On March 11, Nichole Murphy, a dedicated educator at Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School, attended the AI Summit at Bentley University to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve teaching and learning. This one-day event brought together educators, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss how AI is changing education and how it can support both students and teachers.
Ms. Murphy represented Groton-Dunstable at the AI summit, highlighting her commitment to bringing innovative tools and ideas back to the district. She approached the event with an open mind, eager to learn how AI can make a real difference in the classroom. "I honestly did not know much, if anything, about AI, which is why I jumped at the opportunity to attend this conference," said Ms. Murphy. "As an ELA teacher, my main concern was how students were using it, undetected, in the classrooms with their writing assignments. I know it's something that's here to stay, but I didn't know what to do with it. I figured this conference would push me to deeply dive into AI in education and start thinking about how it can positively influence my students and me."
At the summit, educators explored key questions about AI's role in education. One major takeaway was balancing AI-generated feedback with meaningful student effort: when is a student's work "good enough," and how can AI support rather than replace teacher judgment? Teachers shared excitement and concern about AI's potential to save time and enhance instruction while raising questions about overreliance on technology.
Ms. Murphy also learned how other schools are already using AI tools. One local high school uses Google Gemini, with students surveyed on how it helps them learn, reinforcing the importance of teaching AI literacy as a core skill. Teachers in a district near Boston use Magic School AI to handle routine tasks like writing progress reports and updating IEP language. This gives teachers more time to focus on direct instruction and working with students, leading to better classroom outcomes.
Reflecting on her experience, Ms. Murphy said, "I left the conference feeling equally overwhelmed by all the new information and excited about all the practical possibilities I can use in my instruction and planning. I still need to sift through my notes and slides, but I can't wait to share everything I learned with my colleagues. My ultimate takeaway from the conference was that AI is here to stay in education, and we need to get on board for the benefit of our students!"
As AI continues to shape education, teachers like Nichole Murphy are leading the way in exploring how it can enhance learning and improve teaching practices. Her participation in the summit reflects Groton-Dunstable's commitment to preparing students for a future where AI is a key part of education and everyday life.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to programs or machines that simulate tasks typically requiring human intelligence. AI systems process inputs to generate outputs such as predictions, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical and virtual environments. The rapid advancement of AI presents challenges in regulation, transparency, and ethical use, especially in education.