Insights from the IB Global Conference

In this week’s guest blog, Mrs Hudson-Findley, Director of Digital Learning, Enterprise and Sustainability reflects on the recent IB Global Conference which took place in Budapest, Hungary last month.

At the recent IB Global Conference, ideas flowed on the role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in education today. Mrs Crawford-Smith, our IB PYP Coordinator, and I led a workshop on introducing AI to the Primary Years Programme (PYP), with a particular focus on the How the World Works unit. The positive response from educators worldwide reinforced our commitment to keeping our school at the forefront of this discussion, helping shape the future of AI in early education. 

A central theme at the conference was the shared acknowledgment that AI has moved from a distant possibility to an immediate reality, woven into the fabric of daily life. From the applications on our devices to the algorithms steering our online interactions, AI already exerts a profound influence on our world. As educators, it is our duty to equip students with the skills and knowledge to navigate and thrive in this AI-augmented landscape.

The conference underscored the importance of a balanced approach to AI integration, one that embraces its remarkable potential while remaining mindful of its challenges. Key speakers, including Ali Hassan and Faye Ellis, who led discussions on personalised learning and fostering international-mindedness through AI, highlighted the necessity of human-centred design and ethical frameworks. Echoing this perspective, we encouraged participants in our workshop to view AI not as a substitute for educators but as an empowering tool to enrich learning, fostering essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication.

One particularly compelling aspect of the conference was its emphasis on the tangible application of AI in educational settings. In the AI in Action segment of our workshop, we demonstrated hands-on activities aimed at demystifying AI for young learners. Through engaging tasks such as training AI to recognise images or exploring the AI technology behind everyday tools like voice assistants, students can grasp foundational AI concepts in a manner both accessible and age-appropriate.

Moreover, the conference offered valuable perspectives on the evolving nature of academic integrity in the era of AI. Sessions led by experts Scott Hall and Rita Bateson highlighted the necessity of clear guidelines and open dialogue surrounding the ethical use of AI tools, particularly considering concerns around plagiarism and the potential for AI to diminish original thought.

Our workshop attracted considerable interest, with many educators eager to explore ways of introducing AI concepts to young students. By incorporating visible thinking routines, Padlet activities, and collaborative discussions, we enabled participants to experience firsthand how to engage students in meaningful explorations of AI.

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue our journey in AI and education. The conference has equipped us with a wealth of resources and inspiration, from practical strategies in prompt engineering and ethical AI use to innovative project ideas, such as chatbot design and gamified learning. We are confident that through a thoughtful and forward-looking approach, our school will continue to lead in preparing students for a future in which they are not just passive consumers of AI but active shapers, leveraging its potential for positive impact.