Our Approach to AI in Education
Our events and services are based on research, field practice, systematic testing, and informed predictions of where AI technologies are heading. From these experiences, five foundational assumptions inform our work:
The presence and influence of artificial intelligence will only continue to grow, so in our design of learning opportunities, we must always assume educators and students will try to use it.
There are both concerns to be addressed and benefits to be capitalized on when using AI, and we must be clear from the start what our needs and intentions are.
AI did not create cheating, plagiarism, and fake information; it is an amplifier of both good and bad human endeavors. As such, it exposes existing problems in our practice, demanding that we rethink and alter the status quo.
The point of our work as teachers and learners is not the tools we use or the products that come from them, but how we use them to improve our lives, how we evaluate the harms and benefits of using them, and what we are (critically) thinking while employing them.
We will always focus on humankind, asking the question with each decision before us, “How will this help people?” That goes double when we are responsible for children.
We believe that some AI tools, when used judiciously and mindfully, have the potential to enrich our lives, freeing us from mundane and rote tasks so we can focus more on the creative and meaningful endeavors we care about, and leveling the playing field for those who have historically not had as much access to supportive resources.
It is not our intention to recommend or dissuade the use of these tools. In our workshops, we strive to give communities the skills, knowledge, and understandings to make their own good decisions.
Upcoming Events
Disabilities, Neurodiversity & AI
Open to the entire community
Generator Makerspace, Burlington
JANUARY 15, 2026
Registration opens early December
Previous Events
First Annual Summit on AI in the Classroom
for Secondary Educators
June 27, 2024 • Hula Lakeside, Burlington
A sold-out crowd of over 100 educators and school supporters gathered for a day of interactive learning and networking at the beautiful Hula Lakeside coworking complex. Participants discussed real concerns and potential benefits of these new technologies and experimented with how AI could transform education for the better.
“I appreciated the positive approach to AI, dispelling myths, and [how to] navigate and use it as a classroom tool.”
-S.R., High School ELA Teacher
“The very practical set of docs shared with us was most beneficial! I will be using the part three problem planning doc as I create two new units this summer.”
- M.C. High School Humanities Teacher
Lead Facilitator
Marc Natanagara, Ed.D
Teacher, Administrator & Education Consultant
Closing Keynote
Casey Mock
Chief Policy & Public Affairs Officer, Center for Humane Technology
Presenter
Juniper Lovato, PhD
Assistant Professor UVM Department of Computer Science
Student Panel
Cathy Resmer
Seven Days Vermont Deputy Publisher, Tech Jam organizer
AI in the Classroom
for Elementary Educators
September 27, 2024 • VSU Randolph
Teachers and administrators from the PK to grade 5 gathered on a beautiful fall day at Vermont State University’s sprawling Randolph campus to discuss what role elementary teachers fulfill in preparing children for a world in which artificial intelligence is everywhere. Facilitators and participants delved into different ways of thinking about AI, how to improve student understanding of concepts like computational thinking at an early age, how to minimize screen time in our work with technology, and what AI applications teachers can use to boost their productivity and creativity.
“Meeting the aiVermont team, trainers, and teachers was so beneficial to me.”
–H.S., Elementary CTE and Computer Science Teacher
“Cutting-edge and engaging. I now have tools to bring back to both students and fellow teachers.”
–A.P., District Digital Learning Leader
Next Steps on AI in Education
for Secondary Educators
November 21, 2024 • Generator Makerspace, Burlington
A sold-out crowd of teachers and administrators filled the conference room of the vibrant and inspiring Generator Makerspace to apply concepts and mindsets from the June 2024 summit. Through seven practical exercises, participants learned to “meta-prompt” generative AI, flip instruction with NotebookLM, and design activities that intentionally include or exclude the use of AI.
“My lead teachers need to attend this kind of workshop, with the emphasis on work versus just talking and theorizing. I hope you can offer one at least every quarter of the year!”
–R.G., District Director of Technology
Artificial Intelligence in Higher Ed: Opportunities, Applications, and Questions
for UVM College of Education and Social Services Faculty, Staff and Administrators
January 7, 2025 • University of Vermont Davis Center
This January workshop gave us the opportunity to see where K-12 knowledge is headed, making sure students are well prepared for higher education and their lives beyond. For this full day event, we gathered professionals from multiple content areas and departments within the CESS to talk policy and practice and to test diverse applications of AI from research and the field.
“Everything we discussed and worked on is relevant to today’s classrooms and students (and honestly, life in general). I found it helpful and invigorating. It was a privilege to get to spend concentrated time on something I think is really important and worth embracing!”
–UVM Academic Chair
Mental Health and AI Panel and Discussion
for Vermont community members
March 20, 2025 • Hula Lakeside, Burlington
For this spirited event on an issue clearly of concern to many, we went beyond our education focus, tapping into the expertise of three expert panelists from very different but surprisingly complementary fields to discuss the use of artificial intelligence as “therapist.” Moderated by Dr. Marc and with plenty of audience participation, we dug into the state of mental health today, how AI is impacting our well being, how people are using AI for personal support, and how we can understand its limitations, hazards, and potential so we can make informed decisions.
“This was a great event! I really appreciated hearing from these panelists and I was surprised by the great questions and dialogue.”
–C.R.. media specialist / community member
Second Annual Summit on Education and AI
for preK to University Educators
June 28, 2025 • Hula Lakeside, Burlington
Our gatherings will always welcome (and need!) the adept and the apprentice, the sold and the skeptical. Yet it was clear that our participants have come a long way since June 2024. Not only did we raise the level of content and conversation, to keep things interesting and test new learning strategies, we added several different formats to this year’s conference. We surveyed the past year in the news, culture, and classrooms through headlines and examples. Vermont’s own explAInED podcast team interviewed state leaders and students on AI use. Burlington High School’s Philosophy Club Debate Team did an exercise with the audience on AI and ethics. And participants “broke out” into small groups for facilitated discussions on nine focus topics. We also welcomed Education Secretary Zoie Saunders as a special guest!
“I appreciate all of the work you all do and am so thankful for this resource in VT.”
–S.W., Academic Coach, Teacher/Professor
Next Steps 2.0 for AI & Education
All Disciplines, PreK - College
October 2, 2025 • Generator Makerspace, Burlington
A capacity crowd of educators filled the Generator Makerspace to wrestle with the meaning of “AI literacy” for real classrooms. Rather than accept off-the-shelf frameworks, we compared definitions in use (including high-profile models) and named what matters most here: student safety, agency, and purposeful learning. Through brisk rounds of small-group work, participants drafted practical guardrails and classroom moves to keep AI use deliberate, ethical, and instructionally sound—leaving with language, examples, and allies to carry back to their schools.
“First one I've been to - I was impressed with the knowledge, skill and pacing of the presenter!“
— Middle School Principal
Media Literacy & AI in our Public Libraries
Hosted by Vermont Library Association with a focus on librarians
October 6, 2025 • Aldrich Public Library, Barre VT
This six-hour, hands-on forum gathered librarians to examine AI through a public-service lens. Drawing on deep media and information literacy expertise—and voicing sharp concerns about authors’ rights, scams, and environmental impact—the group balanced healthy skepticism with patrons’ real needs. Together, participants drafted a practical, values-driven definition of AI literacy: recognizing AI content, using tools purposefully, weighing social and ethical implications, understanding limits, supporting community use, and keeping human judgment at the center.
Event photos by Michael Metz