Unlock the potential of artificial intelligence in education with our professional development sessions. Explore practical strategies for integrating AI tools and techniques into your teaching practices to enhance student engagement and personalize learning experiences. Stay ahead of the curve and equip yourself with innovative solutions to support student success in a technology-driven world.
AI for Education
Explore the foundational aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its historical influence on our everyday lives. This professional development session is designed to establish a common understanding of AI, including the different types of AI and their applications in text-based and image creation. Attendees, regardless of prior knowledge or experience, will gain insights into AI's impact, explore its uses, and address common misconceptions. This session sets the stage for deeper exploration in subsequent learning experiences by building a strong knowledge base.
In this session, learners will:
Integrating AI
Become an empowered educator by embracing AI as a powerful tool in creating transformative learning environments. Through engaging discussions, interactive activities, and practical demonstrations, explore the vast potential of AI in education and discover real-world examples that enhance teaching and learning experiences for both educators and students.
In this session, learners will:
Policy, Plagiarism, and Practice
This workshop is tailored for educational leaders, providing an interactive space to explore the complexities of current AI policies and their implications for academic integrity. This session is designed to foster ongoing discussions about the challenges of AI, including issues related to plagiarism, and to empower leaders to craft policies that protect students while promoting ethical use of AI and digital citizenship. The workshop aims to strike a balance, ensuring policies support future-ready skills without imposing unnecessary limitations.
In this session, learners will:
Explore the foundational aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its historical influence on our everyday lives. This professional development session is designed to establish a common understanding of AI, including the different types of AI and their applications in text-based and image creation. Attendees, regardless of prior knowledge or experience, will gain insights into AI's impact, explore its uses, and address common misconceptions. This session sets the stage for deeper exploration in subsequent learning experiences by building a strong knowledge base.
In this session, learners will:
Become an empowered educator by embracing AI as a powerful tool in creating transformative learning environments. Through engaging discussions, interactive activities, and practical demonstrations, explore the vast potential of AI in education and discover real-world examples that enhance teaching and learning experiences for both educators and students.
In this session, learners will:
This workshop is tailored for educational leaders, providing an interactive space to explore the complexities of current AI policies and their implications for academic integrity. This session is designed to foster ongoing discussions about the challenges of AI, including issues related to plagiarism, and to empower leaders to craft policies that protect students while promoting ethical use of AI and digital citizenship. The workshop aims to strike a balance, ensuring policies support future-ready skills without imposing unnecessary limitations.
In this session, learners will:
Donnie Piercey, Kentucky’s 2021 Teacher of the Year, brings his passion for education and technology to fourth-grade students in Lexington, Kentucky. Donnie specializes in using technology to promote student inquiry, learning, and engagement, and has been teaching in Kentucky since 2007. Over the past 17 years in education, these interests have given him the unique chance to represent Kentucky and his students around the world. He is the Educational Ambassador for the Peabody Award winning company, GZMShows. He was the recipient of a National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship to Antarctica, and he also represents Kentucky on the inaugural National Geographic Teacher Advisory Council. He is the North American lead for the Google Earth Education Experts Network, and he was the first teacher in Kentucky to become both a Google Certified Innovator and a Google Certified Trainer. In addition, he was a Featured Voice for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference in 2024. Donnie’s recent work in AI and Edu has gained widespread attention, earning him multiple appearances on Good Morning America, the Associated Press, and PBS. His book, 50 Strategies for Using AI in the Classroom, published by Shell Education, is written for educators looking for practical classroom approaches to using AI to revolutionize their teaching methods and enrich their students’ learning experiences. Donnie graduated from Asbury College and earned his master’s degree from Auburn University at Montgomery. While he has delivered keynotes and presentations to schools in 33 states and 5 continents, his heart remains in the Bluegrass, where he consistently leads professional development sessions for school districts across the state. His unwavering commitment to education and technology continues to impact the lives of countless students and fellow educators.
Teacher Created Materials
Kara Ball currently works as an academic officer for Teacher Created Materials and specializes in science and STEAM education. Additionally, Kara provides professional development in the content areas of math, ELA, science, special education, early childhood, and social studies for schools, districts, teachers, and educational trainers. Prior to joining TCM, Kara served as a district elementary STEM education specialist for Baltimore City Public Schools where she was responsible for curriculum development, training, evaluation, and resource management across 131 schools. Kara received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education from Towson University and a Master of Science in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in Innovative Education at Walden University. Kara is also a national board-certified teacher in early childhood and has been a part of the NBCT organization since 2014.