- Tuesday 25 Mar 2025
- Wednesday 2 Apr 2025
- Thursday 10 Apr 2025
Tuesday 25 Mar 2025
6:30 pm
During this time, you can connect with other attendees, join in conversation, and meet with the sponsors/representatives present in the area.
6:45 pm
Join us in the Main Event Room for our official welcome and orientation for the evening.
7:00 pm
AI and Mathematics
Cal ArmstrongRoom A
chatOAME is the Ontario-based AI chatbot for Ontario mathematics educators. Join us as we explore how best to use chatOAME for the elementary, middle and high school math classroom. We'll look at prompts used by actual Ontario teachers and how they were effective, and how they could be improved. How can you best leverage AI to save time, improve your lessons and refine your assessment tools. And maybe save some time with report cards, too!
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
GenAI Pedagogical Strategies
Neil AndersenRoom B
A range of GenAI Pedagogical Strategies for students and teachers will explore a variety of GenAI apps and uses, with an emphasis on critical thinking skills ABOUT GenAI.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Support without Substitution: How AI Tools Might Help K-8 Teachers Keep Teaching Effectively and Ethically
Diana MaliszewskiRoom C
In our enthusiasm for embracing technological innovations, it’s important to be deliberate and selective about how, where, and when to use GenAI, in ways that demonstrate that human educators are still necessary and cannot be merely replaced with teaching-bots. Participants will dabble with familiar (Chat GPT, Microsoft Co-Pilot, Magic School AI, Diffit, Canva, Brisk) as well as some newer (Curricumate, Google Gemini) GenAI tools, and discuss how to be transparent and accountable in our pedagogical practices. Our conversations, as elementary school professionals, can provide modeling for other teachers and students in the appropriate and ethical use of Large Language Model (LLM) tools in education.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Student Panel: AI & the Future Student: Skills for Success
STUDENTS: Swanish Baweja, Akshit Erukulla, Konark Gupta, Arkajit Paul, Aaron Sethi, & Danny Zhang. MODERATOR: Nathalie RudnerRoom D
What skills do students need in an AI-driven world? Join finalists from the STEM Fellowship High School Big Data Challenge for a vital panel discussion. These students, who used AI to address social inequities, will share their insights on education's future.
They'll explore AI as a learning tool and the essential skills students must develop: critical thinking, adaptability, and ethical reasoning. Hear firsthand how they applied AI to real-world problems and how this shaped their views.
This panel offers a unique opportunity to understand the student perspective on navigating an AI-infused future. Engage in a dynamic conversation and learn how we can best prepare the next generation for success.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
7:30 pm
Cognitive offloading and AI: Are we sure we want students offloading that cognitive work?
Steven FloydRoom A
When individuals use AI, there are times when they are "offloading" some of the cognitive work involved in the task, to the tool being used. As educators, we need to be careful that we are certain about what types of cognitive work we want our students offloading.
We also need to continually ask ourselves what is the goal of the task being assigned, is it to obtain a completed work, or is it to move the student through a learning journey, through stages that help "construct" knowledge or skills?
In this session we will consider the big picture of AI in education and ask questions related to how students learn and when it's appropriate for our students, and ourselves, to use AI. We will consider the positive struggle sometimes involved in learning and the need to ensure that this opportunity still exists for our students. We will also consider how knowledge and skills are developed and the impact that the use of AI tools might have on this process.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
8:00 pm
Behind the curtain : What's going on with AI
Cal ArmstrongRoom A
Starting from the mathematics (framed for the non-mathematician) and building up through the layers of computer science, data science and probability, we'll look at how AI makes its answers and how and why it is both wrong and biased. We'll look at how mechanisms within the AI tools try to mediate "wrong and biased" and what the impacts are for teacher, student and general public use.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Content Creation with AI
Lynn ThomasRoom B
Join this exciting session on creating educational content using AI! Discover how to enhance your teaching materials with AI-generated images, develop engaging lesson plans, and design tailored assignments. Learn to create differentiated materials and leveled texts that cater to all learning abilities, and explore the world of gamified lessons to make learning fun. We'll also cover how to write effective quizzes and develop assessment rubrics with AI. This hands-on session provides practical prompts and experimentation time, giving you the tools to revolutionize your classroom.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Harnessing the Power of Custom GPTs for Educators: Transforming Teaching with AI
Peter BeensRoom C
In this session, discover how Custom GPTs can streamline lesson planning, assessments, and student support. You'll gain classroom-ready resources aligned with Ontario’s curriculum, plus hands-on experience with AI tools to enhance teaching efficiency.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Adaptive Learning Systems Using Ai
Aman Sahota & Melissa DentRoom D
Education is due for a change in assessment and measurements. Focusing on durable skills, personalization and work force readiness will be critical in the world of Ai. During this much needed change in education, Ai is moving faster than we can keep up. Join this session to demystify myths and truths of Ai. Learn about how to maintain privacy, keep data safe and learn about the different Ai models as well as the latest advancements in chain of thought, reasoning, agents and much more!
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Wednesday 2 Apr 2025
6:30 pm
During this time, you can connect with other attendees, join in conversation, and meet with the sponsors/representatives present in the area.
6:45 pm
Join us in the Main Event Room for our official welcome and orientation for the evening.
7:00 pm
Educator Panel: AI in Education: A Collaborative Conversation
PANEL: Neil Andersen, Geoffrey Edwards, Clayton Ellis, Melissa Oliver, Heidi Siwak. MODERATOR: Nathalie RudnerRoom A
Hear from our panel of educators who are exploring the best ways to integrate AI and the skills needed into their curriuclum. Join our panel as they discuss the challenges, opportunities, and way forward in a world of AI. Hear from a diverse panel of educators – teachers, administrators, and superintendents – from across Ontario as they share their unique perspectives on the role of AI in our classrooms. We'll explore the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI, focusing on how it can enhance both teaching and learning. Join us for a lively discussion and contribute to shaping the future of AI in education.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Blah to Brilliant: CANVA's Smart Tools
Anu BahriRoom B
Unlock the magic of CANVA's AI tools! Learn how Magic Design, Text-to-Image, and Magic Edit can transform your everyday teaching materials into stunning imaginative visuals. Discover time-saving features that make creating engaging visual content effortless while fostering creativity and digital literacy.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
AI in Secondary Education: Practical Integration Strategies
Jonathon BloomfieldRoom C
This session is a more concise version of a professional development workshop I facilitated on AI in Secondary Education for a TCDSB high school in early February.
Drawing from my experience in educational technology development and integration, this interactive session explores both the opportunities and challenges AI presents.
Participants will explore specific examples of both beneficial AI applications and potential challenges, helping them make informed decisions about AI integration in their own teaching practice.
We'll analyze AI benchmarks, real classroom scenarios, and share successful approaches for using AI as a learning aid rather than a shortcut.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
8:00 pm
De simples notes en présentation en quelques clics !
Nabila BensadekRoom A
Comment transformer vos notes de cours de sciences en présentation Powerpoint en quelques clics.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Part 1: Work Smarter, Not Harder – Let AI Be Your Teaching Sidekick!
Melissa OliverRoom B
Let’s face it—teaching is so much more than just teaching. Between endless emails, lesson planning marathons, and the dreaded report card season, it can feel like there’s never enough time in the day. But what if AI could take some of that workload off your shoulders? In this session, we’ll explore how AI can automate the not-so-fun parts of teaching—like drafting parent emails, generating lesson plans, organizing resources, and even tackling assessment tasks. Think of AI as your ever-ready, never-tired assistant, here to give you back your evenings and weekends. If you love the idea of working smarter (not harder) and want to reclaim your time, this session is for you! Be sure to check out @thattech.teacher on Instagram for more ideas..
NOTE: This session is followed by the session, "Part 2: AI in the Classroom – Your Secret Weapon for Engaging Lessons!" which takes place on April 10th at 7:00 PM ET.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Can We Trust AI? A Conversation on Safety and Responsibility
German ArcilaRoom C
Is AI friend or foe? The answer depends on how well we understand its impact. This AI Safety program empowers you to take control of your digital future. Discover the secrets of your data and how it's used by AI. Become a media-savvy citizen by learning to spot misinformation and deepfakes. And, most importantly, understand your responsibilities as a user (and future developer!) of generative AI tools. Walk away with the skills you need to thrive in the age of artificial intelligence.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
From AI Users to AI Thinkers: Helping Students Navigate AI’s Power, Risks, and Ethics
Heidi SiwakRoom D
AI is already shaping the way we live, learn, and work—but how well do we really understand it? This session will equip you with the essential knowledge to help students navigate the complexities of AI with confidence.
Join Heidi as she shares insights and learning from I-Think’s Artificial Intelligence Challenge Kit, a hands-on and curriculum-connected resource for grades 6-12; that empowers students to think critically about AI—its possibilities, risks, and ethical implications. You’ll explore key concepts every student (and teacher) should know, from how AI actually works to bias, common misconceptions, and its real-world impact.
More than 3,700 Ontario students have already tackled this challenge—helping them develop problem-solving skills and agency in how AI shapes their future. Now, it’s your turn. Learn how to bring Real-World Problem Solving into your classroom and ensure your students aren’t just using AI—they’re thinking critically about it.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
8:30 pm
L'IA au service de la différenciation pédagogique en sciences : personnaliser pour mieux enseigner
R. Lotfi DjemaiRoom A
Cette session vise à explorer comment l'intelligence artificielle (IA) permet d'adapter l'enseignement des sciences aux besoins individuels des élèves. Elle présentera des outils concrets pour créer des parcours d'apprentissage personnalisés, évaluer en temps réel et stimuler l'engagement.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Thursday 10 Apr 2025
6:30 pm
During this time, you can connect with other attendees, join in conversation, and meet with the sponsors/representatives present in the area.
6:45 pm
Join us in the Main Event Room for our official welcome and orientation for the evening.
7:00 pm
Debating a Chatbot
Dan GajewskiRoom A
No time to arrange a video call with that oil sands CEO about climate mitigation? No problem! Creating a chatbot helps students to have conversations with various characters with different lenses. Power-up your student's critical thinking by challenging arguments where the debating partner is prepared to meet students where they're at. Relevant for a wide variety of learners in a broad range of subjects.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
What your students want you to do about GenAI
Míchílín Ní ThreasaighRoom B
This session will share the findings of a youth participatory action research project with a destreamed grade 9 English class. Students sought to answer the question, "How might we help our school use generative AI to enrich and augment the lives and possibilities for every student at our school?". It will share students' top concerns and excitements about Generative AI, along with their recommendations for the school leadership team and faculty. Many of these suggestions can be implemented immediately by individual teachers without requiring a whole school approach or major time commitment.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Leveraging AI for Enhanced School Administration
Annie Slater & Artemis ManoukasRoom C
In this presentation, we will explore the transformative potential of AI in enhancing work efficiency and supporting the diverse needs of school communities. AI can significantly improve work/life balance for School Principals by automating routine administrative tasks, enabling them to focus on strategic leadership. For student learning, AI facilitates differentiated instruction by providing personalized learning experiences and real-time feedback, fostering better communication and collaboration among students and teachers. Additionally, AI supports staff professional learning through tailored professional development programs and resources. School Administrators can leverage AI to strengthen their school community by enhancing communication with parents/guardians, providing timely updates, and creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all stakeholders. Join us to discover how AI can revolutionize school administration and create a more efficient, collaborative, and supportive educational ecosystem.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Your SchoolAI Teaching Assistant
Dana Connors & Brittanie GoodfellowRoom D
- our session will explore the various tools of SchoolAI and how we use them to support our planning while also supporting our student learning
- In this session you can learn about chatbots for students and educators
- You can learn about tools for creating Newsletters, decodable texts, homework bingo, and so much more!
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Part 2: AI in the Classroom – Your Secret Weapon for Engaging Lessons!
Melissa OliverRoom E
What if I told you that AI could help you personalize learning, differentiate instruction, and create engaging lessons without adding extra work to your plate? In this session, we’ll dive into how AI can be your behind-the-scenes teaching assistant—helping you generate creative lesson ideas, adapt materials for different learning needs, and even design interactive activities that captivate students. Even if your school isn’t on board with students using AI, you can still harness its power to make your planning more efficient and your lessons more dynamic. Whether you’re an AI skeptic or an eager early adopter, this session will give you practical, time-saving strategies that make teaching more fun (and a whole lot less exhausting). Be sure to check out @thattech.teacher on Instagram for more ideas.
Note: This session follows on from the session, "Part 1: Work Smarter, Not Harder – Let AI Be Your Teaching Sidekick!," which takes place on April 2nd at 8:00 PM.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
7:30 pm
The Beauty of Dual Intelligence in the Age of AI—Engaging with CHATOAME as the “More Knowledgable Other”
Cynthia ShiRoom A
In this 25-minute session, Cynthia will share her firsthand experience as a beta tester using ChatOAME in lesson planning. She will highlight the AI’s strengths in accomplishing various tasks effectively and how it has supported her in designing a Grade 9 Math class. Cynthia will introduce a practical framework for crafting prompts that stimulate greater creativity from AI based on Bloom's Taxonomy. She believes in the synergy between human and machine intelligence, each pushing the other toward continuous improvement. Through real examples, Cynthia will demonstrate how ChatOAME has become a valuable professional development partner, helping her refine lesson design and generate fresh ideas. This session will provide insights into working alongside AI to inspire innovation in education.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Bringing Science to Life: AI Solutions for Future-Ready Classroom
Michael SchmidtRoom B
Let’s explore how AI tools like Brisk AI can enhance science lessons for grades 7-10. Teachers will learn to create engaging hooks, inquiry-based activities, and interactive demos to make science more dynamic and foster student collaboration.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
8:00 pm
AI and Bias: Addressing Racial Inequities in STEM
Jolly-Béatrice ToussaintRoom A
In this session, we'll critically examine AI biases that perpetuate inequities in STEM education and careers. Participants will explore case studies and learn strategies to ensure AI tools are used ethically and equitably in the classroom.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Nurturing Healthy Digital Environments
Sam Sirianni & Haley ClarkeRoom B
Do you feel your students have the skills and strategies to be digitally literate? In today's increasingly digital world, it's more important than ever to equip your students with the skills and strategies they need to navigate online environments safely and effectively. This Let's Talk Science session will prepare you to help students become digitally literate by developing effective strategies for maintaining physical and mental health in the context of digital technology use.
This session is for K-Gr. 6 educators.
Let’s Talk Science is a national charitable organization that offers free, curriculum-aligned, online educational programs and resources in K–12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects for both students and educators in English and French. www.letstalkscience.ca
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Teaching AI Made Easy: Experience AI Resources for Educators
German ArcilaRoom C
Experience AI empowers teachers to introduce AI/ML to their students. Developed with Raspberry Pi & DeepMind, it offers ready-to-use lesson plans, videos & activities for all educators. No coding or microcontrollers required
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
AI Through Educators’ Eyes: In-Service Teachers’ Perspectives
Grace MirenziRoom D
This session shares insights from a qualitative study on in-service Ontario teachers’ perceptions of AI. Attendees will explore the unique ways in which local educators navigate AI’s promises and challenges in the classroom.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
The Role of AI in Art (songwriting)
Susan IbachRoom E
Looking for an AI workshop for your students that teaches how to use AI as well as the limitations and ethics of AI? In this session, you will get hands on as we take you on a tour of a workshop that explores AI as a tool to write song lyrics. Based on the AI literacy skills defined in the UNESCO AI Competency Framework for students, this workshop is a great way to prepare your students for a future where AI is fast becoming as common as a Google search. Topics covered include: How AI works, limitations of AI, how to write prompts for generative AI, and ethical considerations surrounding generative AI such as plagiarism and copyright. This workshop isn't just theory! Students who complete the workshop create song lyrics with and without AI and hear from an Indigenous songwriter on AI as a songwriting tool. Designed for students grade 6+, this workshop does not require any software installation or account creation. Technical specifications on the AI services used in the workshop are documented to facilitate any school or school board AI software approval processes.
Session Recording and Slide Deck
This content is available to registered attendees of the explorAItion! conference.
Conference Updates
Thank you to all of you for making explorAItion! 2025 a success.
- Thank you to our registrants and attendees.
- Thank you to our presenters.
- Thank you to our moderators.
- Thank you to our sponsors!
Recordings from all 29 sessions have been uploaded and embedded between the descriptions and the biographies on the Schedule page.
- Registered attendees can watch (and rewatch) any and all of the recordings.
- Slide decks will be added as we receive them.
- Enjoy and learn!
Sponsors
Room - Theme/Track
A – Emerging Technologies
B – CS Teaching Resources
C – Computer Engineering
D – STEAM
E – Coding Across the Curriculum
F – Robotics
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