Keynote & Featured Speakers
Date TBA
Advancing Creative Technologies Education in a Generative AI World
Matt Bower, Macquarie University, Australia
Abstract: Will generative AI lead to the advancement or demise of creative technologies education? There are a range of ways that design tasks involving technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, multimedia, robotics, 3D fabrication technologies and so on can be used to advance the creativity of students. At the same time, the power of generative AI to produce creative outputs based on simple natural language prompts is increasing exponentially. This begs the question, is it still important to develop student creativity using technology? In this keynote, Professor Bower will unpack current research and state-of-the-art relating to creative technologies education alongside research and innovations relating to AI and learning. Based on this research and the evolving technological landscape, he will challenge the audience to contemplate whether and why developing creativity is or is not important, and the implications of the for teaching creativity using technology. Concluding reflections will posit the purpose of education and the role of teachers in an increasingly AI world.
Bio: Matt Bower is a Professor of Educational Technology in the School of Education at Macquarie University. His work focuses on how generative Artificial Intelligence and other contemporary technologies can be used to improve learning outcomes and foster creativity. He has published over one hundred peer-reviewed research papers and is ranked in the top 1% of most cited educational researchers in the world according to Elsevier-Stanford Top Scientists list. Matt was Chair of the Australian Technologies Teacher Educators Network from 2019-2024 and has won multiple national and international awards for his research and teaching. He is also heavily engaged with government, industry and policymaking, for instance, through his work with the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) and contributions to the Australian Framework for Generative AI in Schools.
Thursday, March 26
Education in the AI Era
Jennie Magiera, Global Head of Education Impact, Google, US
Abstract: This talk will offer insights into the deliberate, responsible, and impactful integration of AI into teacher preparation programs and the broader work of educators. Jennie will explore how attendees can leverage AI to equip future and practicing educators with essential skills for a technologically advanced educational landscape, covering topics from future workforce considerations to the nuances of AI literacy.
Bio: Jennie Magiera is the Global Head of Education Impact at Google, the Corwin bestselling author of Courageous Edventures and the founder of the non-profit organization, Our Voice Alliance, whose mission is to elevate marginalized voices and perspectives to improve equity & empathy in education. She also serves on the board of Saga Education. Previously, she was the Chief Program Officer for an edtech company, the Chief Innovation Officer for the Des Plaines School District, the Digital Learning Coordinator for the Academy for Urban School Leadership, and a Chicago Public Schools teacher. Jennie uses her classroom experiences to inform her work supporting educators to create new and better opportunities for their students. She believes that despite the many challenges facing schools today, every classroom can be a place for “edventures”: student-centered, passion-based experiential learning.
Jennie is also passionate about reimagining professional learning to facilitate more relevant teacher support. She has served on the Technical Working Group for the US Department of Education’s National Educational Technology Plan, helped develop the Dynamic Learning Project, and co-founded various conference concepts such as PLAYDATE and Teachers for Tomorrow. She has been recognized for her work as an Obama White House Champion for Change, Chicago Public Schools Innovator of the Year, TEDx Speaker, Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction, ISTE Impact Award Winner, SheRunsIt Working Mothers of the Year, and featured on various programs such as NBC’s Education Nation, C-SPAN’s Reimagining Education and NPR.
Jennie shares her experiences taking risks in the classroom and helping others to feel comfortable doing the same in her book, Courageous Edventures. You can follow her on Twitter at @MsMagiera and learn more about her work and her book at bit.ly/edventuresbook.
Jennie is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and has earned a BA in psychology and history from Columbia University and a MS from University of Illinois at Chicago in Mathematics Education.
