Dozens of educators from New York Jewish day schools learned how they can use artificial intelligence to elevate student learning, be more responsive to their students, and make their own teaching more targeted and efficient at an interactive workshop hosted by the Jewish Education Project, which raises the educational conversation and educational practice in Jewish day schools.
“The AI conference was a transformative experience for me as an educator with little prior AI experience,” said Ruth Fried, chair of the science department at Yeshiva University High School for Girls. “The speakers helped me shift my perspective from questioning AI’s role in education to embracing it as a powerful tool. I immediately introduced three AI tools to my students, colleagues and learning center that make complex texts more accessible or serve as valuable research aids, including Diffit.com, ChatGPT and Ellicit.com. In just a short time, these AI tools have enhanced learning across my school community. I’m excited to continue exploring AI’s potential to support student engagement and academic growth.”
“AI is the newest technological tool that we as citizens, and specifically we as educators, need to understand and ultimately harness because it has benefits for teaching and student learning,” said Gary Pretsfelder, senior manager for professional learning and growth for New York day schools at the Jewish Education Project. “While the power and reach of AI is nothing short of a transformational revolution in-the-making regarding how we work, communicate, learn and teach,” to say nothing about think, relate, produce and dream, “we believe that it is a tool that, when used intentionally and correctly, offers all of us a powerful aid in our daily lives.”
The workshop was designed to offer practical and hands-on experience with the tools and AI approaches so educators can begin to directly use them. The workshop included sessions like “Foundations of AI” and “Practical Usages of AI in Education—What’s Possible?” Teachers also learned best practices for teaching students how to leverage AI both in the classroom and beyond.
“As our world continues to grow and change, the Jewish Education Project is committed to ensuring that AI adoption in education is grounded in sound pedagogy, ethical use, and research-informed practice,” said Rivkah Schack, senior director of educational technology and digital strategy for the Jewish Education Project. “By aligning professional development with the latest in cognitive science and educational design, the agency is positioning Jewish educators to lead with both curiosity and responsibility in the AI era.”