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5.25 Webinar PD HOURS

Event Details

13/03/2025

9.00am - 3.00pm - Log on at 8.45am (Victorian Time)

Webinar via Zoom

Upper Primary & all Secondary Teachers, Administrators, and Senior Management

$289 + GST

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Booking Conditions

No applications for this program will be accepted after all vacancies have been filled. Unsuccessful applicants will have their monies refunded in full. Cancellation prior to two weeks before the program date (cut-off date) will incur a 15% service charge per applicant. This program will be payable in full for cancellations made on or after the cut-off date or for failure to attend the program. All cancellations must be in writing and emailed to us. In the event of insufficient applications this program will not proceed and registration monies be fully refunded. In the event of this program being cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances registration monies only will be refunded as Critical Agendas will not accept liability for the payment of any other associated costs. Critical Agendas reserves the right to vary the advertised programs prior to commencement. Please note Critical Agendas reserves the right to transfer participants from face to face to webinar format with price adjustments (if required), should minimum numbers not be met for face to face event

Advancing AI in Education – Ethics, Practical Tools, and Hands-On Development

Join us for an immersive three-session workshop designed to equip educators with essential knowledge and skills to harness AI in the classroom confidently and ethically. As AI reshapes education, these sessions offer both strategic insight and practical tools, ensuring that teachers are aware of the Victorian Government’s policies on AI and feel empowered to apply AI effectively and responsibly.

8.45am – 9.00am – Log On.

9.00 am – 10.45 am – Session 1 – James Smith – Foundations of AI Ethics and Practical AI Tools for Educators

This first session establishes the foundations of ethical AI use in education, focusing on Victorian Government policy guidelines and the ethical considerations educators must navigate. Attendees will explore practical AI tools for teaching and learning, such as AI-powered lesson planning, assessment, and real-time feedback tools. The session concludes with a hands-on introduction to prompt engineering, allowing educators to craft effective prompts that optimise AI interactions in diverse educational contexts.

10.45 am – 11.15 am – Morning Tea.

11.15 am – 1.00pm  – Session 2 – Chris Bush – Advanced Applications – Custom GPT’s, Chatbots and Voice AI for Tutoring 

In our second session, we transition to advanced applications, guiding educators through the creation of custom GPTs and student chatbots. Participants will learn to build and customise AI tools tailored to their classroom needs, enabling personalised support and content delivery. We’ll demonstrate student-focused chatbots in action, providing educators with a clear vision of how these tools can answer questions, support tutoring, and facilitate interactive learning. Additionally, educators will engage with AI voice tools, experiencing first-hand their potential for real-time tutoring and support. The session wraps up with dedicated hands-on time, allowing participants to refine their custom GPTs and prompt engineering skills with direct support from facilitators.

1.00pm – 1.45pm – Lunch

1.45pm – 3.30pm – Session 3 – Andrew Douch – Uneathing AI Gems that spark Joy in the Classroom

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, hundreds of AI tools are now available, with new ones emerging daily—making it nearly impossible to keep up! While many of these tools offer limited value to teachers, there are opals hidden amongst the ‘potch’. The purpose of attending a conference like this one is to go back to school having uncovered some valuable gems!

AI can be leveraged for various purposes: saving time, differentiating for students of diverse abilities, or reducing teacher workload—all valuable applications, but the focus of this workshop is to look for AI gems that will bring joy to both you and your students.

We will delve into a range of AI tools designed to enhance the vibrancy of your teaching. We’ll explore ways to make PowerPoint presentations more engaging through storytelling, analogies, and humour—enriched by AI-generated images and music. Additionally, we’ll look at creative strategies to boost student engagement with AI-enabled projects like topical songwriting and develop inclusive, curriculum-tailored quizzes and games.

3.30pm Close

Critical Agendas Speaker
Presented by Critical Agendas

James Smith

James Smith was the Head of English, Humanities and the Advanced Learning Program at Alphington Grammar School. He holds a Master of Teaching (Secondary) and a Master of Education (Student Wellbeing), along with a Graduate Certificate in Educational Research, which focused on using digital technologies to teach writing explicitly. James’ research interests extend to the field of artificial intelligence, where he has collaborated with AI engineers to design the two multi-modal, large language model architectures, which are now pending patent approval. James views artificial intelligence as having the potential to reduce burnout in teachers and improve academic outcomes for students, however he firmly believes that any adoption by schools must keep the teachers “in the loop”.

Critical Agendas Speaker
Presented by Critical Agendas

Andrew Douch

Andrew Douch is an independent education consultant and a teacher with 22 years classroom experience. His use of educational technology, including those used to flip his classes , has won him numerous awards, including an Australian Government Award for Quality Schooling, the Victorian Education Excellence Award for Curriculum Innovation, the Microsoft
Worldwide Innovative Teacher of the Year and an IMS Global Learning Impact Leadership Award.His mantra is “You don’t need to be very good with technology to do very good things with technology”. Rather teachers need a willingness to question their 20th Century paradigms and rethink their roles as educators in a world where information is available on-demand and communication is instantaneous.

Critical Agendas Speaker
Presented by Critical Agendas

Chris Bush

Chris Bush is a Melbourne-based AI expert, educator, and consultant with over a decade of experience leading innovations in secondary schools. A pioneer in integrating AI into schools, Chris empowers educators to harness AI’s potential to transform teaching, enhance student engagement, and foster inclusive learning environments. His workshops make AI accessible and actionable, helping reduce burnout, streamline planning and assessment, and reimagine classroom experiences with personalised AI tutoring and support for students. 

With a unique blend of technical expertise and hands-on educational insight, Chris translates complex AI concepts into practical strategies, supporting ethical, effective, and equitable AI use in schools. His approach inspires educators to engage with AI confidently, setting a standard for innovation with purpose in a rapidly evolving educational landscape.

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Hear from teachers who have attended a Critical Agendas Event

Tim Livy

I love the fantastic variety of workshops and conferences on offer. Always look forward to Critical Agendas PD’s.

Meaghan

“It is the first P.L. in a long long time that I haven’t been checking in with my watch.”

Tania The Geelong College

Just a big Thank you for giving us the opportunity to attend the Critical Agenda Workshop yesterday.  David presented a great program, lots of handy strategies and he was very engaging and supportive. Highly recommended.  I was very happy we did not have to do any Role play’s. 

Ivana Ryan

Loved the passion of the Presenters

Tamara Rundle

Passionate &  Authentic Speakers – Meaningful Strategies

Susan Snooks

The best P.D. I have attended in living memory!” I loved every minute of this engaging, interesting and informative PD. And I have been teaching for 40+ years!

Paul Dillon

Keep up the fantastic PD opportunities! Very  professional and well-researched workshops and conferences.

Libby Fullard.

Inspirational Speakers –  the knowledge gained will be so beneficial in my classrooms

Liberty Hatzidimitriou

Loved the honesty in the sharing of information and strategies