Indian Creek School Hosts Artificial Intelligence Summit for Educators

[Crownsville, Maryland] - Indian Creek School, a leading independent school in the mid-Atlantic region, hosted over 50 educators for a groundbreaking AI Summit on July 18-19, 2023. This two-day event brought together educators, students, industry experts, and thought leaders from the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS)to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in reshaping the landscape of education.

 

The AI Summit at Indian Creek School showcased the cutting-edge advancements in AI and their potential applications to enhance teaching and learning experiences. With the aim to prepare teachers and students for the challenges of the digital age, the summit delved into the latest trends, technologies, ethics, and strategies in incorporating and utilizing AI in educational curricula.

 

The event began with an inspiring welcome speech by Indian Creek’s Associate Head of School Eliza McLaren, who highlighted the immense possibilities AI offers in revolutionizing education. As McLaren conveyed, "AI is changing the landscape of education, and taking time to come together with other educators and share policies and best practices is important. We can all agree that human connection is as important as ever in education. The student-teacher relationship continues to be essential in motivating excellence in learning, even as teaching and learning tools evolve. Combining these relationships with emerging AI technologies has the potential to personalize education, adapt to individual learning styles, and unlock a new era of creativity and critical thinking in students."

 

Summit attendees had the opportunity to engage in interactive panel discussions featuring experts from industry leaders Oz Dugan (President, data science, Blend360) and Dr. Derrick Cogburn (Professor School of International Service, Kogod School of Business, and American University). These discussions covered various topics, including AI-powered personalized learning, intelligent tutoring systems, and the ethical implications of AI in education. Participants actively shared their perspectives, experiences, and concerns, fostering a vibrant and collaborative atmosphere.

 

Indian Creek School's commitment to embracing technology in education was further evidenced by live demonstrations of AI-powered learning platforms, augmented reality tools, and virtual reality simulations. Led by Indian Creek Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Institutional Research Sarah Allen '01, attendees were able to witness firsthand the impact these innovative tools can have on student engagement, retention, and conceptual understanding.

 

The summit also showcased a panel of students to share the high schoolers’ perspective on how to best leverage AI technology while maintaining academic integrity. Indian Creek School students Aidan McCaughey ’24, Campbell McCormick ’24, and Norah Young’26  shared their experiences with AI-driven projects, such as intelligent chatbots and language learning apps, which generated immense enthusiasm among the attendees and highlighted the proactive approach of Indian Creek School in encouraging student innovation. The students also shared insight into conversations they have had about academic integrity in an AI landscape. “I came into this conference thinking that AI was scary and a negative force in education,” shared McCormick. “But after the past two days, I'm really excited about the possibilities that AI could create. I’m impressed by how much thought and research schools are putting into using AI to enhance teaching and learning, rather than avoiding or outlawing the technology.”

 

The success of the AI Summit at Indian Creek School was evident through the overwhelming positive feedback received from attendees. Nathan Chen, a high school senior from The Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, left the summit with a greater appreciation for the effort teachers put into ensuring that he has the best possible learning experience. "While discussing these complex topics with teachers and peers, I found hope. Even with this daunting ever-changing technology, my faith in educators is as strong as ever and I know they will always have my back. I had such a positive and rewarding experience at this summit, and I will be sure to share my findings with my own community."

Educators left the event inspired and equipped with valuable insights to integrate AI into their classrooms, ensuring their students remain at the forefront of technological advancements. “I commend Indian Creek School for hosting such a timely, and well designed AI Summit,” shared Cogburn. “The multifaceted structure of the program, the activities, and the participants helped us work through a wide range of critically important issues. Having such thoughtful students involved elevated the conversation tremendously, as we gained insight into their perspectives. It was a pleasure to participate, and I look forward to ongoing collaboration as you move towards implementation of the plans and policies emerging from the summit.”

  

In conclusion, the AI Summit at Indian Creek School marked a significant milestone in reimagining education through AI. By bringing together leading experts, practitioners, and educators, the summit provided a platform for collaboration, innovation, and collective learning in harnessing the power of AI to shape the future of education.

 

About Indian Creek School:

Indian Creek School is a prestigious PK-12 college preparatory school, committed to providing students with a challenging and vibrant learning environment focused on kindness, well-being, and educational excellence. With a focus on academic excellence and fostering a spirit of innovation, the school embraces emerging technologies like AI to prepare students for success in the fast-evolving world.

Please note that this article was written by an AI Chat GPT program.