[CASL-L] Two Important and Free AI Webinars: "Students and AI" and "Libraries and AI" SHARE PD Tech/Digital Learning

[virginialibrarymediaspecialist at yahoo.com]

See below. NOTE:  Some may or may not apply to school libraries.
Robert A Joyce, M.S.Ed., B.S. Ed.
Virginia /USA  Elementary School Librarian ---Retired
2014 Virginia Association of School Librarians Roanoke Region Award
  
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Students and AI:
A Framework for Understanding the Benefits, Challenges, and Impacts of AI on Learners
A Library 2.0 / Learning Revolution Webinar with Steve Hargadon
 
  
 
OVERVIEW: 
 
We have mixed feelings that big technology breakthroughs will either "wreck" or "revolutionize" education, and now the focus is on Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is a BIG technology breakthrough. Before the machinery of education typically absorbs technologies into the system (often turning them into shadows of their transformative potential), there’s a robust discussion about both the benefits and potential drawbacks of that technology on teaching and learning—a pedagogical debate that reminds us of our enlightened hopes for schooling to bring out the potential and capacity of every student and to encourage their ability to think, reason, and participate actively in society.
 
AI feels different than previous tech innovations that have impacted learning--more profoundly transformative and more important to get right. For many of us who have adopted AI quickly, our personal learning lives have felt dramatically turbocharged and forever altered. (If you missed my webinar on "How to Read a Book (and More) with AI," I covered some of these historic changes and my own breathless wonder at the ability to use Large Language Models [LLMs] to fulfill intellectual desires mankind has had for millennia.) But just as the potential benefits loom large, so do the tangible challenges: multiple sources report losses in writing and reasoning skills for students and adults when there’s reliance on AI. I call this the "calculator effect," where the benefits of calculator use are clear, but so are the resulting losses in basic math capabilities.
 
The language of AI gifts us with two serendipitous words: "generative" and "agentic." If we take "generative" for teaching and "agentic" for learning, they fit like they were made for this challenge. "Generative teaching" (echoing Erik Erikson) reflects adults selflessly nurturing the next generation’s growth—teachers guiding with care, sparking curiosity for an uncharted future. (“The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.” - Plutarch) That’s my idealized version of teaching, steeped in the values of a liberal arts education from growing up on college campuses. "Agentic learning" is a great phrase for what we’ve called (and still should call) self-driven, self-directed learning. AI provides amazing—even historic—opportunities for both. But AI is a tool we need to understand and use carefully. We’d do well to follow the "Amish Test," first determining our educational principles and then measuring the use of AI in education against those values.

Here is what we will be exploring with "Students and AI:"
 
Benefits 
    
   - Customized Learning Paths: AI adapts to each student’s pace and style, boosting engagement.
   - Constant Support: 24/7 AI tutors and learning coaches empower learners beyond school walls.
   - Engagement Potential: AI inspires exploration and original thinking.
   - Skill Preparation: Prepares students for an AI-driven world with hands-on experience and usage frameworks.
 
Challenges
    
   - Cheating Concerns: When is using AI a valuable enhancement, and when is it cheating?
   - Privacy Risks: What happens when AI knows too much about students?
   - The "Calculator Effect": How do we address overreliance on AI reducing thinking and reasoning?
   - The Reality of Equity and Access Gaps: The risk of AI widening educational divides.
   - Emotional Ties: Could students bond with AI at the cost of real relationships?
   - Influence: Technologies building psychographic profiles on users evolve specific commercial, attention, and persuasion agendas.
   - Information Literacy in the Age of AI: How language fluency and personalized responses alter critical thinking.
 
Impacts
    
   - The Personalized Learning Revolution: How AI tailors education to individual students, both in classrooms and beyond.
   - The Shift in Assessment Strategies: From summative to formative assessments required by AI use.
   - Redefining Education’s Purpose: Will AI finally challenge the hidden curriculum of compliance and conformance or just perpetuate it?
 
We’ll start with a regular presentation and then shift to a community discussion to share your ideas on these topics. A copy of the chat log will be included with the recording.
 
DATE: Friday, May 16, 2025 at 2:00 - 3:00 pm US - Eastern Time
 
COST: 
    
   - FREE - includes any-time access to the recording, the presentation slides, the chat log, and a participation certificate.
 
TO REGISTER: 
    
   - Click HERE to register.
 
NOTE: Please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day.
 
 
 

 
Libraries and AI:
Building a Framework for Evaluation and Integration
A Library 2.0 Webinar with Steve Hargadon
 
  
 
OVERVIEW: 
 
We are at a historic turning point for libraries, where artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a transformative tool that can redefine how they operate and engage with their communities. From automating repetitive tasks like cataloging to personalizing patron experiences with tailored recommendations, AI offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance efficiency, creativity, and accessibility. For libraries—trusted institutions at the heart of knowledge dissemination—this moment demands a strategic approach to harness AI’s potential while preserving core values of equity, access, and intellectual freedom. Yet, integrating AI is not without challenges: ethical concerns like bias and privacy, technical barriers such as legacy system compatibility, and organizational hurdles like staff training and resistance to change. With 68% of libraries planning AI integration but prioritizing ethics (Library Journal, 2025), now is a critical time to evaluate carefully and then plan for thoughtful implementation.
 
This 90-minute online event is designed for library management and staff seeking to explore the challenges and opportunities AI presents, highlighting critical areas for consideration, and outlining strategies for informed decision-making while navigating the transformative potential of AI in libraries. We will explore a foundational understanding of the key questions to ask and the range of possible answers when considering AI adoption. Rather than prescribing specific solutions, this event will equip attendees with the tools to develop their own AI integration frameworks tailored to their library’s unique needs. We anticipate an active chat dialog and sharing between participants, and the chat log will be included with the recording following the event.
 
The outline below draws on insights from recent discussions in the library community, and the results of the event's associated survey will be shared and discussed. Whether you’re from a public, academic, or special library, we hope this webinar will provide a clear starting point for addressing AI’s role in your institution.
 
AGENDA:
 

This event should help library leaders and staff:
    
   - Gain a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities AI presents for libraries.
   - Understand the specific key challenges AI poses for libraries and why proactive planning is essential in this transformative era.
   - Identify the critical questions to ask for key areas—ethical, technical, human, policy, and literacy-related—that shape AI adoption for information services.
   - Build practical decision-making strategies for your library’s AI framework.
   - Think about how AI can enhance community engagement, from personalized recommendations to innovative outreach, while addressing patron concerns about automation.
   - Empower your library to lead in patron AI literacy, equipping communities to critically evaluate AI-generated information in an era of rapid technological change.
   - Explore decision-making strategies to create a tailored AI framework that leverages AI’s revolutionary potential.
   - Leave equipped to foster discussions and assign roles for AI evaluation and integration in your institution.
 
Introduction: Why AI Matters for Libraries
    
   - Brief overview of AI’s potential to transform library services, such as programming (e.g., event brainstorming), communication (e.g., drafting newsletters), and patron engagement (e.g., personalized recommendations).
   - Discussion of why libraries must address AI now: balancing innovation with ethical responsibilities, meeting evolving patron expectations, and optimizing limited resources.
   - Key challenges: ethical (bias, privacy), technical (legacy systems), human (skills gaps, resistance), policy (compliance), and literacy (patron education).
 
Exploring Key Areas for AI Evaluation and Integration
    
   - Ethical Considerations
   - Technical Integration
   - Human and Organizational Factors
   - Policy and Legal Needs
   - Information Literacy 
   - Community Engagement and Outreach
 
Decision-Making Strategies for AI Evaluation and Integration
    
   - Tasking Specific Individuals
   - Creating an Internal Team
   - Soliciting Outside Help or Consultation:
 
Community Discussion in the Chat and Closing
 

DATE: Friday, June 20, 2025 at 2:00 - 3:30 pm US - Eastern Time
 
COST: 
    
   - FREE - includes any-time access to the recording, the presentation slides, the chat log, and a participation certificate.
 
TO REGISTER: 
    
   - Click HERE to register (includes optional survey)
 
NOTE: Please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day.
 
 
 
ALSO COMING UP:
 
 
 
May 9, 2025
 

 
May 15, 2025
 

 
Next Class May 21, 2025
 

 
May 23, 2025
 

 
May 29, 2025
 

 
June 11, 2025
 

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Visit Library 2.0 at: https://www.library20.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network
 
 
 


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