In late April 2024 the World Economic Forum released The Role of AI in Education 4.0. I thought it was important after reading such a document to suggest action items for the four main stakeholders in a child’s education. Based on this report, here are my five action items for students, teachers, systems leaders, and parents who are looking to maximize positive impacts of all forms of artificial intelligence in the education system. Students:
Teachers:
System Leaders:
Parents:
Each stakeholder plays a key role in the successful implementation of AI in the public education systems in Canada. You can see several action items overlap between many stakeholders. These would serve as the main pillars of action for any implementation plan that I’d employ. Together we can embrace and enrich the incorporation of AI tools and practice in public education.
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Drive to Thrive 2024 A high school class has not won the top prize in the Mindshare Learning Schools of the Future Challenge since 2016! Francis wholeheartedly believes that his innovative approach to solving Sustainable Development Goal target 3.6 has a chance at ending that streak. Drive to Thrive sees Francis, a gamer, using his favourite video game in an effort to halve injuries and deaths due to traffic accidents worldwide by 2030. He has accelerated past the awareness phase and into the action phase with this series of video scenarios aimed specifically at gamer teens. The goal is to deliver essential life-saving skills through a medium that teens flock to daily. He is meeting the audience where they are. This video interview is loaded with stats and purpose but you can see the glee in his eyes as he sits in his high school classroom, using his favourite video game, on the school's only capable computer, and attempts to make a real difference for our community and the Sustainable Development Goals. As Francis is under the legal age for driving this initiative is rooted 100% in empathy for his fellow CRHS Tigers and driving age students around the world. Winning this contest would inspire Francis to continue his efforts to improve the world and allow his fellow Tigers to also access powerful tools to implement positive change. We hope you enjoy this interview with the high school creator of Drive to Thrive. Drive safe everyone! Hello, fellow educators and students!
I'm thrilled to share with you a new initiative that I've been working on: "Eh Eye - Examining Canadian Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Education." As a K-12 teacher with a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to preparing our students for the future, I'm developing this program to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical understanding necessary to thrive in an AI-driven world. Why "Eh Eye"? Well, as Canadians, we have a unique perspective to offer in the realm of AI education. With our diverse society, commitment to inclusivity, and emphasis on ethical considerations, we're well-positioned to lead the way in shaping the future of AI in Canada. So, what can students expect from "Eh Eye"? Let me walk you through the four pillars of the developing program: 1. **Understanding AI Fundamentals:** We'll start by diving into the basics of AI, including machine learning and neural networks. We'll build a strong foundation in AI principles that will serve as the cornerstone of our learning journey. 2. **Ethical Considerations:** Ethics are at the heart of everything we do, and AI is no exception. We'll explore the ethical implications of AI, from bias and privacy concerns to algorithmic transparency, and learn how to navigate these complexities with integrity and responsibility. 3. **AI in Canadian Society:** AI is transforming every aspect of Canadian society, from healthcare to education. We'll examine its impact and discover how AI is shaping our collective future, empowering you to become active participants in this exciting evolution. 4. **Future-Ready Skills:** As AI continues to reshape the workforce, it's essential for you to develop future-ready skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability. With "Eh Eye," students will gain the skills needed to thrive in an AI-rich world. I'm truly excited to embark on this journey with my students and explore the endless possibilities of AI education in Canada. Together, we'll unlock the power of AI and pave the way for a brighter future. It's a True North lens on AI for K-12 students and educators. I'll share the completed program when it is ready! During a global pandemic the smartest thing to do would be to sail the 7 C’s. That’s exactly what my students and I have done for the last 14 months at Caledonia Regional School in New Brunswick. Through a mix of in-person, blended and online learning, we have managed to maintain community while up-skilling our technology abilities that represent a foundation of The Schools of the Future. In many ways C.R.H.S. represents a school of the future. Student choice and voice extends beyond slogan into actual practice where forward-thinking administrators create the school schedule based on students’ communicated interests. The STEM Program’s laptop cart was repurposed to provide equity for students without technology at home. This was a huge dedication because in a tiny rural New Brunswick school, we may not see another laptop cart for a decade due to cost. We truly put equity and inclusion above even curriculum which is something I believe a school and school district of the future would do. The gesture does not go unnoticed by students and furthers our collective sense of belonging. So how do the 7 C’s help us showcase our vision for the school of the future? I think strengthening the 7 C’s is the ultimate goal and the technology and pedagogy employed are the helping hands that every teacher and student need along the way to that goal. Allow us to highlight the ways in which technology has added to student and staff growth this school year. Each represents a window into what a school of the future experience can be for all stakeholders. Creativity – (Canva.com) I asked and I received. Canva is an online graphics suite which is rather pricey but several educators have the privilege to join Canva Education. Since being selected into the program I was able to score the incredible software for every student I teach at C.R.H.S. In order to get all the students familiar with the service I thought of some fun challenges. We dabbled in fashion design making t-shirts that we felt would go viral and sell fast on Amazon. We made memes, the language of this generation, and we created vision boards which show a entire collage of a student’s interests, values, dreams and needs. Now, all of the students at C.R.H.S. use this service for their subjects essentially eliminating the “Poster Project” of old and ushing in the school of the future. Critical Thinking – (Flipgrid) House Hippos! Are they real? Teaching Media Studies 12 this year I knew there needed to be a way for students who were separated all year to have the same media-rich experience. Using Flipgrid I provided brief clips of classic marketing scenes from shows like Madmen and the jaw-dropping Canadian commercial about House Hippos. Watching these students open their minds and hearts while pouring out their beliefs and inner thoughts for classmates in a media format all too familiar to them was special. Some of the students never got to physically see the others in the class, but by using Flipgrid and critical thinking pedagogy I very much feel their course experience was second to none. Communication – (Microsoft Teams) When your community is challenged the most important thing is clear two-way communication. Microsoft Teams provided staff, students and in some cases even parents with that desperately needed two-way communication. This sometimes blurred the lines between home and school for staff and students but rightfully so. In the school of the future the learning and relationships don’t stop once a person leaves the school. Sometimes it was sending a student a link they couldn’t find or even using the built in Praise app to provide a student with encouragement or recognition. Sometimes those things are just easier to do on a Saturday morning, and Microsoft Teams was there 24/7 when we needed it. Collaboration – (Office.com) “Oh no! We’ve got a drug safety presentation for Mr. Kelly and we can’t physically gather to create it!” Students were impressed with the collaborative nature of the Office.com suite of tools. As a teacher watching 5 students build a presentation from research together in real time with me added as their 6th partner was outstanding. Collaboration might have been the hardest skill to grow in a time where we were told to stay meters apart, but with the Office suite I truly feel we experienced the future of school as students worked together…..apart. Character – (Soundtrap) We’ve been through a lot. Sometimes it can help to talk about it. Using Soundtrap’s incredible online music and podcasting service students were asked to interview a peer about pandemic life and to truly listen. Then after the chat the two students were separately head into Soundtrap and create the other student a song based on what they felt the other student needed. Uplifting, emotional and instrumental. Nothing beats have a song created for you and this project will continue at C.R.H.S. and represents the spirit a school of the future needs. Citizenship – (Minecraft: Education Edition) Minecraft surprises me weekly and I’m five years (or more) into using it with students. This year the students took part in the Logics Academy Canadian Minecraft Challenge which had a Future Frontiers focus. I’ll always remember the team that made their first building on Mars the “Interdenominational Church of Elon Musk” and the team that had a vaccine passport element to entering the colony. Students had to examine every element of our society in order to justify and generate their new communities in the new locations. Everything from currency to language, healthcare, religion and education were examined and reimagined by students making this one of the best citizenship grow moments I’ve ever been a part of. Computer Technologies – iPad
This generation has been said to be the “Desktop Never” generation but that hasn’t quite materialized yet. Maybe because I keep making them use desktop PCs. When an iPad is swapped in however, you can see that the schools of the future will be filled with these much more personal and touch-inviting devices. Every students who graduates from C.R.H.S. comes through my tech program and each of them complete one of Apple’s Everyone Can Create programs. Drawing, Photography, Video and Music Production are the four choices and the personal yet professional work I see produced on these sheets of glass each year is exceptional. Laptops have their purpose and I demand a lot of usage of laptops/desktops, but I can see that iPad and devices like it will rule the school of the future. I hope you’ve enjoyed sailing the 7 C’s and seeing a bit of what we do and what we think is direction we need to head for the school of the future. Every day we try our best to move closer to that goal balancing relationships, technologies and safety. Lonely To Leadership with Minecraft Education A Canadian Story That Could Have Happened Anywhere “Let’s start a Minecraft server for all of Atlantic Canada” said Brilliant Labs’ Jeff Wilson just days after our school systems closed for the foreseeable future. Six weeks later I admit looking back that I was outwardly enthusiastic but inwardly panicking at the thought of an initiative that large. But Jeff had said the magic word “Minecraft” and I was hooked. The goal was to create an educational Minecraft server operating during the regular school hours, and for students of all ages in our Atlantic region of Canada consisting of four provinces. Brilliant Labs did the heavy lifting with server setup, choosing Minecraft Pocket Edition in the end for maximum engagement in students’ homes dominated by the tablet supported version of the game. My role was to establish an engaging, safe and educational world experience for the diverse students who would be joining us. Using a portal system at the point where players spawned into the world I was able to turn one world into many, essentially multiplying how impactful the Minecraft experience could be. Six zones were established thousands of blocks apart and included Sustainable Development Goal, Dream Home, Community of the Future, School of the Future and Free Play zones. Students would choose a zone, teleport out and teleport back to spawn in a super easy fashion for all ages. The stage was set for success but what happened next was extra special. Students started pouring into the server to check it out. What became apparent early on was that the students attracted to the server were mainly those who, while stuck at home, had lost their friends network that school had once supported. In some cases, these were students who hadn’t established any real friendships. One morning while in the server a child contacted me in confidence saying privately “I don't have any friends!” After some dialogue I determined that the child meant in real life and not just in the game setting. I responded swiftly by saying “We’re all friends in here now!” The student came alive hearing that and grew from a lonely disengaged visitor into a thriving young leader with a solid friend network in just a few weeks! Now, six weeks in, this student receives cheers when entering the server and he now greets all who enter the server in polite and inviting fashion. Waiting at 9am daily for the server to open he is usually the first one in, and the last to leave. He’s organized incredible events like fireworks shows for all in the server and invited others to trade and build together. He’s helped in spotting trouble makers and alerting us as managers, he’s helped so many other children by providing a peer group audience for their endeavours, and most importantly, he’s contributed to the success of the in-game community. This isn’t a blog about how educational Minecraft can be. This is a modern anecdotal account about how a game environment like Minecraft and a little empathy can radically transform a child’s life during a pandemic, and forever, for the better. There are no stats here, but to this one child it mattered. Brilliant Labs had the vision to create the atmosphere needed by so many children during this pandemic. I am glad that I could help make it engaging and educational but I’m grateful that I was present that day to provide what that child needed most. Empathy and encouragement can go a long way! Perhaps the Community of the Future exists in games like Minecraft? The team at Brilliant Labs who are managing this space have truly built a community of which I'm glad to be a member! www.BrilliantLabs.ca
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Benjamin KellyI'm an experienced Global Minecraft Mentor, Published Educational Researcher, Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow, Apple Distinguished Educator, TeachSDGs Ambassador and grade 6-12 technology teacher. @BBTNB Archives
June 2021
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