Session I-08 - Topics: Education in the Age of AI; Fostering Student AI Connection

This interactive session aims to bring together faculty, academic advising, and pedagogical counsellors to discuss the state of the classroom and student literacies in the current context of GenAI. Fundamentally, the session asks: what is the purpose of education in an age of hyper-technology? As Hannah Arendt argued, an educational crisis provides the opportunity to reflect on “the role that education plays in every civilization, that is on the obligation that the existence of children entails for every human society.”

Educators recognize the importance of helping students build interpersonal and teamwork skills to support peer learning, collaboration, and career readiness. Yet student engagement—both in and beyond the classroom—remains a challenge. AI has introduced complexity to this, alienating students from their peers as they grow dependent on this tool. How can educators foster connection in their classrooms to engage students in interpersonal skill development? This workshop will explore this question, anchoring participants in key concepts: inclusion and psychological safety.