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Cision Canada
10 hours ago
- Science
- Cision Canada
Toronto's AI Education Push Faces a Critical Test: Can It Be Inclusive?
TORONTO, June 12, 2025 /CNW/ - As artificial intelligence transforms industries, Toronto is emerging as a key player in preparing the next generation for a digital world. But a crucial question is now taking center stage: Who gets left behind? That question was front and centre at a high-profile panel during the 94th Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences —Canada's largest academic gathering—held at George Brown College (GBC) from May 30 to June 6, 2025. The session brought together leaders in data science, innovation, and education to explore how Canada can build AI literacy without deepening existing inequalities. The discussion featured Debra Lam, Founding Executive Director of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, Heather Krause, data scientist and founder of We All Count, and Ryan Morrison, moderator and GBC Professor, English as a Second Language ESL. Morrison's current research concerns AI and its impacts on the language arts. He said the pace of change with this technology has been relentless. As he put it, "Every time our [research] group met, something new had happened." "So, I said, 'Whatever, I'll write a white paper.' And within two years, it was already irrelevant," he added. Closing the Innovation-Education Gap The panel emphasized that while AI's potential is enormous, the rollout of AI education must be equitable, deliberate, and community led. Slowing down and piloting thoughtfully is vital, urged Debra Lam. Such work must be done in collaboration between academia, government, and industry. "In academia, the big incentive is publication ... [while the] private sector, they need to provide some sort of return … [and for the] public sector, they need to report to their constituents," she said. "Once we understand what drives them and what their timelines are, then we can meet in the middle … and share the risk if we can do it together." Toronto, with its world-class education institutions, thriving tech ecosystem, and diverse communities, is uniquely positioned to lead this inclusive approach, panelists argued. Yet only if equity is taken into consideration from the outset, not treated as an afterthought. Lessons from Georgia: A Cautionary Tale Lam pointed to her home state of Georgia as an example of what can go wrong when policy outpaces preparation. In 2019, Georgia mandated computer science education for all high school students. But with little investment in training or infrastructure, biology teachers were suddenly tasked with teaching coding. The result: uneven quality and growing disparities between well-resourced and under-resourced schools. Speed alone isn't the goal, the panelists agreed. They argued the priority lies in quality, access, and long-term success in adopted AI in an educational setting. A Blueprint for Purpose-Driven AI Education Despite the challenges, panelists were optimistic. If educators, policymakers, and tech leaders can work together -- grounded in community needs and cultural humility -- Toronto could become a global model for inclusive, future-ready AI education. Not just quickly, but inclusively, and with purpose. George Brown College is helping to shape this future through its Applied A.I. Solutions Development postgraduate program (T431), designed to equip students with real-world AI skills while emphasizing ethics and inclusion. If you're interested in scheduling an interview with one of George Brown College's in-house experts, please reach out to Saron Fanel, External Communications Specialist [email protected]. About George Brown College Toronto's George Brown College is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples. George Brown prepares innovative, adaptable graduates with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. With three campuses in the downtown core, the college blends theory with experiential learning, applied research, and entrepreneurship opportunities. George Brown offers 175 full-time programs and 182 continuing education certificates/designations across a wide variety of professions to more than 30,100 full-time students and receives more than 53,900 continuing education registrations annually. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships, and degrees.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Toronto's AI Education Push Faces a Critical Test: Can It Be Inclusive?
TORONTO, June 12, 2025 /CNW/ - As artificial intelligence transforms industries, Toronto is emerging as a key player in preparing the next generation for a digital world. But a crucial question is now taking center stage: Who gets left behind? That question was front and centre at a high-profile panel during the 94th Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences—Canada's largest academic gathering—held at George Brown College (GBC) from May 30 to June 6, 2025. The session brought together leaders in data science, innovation, and education to explore how Canada can build AI literacy without deepening existing inequalities. The discussion featured Debra Lam, Founding Executive Director of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, Heather Krause, data scientist and founder of We All Count, and Ryan Morrison, moderator and GBC Professor, English as a Second Language ESL. Morrison's current research concerns AI and its impacts on the language arts. He said the pace of change with this technology has been relentless. As he put it, "Every time our [research] group met, something new had happened." "So, I said, 'Whatever, I'll write a white paper.' And within two years, it was already irrelevant," he added. Closing the Innovation-Education Gap The panel emphasized that while AI's potential is enormous, the rollout of AI education must be equitable, deliberate, and community led. Slowing down and piloting thoughtfully is vital, urged Debra Lam. Such work must be done in collaboration between academia, government, and industry. "In academia, the big incentive is publication ... [while the] private sector, they need to provide some sort of return … [and for the] public sector, they need to report to their constituents," she said. "Once we understand what drives them and what their timelines are, then we can meet in the middle … and share the risk if we can do it together." Toronto, with its world-class education institutions, thriving tech ecosystem, and diverse communities, is uniquely positioned to lead this inclusive approach, panelists argued. Yet only if equity is taken into consideration from the outset, not treated as an afterthought. Lessons from Georgia: A Cautionary Tale Lam pointed to her home state of Georgia as an example of what can go wrong when policy outpaces preparation. In 2019, Georgia mandated computer science education for all high school students. But with little investment in training or infrastructure, biology teachers were suddenly tasked with teaching coding. The result: uneven quality and growing disparities between well-resourced and under-resourced schools. Speed alone isn't the goal, the panelists agreed. They argued the priority lies in quality, access, and long-term success in adopted AI in an educational setting. A Blueprint for Purpose-Driven AI Education Despite the challenges, panelists were optimistic. If educators, policymakers, and tech leaders can work together -- grounded in community needs and cultural humility -- Toronto could become a global model for inclusive, future-ready AI education. Not just quickly, but inclusively, and with purpose. George Brown College is helping to shape this future through its Applied A.I. Solutions Development postgraduate program (T431), designed to equip students with real-world AI skills while emphasizing ethics and inclusion. If you're interested in scheduling an interview with one of George Brown College's in-house experts, please reach out to Saron Fanel, External Communications Specialist About George Brown College Toronto's George Brown College is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples. George Brown prepares innovative, adaptable graduates with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. With three campuses in the downtown core, the college blends theory with experiential learning, applied research, and entrepreneurship opportunities. George Brown offers 175 full-time programs and 182 continuing education certificates/designations across a wide variety of professions to more than 30,100 full-time students and receives more than 53,900 continuing education registrations annually. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships, and degrees. SOURCE George Brown College View original content:
Calgary Herald
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Opinion: Teachers deserve better, and so do Alberta families
Article content On April 27, the education minister addressed parents gathered virtually for the Alberta School Councils' Association (ASCA) Spring Symposium. It should have been a moment of genuine connection with the parents who volunteer their time to help improve our schools. Article content Article content Instead, it felt like a hollow performance, ignoring the urgent concerns echoed by families across the province. Article content Article content ASCA is a pillar of parental engagement in education. It supports more than 1,500 school councils and 50,000 parent volunteers across Alberta, yet its funding was slashed by 90 per cent in 2022. Article content Article content What used to be a free symposium for registered school council members now costs $95 per attendee. Parent councils are forced to use their $500 Alberta School Council Engagement Grant — or pay out of pocket — just to access essential resources and workshops. That leaves $400 for the rest of the school year to support essential resources and seminars on mental health, well-being, cyberbullying and support for English as an Additional Language (EAL) families. Article content Meanwhile, Alberta classrooms are at a breaking point. Students face overcrowded rooms, reduced access to mental-health supports and a growing number of complex learning needs. Teachers are burning out. Article content And now, in a direct response to these conditions, they have rejected a government-mediated contract and are considering a strike vote. Within weeks, we could see rotating strikes, cancelled extracurriculars or worse — a full walkout in June, just as Grade 12 students prepare for final exams and post-secondary transitions. Article content Article content And yet, the government insists it's doing enough. Budget 2025 earmarked $9.9 billion for education. But the Alberta Teachers' Association has made it clear — that's not enough. They estimate that the budget needs to increase by at least 15.8 per cent, bringing it to $11.35 billion, just to reach the national average for per-student funding. Article content Instead of confronting the crisis, the government is doubling down on distractions. The School Construction Accelerator Program promises 90 new schools in the next seven years, but our kids need help now. These new schools won't be built in time to help the students sitting on the floors of overcrowded classrooms today. They won't provide the educational assistants, specialist supports and mental-health resources our schools desperately need. Article content As a parent of three children in the Calgary Board of Education and the chair of the Valley Creek School Parent Council, I hear daily from families overwhelmed by this growing crisis. Parents are being pushed to the brink — financially, emotionally and logistically — while the government continues to underinvest in our children's futures.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fox Cities Chambers honors 10 teachers for 2025 Excellence in Education Shining Star
APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – 10 local teachers were awarded for their excellence as educators and honored during a ceremony on Thursday night in Appleton. The Fox Cities Chamber announced the recipients of their 2025 Excellence in Education Shining Star Awards. The 10 recipients were chosen from a pool of 245 nominees. Menasha Dunkin' Donuts fundraises to help law enforcement provide on-scene support for victims The following educators were the recipients for their work: Johnston Elementary's Karissa Ring – Kindergarten Freedom Elementary's Tracy Larson – Special Education Little Chute High School's Eugene Wall – Special Education Park Community Charter School's Jennie Gries – 2nd Grade Freedom Elementary's Penny Kurkiewicz – 1st Grade Freedom High School's Sarah Heezen – Agriculture Fox Valley Lutheran's Jill Dolan – Art Neenah Joint School District's Kate Dickinson – English as a Second Language (ESL) Kaukauna High School's Kyle Dunphy – Technology Education Hortonville Area School District's Jillian Prahl – Family and Consumer Sciences Fox Cities Chamber President and CEO Becky Bartoszek said it's an honor to be able to commemorate local educators, who are shaping the minds of the youth of today and adults of tomorrow. 'It's about recognizing those people that are shaping the future of our workforce and our community,' Bartoszek said. 'The business community will only continue to grow and thrive if our next generation is prepared for the challenges that come.' Local award winning barbers express pride in representing Green Bay at Midwest barbershop competitions The honorees were celebrated during an event, emceed by Local 5's Lisa Malak and Millaine Wells at the Butte des Morts Country Club in Appleton. Each honoree was chosen by a volunteer panel of Fox Cities education professionals. Read more about each of the honorees on the Fox Cities Chambers website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
