s in Education Leadership from Harvard University and PGCE from the University of Nottingham with distinction. Reid is beginning his PhD in Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion at the California Institute of Integral Studies. He also holds advanced degrees in business, law, and Eastern philosophy.