Breakout Sessions

Where Curiosity Meets Practice: Engage, explore, expand. Curated sessions designed to spark new ideas in EdTech

 
 
Douglas Kiang

Douglas Kiang

Computer Science | Menlo School

You Must Use AI In This Course: Discover how teaching with "AI-Forward" strategies unlocks creativity, uncovers patterns hidden in data, and transforms students from passive learners into empowered creators. In this bold and inspiring keynote, Douglas Kiang invites educators to reimagine the role of AI not as a threat, but as a catalyst for deeper thinking, ethical reasoning, and meaningful collaboration. Through powerful stories, classroom-tested examples, and a touch of humor, this talk will challenge assumptions and spark new ideas about what’s possible when teachers lead the AI revolution—and shape the future of learning itself.

Mike Mendelsen

Mike Mendelsen

CTO | sideby

What if teaching AI wasn’t just about technical fluency, but about transforming how students see themselves as learners, makers, and citizens? In this interactive breakout session, Mike — former AI educator at NVIDIA, high school teacher, and current CTO/co-founder at sideby — will explore how a transformational approach to learning can deepen AI understanding and empower educators to lead with clarity and conscience. Participants will engage with real-world examples from classrooms, industry training programs, and edtech product design to see how transformational pedagogy can accelerate learning about this technology and because of this technology. Come ready to discuss, demo, and design ways to bring AI to life in your context through a learning-first, human-centered lens.

Chelsea Hatchard

Chelsea Hatchard

Districts Partnership | Khan Academy

The Power of Khanmigo and Human Connection: Elevating Learning Without Losing What Matters. This session will explore how AI can be a tool for amplifying—not replacing—teacher impact, fostering deeper relationships, and creating more equitable, student-centered learning experiences. We’ll unpack real-world examples of AI in action and highlight strategies for maintaining the heart of teaching—human connection, creativity, and authentic engagement. Join us for a thought-provoking, interactive session that challenges AI fear narratives and instead empowers educators to harness its potential while staying deeply connected to students.

Sarah Ridenour

Sarah Ridenour

Director of Learning and Strategic Outreach | Sterne School

Empowering Every Learner: Integrating AI with Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Discover how the power of artificial intelligence can enhance inclusive teaching practices through the lens of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This session explores how AI tools can support flexible, student-centered learning by offering personalized content, adaptive assessments, and multimodal engagement strategies. We’ll dive into real classroom applications and share practical tips for using AI to meet the diverse needs of all learners. Whether you're just beginning to explore AI or already experimenting with it, this session will offer concrete ways to deepen equity and access in your teaching practice.

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