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2026 AI Educator Summer Institute
The inaugural A.I. Educator Summer Institute begins on July 13, 2026! 
Company: 3 clear filter
Monday, July 13
 

8:30am EDT

Session #1 Opening Ceremony & Keynote: Level Up Every Learner with AI
LIMITED
Monday July 13, 2026 8:30am - 8:45am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Session #1 -- Opening Keynote: AI is a powerful resource for educators, but if we stop there, we miss the full potential of this game changing tool... helping our students. With AI we can provide personalized support for every learner with tutoring, enrichment, feedback, review, conversations, reflection, accessibility, and more. This individualized instruction meets every student where they are and helps them grow and achieve. In this keynote, we will learn about the tools and techniques to help level up every learner and adapt to our changing roles as educators.
Speakers
avatar for Eric Curts

Eric Curts

National Consultant and Speaker, ControlAltAchieve
Eric has been in education for 34 years, and currently serves as a Technology Integration Specialist for SPARCC in North Canton, Ohio. He also provides keynotes, professional development, and consulting for schools, organizations, and conferences around the world. Eric's areas of... Read More →
avatar for Jackie Weber

Jackie Weber

Director of Educator Development Outreach Programs, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Jackie Weber is the Director of Educator Development Programs for the Outreach Center at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics.  With over 28 years of nationwide experience in STEM educational leadership, she continues her focus on professional development... Read More →
Monday July 13, 2026 8:30am - 8:45am EDT
Hampton Inn Coker Room 203 East Carolina Ave., Hartsville, SC, US
  Keynote, Large Group

10:45am EDT

Source Code Session #3: Session #3 AI-AI-Oh! Awesome AI Uses in Education
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
Artificial Intelligence can be used in so many different ways in schools to improve teaching, learning, creativity, productivity, support, and more for educators and students. Explore dozens of uses for generative AI including brainstorming, creating educational content, altering content, processing information, supporting all learners, grading and feedback, student engagement and much more. 

Participants will develop a proficiency with a variety of educational AI tools such as Google Gemini, NotebookLM,  as well as exposure to other tools such as Brisk, Snorkl, and others, and will understand the benefits and uses of each.Participants will explore practical ways to use AI tools for brainstorming, creating educational content, altering content, processing information, supporting all learners, assessment, grading, feedback, student engagement and more.
Speakers
avatar for Eric Curts

Eric Curts

National Consultant and Speaker, ControlAltAchieve
Eric has been in education for 34 years, and currently serves as a Technology Integration Specialist for SPARCC in North Canton, Ohio. He also provides keynotes, professional development, and consulting for schools, organizations, and conferences around the world. Eric's areas of... Read More →
Monday July 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Large Group

10:45am EDT

Source Code Session #6: AI for Every Learner: Practical Tools for Differentiation, Accessibility, and Inclusive Teaching
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
*This is a cohort session. All participants who attend the morning session are invited to attend an accompanying afternoon expansion pack session each afternoon this week to apply your morning learning to the Special Education classroom.*

Special educators carry an extraordinary load. Differentiated instruction, IEP documentation, progress monitoring, parent communication, and the daily work of meeting every student exactly where they are. AI tools cannot replace the human expertise at the heart of that work. But they can extend it.

This session builds a practical, critical framework for using AI in inclusive classrooms and special education contexts. We explore what AI does well, including generating differentiated materials, audio versions of text, scaffolded activities, and adapted assessments. We also examine where it fails. From hallucination to awareness of bias and privacy risks that matter, especially when working with vulnerable students.

Participants work hands-on with Google Gemini and NotebookLM to adapt reading levels, generate modified materials, and explore AI-assisted documentation. Data privacy, FERPA, and keeping human judgment at the center of every decision are woven throughout, not added at the end.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. W. Ian O'Byrne

Dr. W. Ian O'Byrne

Associate Professor of Literacy Education, College of Charleston
Dr. W. Ian O'Byrne is Associate Professor of Literacy Education at the College of Charleston and principal consultant of Digitally Literate, LLC. For over 20 years, he has worked at the intersection of AI literacy, digital literacy, and educator professional development, with particular... Read More →
Monday July 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

10:45am EDT

Source Code Session #7: How to get students to think critically about AI
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
The increasingly pervasive use of AI in popular online platforms frequented by adolescents has researchers worried about how this technology affects their online privacy and security. It also has teachers worried about how this technology affects classroom work and student learning. In this session, we will first present an overview of our CyberEd project, in which we designed and developed six education modules around AI-related cybersecurity topics that were implemented by Computer Science and Mathematics teachers in their 6th-8th grade classrooms. We will then dive into more details about the contents of one of these modules. Finally, we will provide an overview of our plans for "CyberEd 2.0" and extend the audience an invitation to join us for that project.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Nicole Bannister

Dr. Nicole Bannister

Associate Professor, Mathematics Education, Clemson University College of Education
Dr. Bannister has two decades of experience conducting school-based research in mathematics education and the learning sciences. She has over 25 years as a mathematics educator, and has designed and facilitated 500+ hours of PD.
avatar for Dr. Bart Knijnenburg

Dr. Bart Knijnenburg

Dean‘s Professor (Associate Professor) in Human-Centered Computing, School of Computing, Clemson University
Our online lives are full of small but difficult decisions. Which app should I install? Should I post this on Facebook or not? Which YouTube video should I watch? What will this e-commerce website do with my personal information? In my research I try to understand the psychological... Read More →
avatar for Jinkyung Katie Park

Jinkyung Katie Park

Assistant Professor, Clemson University School of Computing
Dr. Park is an expert in online safety for adolescents. Her research integrates human-centered design and AI to co-develop tools that empower teens to critically engage with AI systems and take control of their digital lives.
Monday July 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

1:15pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #6X (Part 1): AI for Every Learner: Practical Tools for Differentiation, Accessibility, and Inclusive Teaching
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
*This is a cohort session. All participants who attend the morning session are invited to attend an accompanying afternoon expansion pack session each afternoon this week to apply your morning learning to the Special Education classroom.*

The 3-hour afternoon workshop gives participants dedicated creation time to apply the morning's framework to real materials from their own classrooms. It is structured as a creation studio rather than a continuation of the lecture.

Hour 1 (1:00–2:00) — Identify and Design: Participants select one real instructional challenge. A lesson that needs differentiation, a text that needs to be adapted for a lower reading level, an assessment that needs scaffolding, or a documentation task they want to streamline. Small groups form around shared challenges. Special educators learn as much from each other as from any presenter. Introduction to the creation workflow: original material → AI prompt → draft → critical review → revision.

Break (2:00–2:15)

Hour 2 (2:15–3:15) — Create: Hands-on creation using Gemini and NotebookLM. Facilitator circulates with targeted coaching. Structured peer feedback in pairs: Does this serve the student? What did the AI miss that a human expert would catch? What needs to be fixed before this goes near a classroom?

Hour 3 (3:15–4:00) — Share, Critique, and Plan: Small group shares. Not just "look what I made" but "here's what the AI got wrong and how I fixed it." Whole-group reflection on AI as a tool for inclusive practice versus a shortcut that bypasses expertise. Individual action planning to identify one specific thing I will try with students in fall 2026.

Participants leave with a real, usable adapted resource and a realistic, critical framework for continuing independently.
Monday July 13, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

2:45pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #6X (Part 2): AI for Every Learner: Practical Tools for Differentiation, Accessibility, and Inclusive Teaching
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
*This is a cohort session. All participants who attend the morning session are invited to attend an accompanying afternoon expansion pack session each afternoon this week to apply your morning learning to the Special Education classroom.*

The 3-hour afternoon workshop gives participants dedicated creation time to apply the morning's framework to real materials from their own classrooms. It is structured as a creation studio rather than a continuation of the lecture.

Hour 1 (1:00–2:00) — Identify and Design: Participants select one real instructional challenge. A lesson that needs differentiation, a text that needs to be adapted for a lower reading level, an assessment that needs scaffolding, or a documentation task they want to streamline. Small groups form around shared challenges. Special educators learn as much from each other as from any presenter. Introduction to the creation workflow: original material → AI prompt → draft → critical review → revision.

Break (2:00–2:15)

Hour 2 (2:15–3:15) — Create: Hands-on creation using Gemini and NotebookLM. Facilitator circulates with targeted coaching. Structured peer feedback in pairs: Does this serve the student? What did the AI miss that a human expert would catch? What needs to be fixed before this goes near a classroom?

Hour 3 (3:15–4:00) — Share, Critique, and Plan: Small group shares. Not just "look what I made" but "here's what the AI got wrong and how I fixed it." Whole-group reflection on AI as a tool for inclusive practice versus a shortcut that bypasses expertise. Individual action planning to identify one specific thing I will try with students in fall 2026.

Participants leave with a real, usable adapted resource and a realistic, critical framework for continuing independently.
Monday July 13, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
 
Tuesday, July 14
 

9:00am EDT

Source Code Session #9: No AI Left Alone in the Science Classroom
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
This session will highlight practical AI implementation strategies for the science classroom. AI tools do not need to replace student thinking, but can be used to enhance student understanding and reasoning. In this session, we will discuss how AI can be used to support inquiry-based learning, data analysis, and scientific thinking. We will also discuss what responsible AI use in the classroom can look like, with students using AI tools to verify information, cite sources, and critically evaluate AI-generated claims, while also balancing over-reliance. We will use real classroom examples to utilize AI tools in modeling, creating simulations, and data interpretation.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Jennifer Brown

Dr. Jennifer Brown

Biology Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Jennifer Brown is a biology instructor at SCGSSM, where her teaching focuses on Molecular Biology, Botany, and Marine Biology. With over 17 years of experience in education, she has contributed to the use of real-life data in classrooms and brings that expertise into the Google AI... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group
  • Knowledge/Experience Level 1, 2, 3
  • Audience 6-8, 9-12
  • Subject Science
  • Tags AI, Data Science
  • Location/Room Number C104
  • Participants should bring...Part Laptops (with charging cords);Touch screen device (tablet, phone, laptop);Access to required instructional materials for the classes that they teach (textbooks, online coursework, syllabi, etc.)

10:30am EDT

Source Code Session #12: Teaching Data Shouldn't Be Scary: Relevance and Data-Centered Instruction in Middle Level Mathematics
LIMITED
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
As teachers, we get why our lessons about data are important, but do our students? Let's explore ideas that help students become more engaged in lessons about data and help them find relevance in what they are studying.
Speakers
DG

Daniel Greenberg

Retired!
Dan Greenberg taught in Colorado schools for 25 years, spending 23 years in middle school math classrooms as a classroom teacher and instructional specialist/coach. While Dan primarily taught 6th grade, he also has experience teaching 7th grade math and Advanced HS Geometry for 8th... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group

1:15pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #12X (Part 1): Teaching Data Shouldn't Be Scary: Relevance and Data-Centered Instruction in Middle Level Mathematics
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
Workshop time will be structured by providing teachers with options for how to use the workshop time productively. The three main options teachers will be directed towards will be reworking existing problems in their own materials, creating their own progression of lessons following the same sequence from their curriculum, or developing a student driven/student centered data unit. Teachers will be able to determine their own starting ppoint and move flexibly among these outcomes. Collaboration with grade level peers and school based teams will be encouraged, but not required.

Among the additional resources teachers will be encouraged to use are CODAP, PHet, Pudding.cool, and https://www.datascience4everyone.org/datasets
Speakers
DG

Daniel Greenberg

Retired!
Dan Greenberg taught in Colorado schools for 25 years, spending 23 years in middle school math classrooms as a classroom teacher and instructional specialist/coach. While Dan primarily taught 6th grade, he also has experience teaching 7th grade math and Advanced HS Geometry for 8th... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Expansion Pack Workshop, Small Group

1:15pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #6X [Part 3: Cohort Continued]: AI for Every Learner: Practical Tools for Differentiation, Accessibility, and Inclusive Teaching
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
*This is a cohort session. All participants who attend the morning session are invited to attend an accompanying afternoon expansion pack session each afternoon this week to apply your morning learning to the Special Education classroom.*

The 3-hour afternoon workshop gives participants dedicated creation time to apply the morning's framework to real materials from their own classrooms. It is structured as a creation studio rather than a continuation of the lecture.

Hour 1 (1:00–2:00) — Identify and Design: Participants select one real instructional challenge. A lesson that needs differentiation, a text that needs to be adapted for a lower reading level, an assessment that needs scaffolding, or a documentation task they want to streamline. Small groups form around shared challenges. Special educators learn as much from each other as from any presenter. Introduction to the creation workflow: original material → AI prompt → draft → critical review → revision.

Break (2:00–2:15)

Hour 2 (2:15–3:15) — Create: Hands-on creation using Gemini and NotebookLM. Facilitator circulates with targeted coaching. Structured peer feedback in pairs: Does this serve the student? What did the AI miss that a human expert would catch? What needs to be fixed before this goes near a classroom?

Hour 3 (3:15–4:00) — Share, Critique, and Plan: Small group shares. Not just "look what I made" but "here's what the AI got wrong and how I fixed it." Whole-group reflection on AI as a tool for inclusive practice versus a shortcut that bypasses expertise. Individual action planning to identify one specific thing I will try with students in fall 2026.

Participants leave with a real, usable adapted resource and a realistic, critical framework for continuing independently.
Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

1:15pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #9X (Part 1): No AI Left Alone in the Science Classroom
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
The afternoon workshop will allow teachers to investigate some of these tools and develop their own models, simulations, or data interpretation ideas. I’d like to introduce my collaboration with Taylor to create a simulation for my passion project, as well as some other data analysis tools (CODAP, Data Story Bytes, and websites to collect large data sets from including Kaggle).

The workshop would be divided into two mini sessions. The first will focus on simulation creation. The teachers will be able to work on creating their own simulations in pairs, then share with the group. The second session will focus on data analysis tools and will be conducted in a similar manner.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Jennifer Brown

Dr. Jennifer Brown

Biology Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Jennifer Brown is a biology instructor at SCGSSM, where her teaching focuses on Molecular Biology, Botany, and Marine Biology. With over 17 years of experience in education, she has contributed to the use of real-life data in classrooms and brings that expertise into the Google AI... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Expansion Pack Workshop, Small Group

2:45pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #12X (Part 2): Teaching Data Shouldn't Be Scary: Relevance and Data-Centered Instruction in Middle Level Mathematics
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
Workshop time will be structured by providing teachers with options for how to use the workshop time productively. The three main options teachers will be directed towards will be reworking existing problems in their own materials, creating their own progression of lessons following the same sequence from their curriculum, or developing a student driven/student centered data unit. Teachers will be able to determine their own starting ppoint and move flexibly among these outcomes. Collaboration with grade level peers and school based teams will be encouraged, but not required.

Among the additional resources teachers will be encouraged to use are CODAP, PHet, Pudding.cool, and https://www.datascience4everyone.org/datasets
Speakers
DG

Daniel Greenberg

Retired!
Dan Greenberg taught in Colorado schools for 25 years, spending 23 years in middle school math classrooms as a classroom teacher and instructional specialist/coach. While Dan primarily taught 6th grade, he also has experience teaching 7th grade math and Advanced HS Geometry for 8th... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Expansion Pack Workshop, Small Group

2:45pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #6X [Part 4: Cohort Continued]: AI for Every Learner: Practical Tools for Differentiation, Accessibility, and Inclusive Teaching
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
*This is a cohort session. All participants who attend the morning session are invited to attend an accompanying afternoon expansion pack session each afternoon this week to apply your morning learning to the Special Education classroom.*

The 3-hour afternoon workshop gives participants dedicated creation time to apply the morning's framework to real materials from their own classrooms. It is structured as a creation studio rather than a continuation of the lecture.

Hour 1 (1:00–2:00) — Identify and Design: Participants select one real instructional challenge. A lesson that needs differentiation, a text that needs to be adapted for a lower reading level, an assessment that needs scaffolding, or a documentation task they want to streamline. Small groups form around shared challenges. Special educators learn as much from each other as from any presenter. Introduction to the creation workflow: original material → AI prompt → draft → critical review → revision.

Break (2:00–2:15)

Hour 2 (2:15–3:15) — Create: Hands-on creation using Gemini and NotebookLM. Facilitator circulates with targeted coaching. Structured peer feedback in pairs: Does this serve the student? What did the AI miss that a human expert would catch? What needs to be fixed before this goes near a classroom?

Hour 3 (3:15–4:00) — Share, Critique, and Plan: Small group shares. Not just "look what I made" but "here's what the AI got wrong and how I fixed it." Whole-group reflection on AI as a tool for inclusive practice versus a shortcut that bypasses expertise. Individual action planning to identify one specific thing I will try with students in fall 2026.

Participants leave with a real, usable adapted resource and a realistic, critical framework for continuing independently.
Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

2:45pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #9X (Part 2): No AI Left Alone in the Science Classroom
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
The afternoon workshop will allow teachers to investigate some of these tools and develop their own models, simulations, or data interpretation ideas. I’d like to introduce my collaboration with Taylor to create a simulation for my passion project, as well as some other data analysis tools (CODAP, Data Story Bytes, and websites to collect large data sets from including Kaggle).

The workshop would be divided into two mini sessions. The first will focus on simulation creation. The teachers will be able to work on creating their own simulations in pairs, then share with the group. The second session will focus on data analysis tools and will be conducted in a similar manner.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Jennifer Brown

Dr. Jennifer Brown

Biology Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Jennifer Brown is a biology instructor at SCGSSM, where her teaching focuses on Molecular Biology, Botany, and Marine Biology. With over 17 years of experience in education, she has contributed to the use of real-life data in classrooms and brings that expertise into the Google AI... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Expansion Pack Workshop, Small Group
 
Wednesday, July 15
 

9:00am EDT

Source Code Session #13: Integrating AI Tools with Curated, Reliable, and Controlled Resources
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This session equips educators to address key limitations of AI tools, including bias and hallucination, often caused by reliance on uncontrolled or unreliable sources. It provides participants with the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to guide AI toward generating insights from curated, reliable, and controlled resources.    Participants will begin by comparing open- and closed-source AI tools, developing a clear understanding of their strengths, limitations, and appropriate use cases. They will then explore two project examples created with a closed-source platform such as Google NotebookLM, examining how these models can be adapted for technology and engineering classroom contexts. Next, participants will develop their own project and resource library on a topic of personal or curricular relevance, emphasizing organization, content curation, and instructional design. By the end of the session, educators will leave with a project in progress and a practical framework for selecting and applying AI tools in teaching.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Haiqing Kaczkowski

Dr. Haiqing Kaczkowski

Engineering Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Haiqing Kaczkowski is an Engineering Instructor at the SCGSSM, where she connects engineering principles to real-world applications. With more than 35 years of combined experience in education and industry, she has observed first-hand how emerging technologies—especially computer... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group

9:00am EDT

Source Code Session #16: AI and Image Data for Plant Sciences
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
AI is fundamentally changing research. This session will draw directly from active research in plant phenomics, image-based trait analysis, and plant breeding to demonstrate what AI-assisted science looks like in practice. We'll walk through concrete examples: how convolutional neural networks and on-device models are automating the extraction of morphological traits from field images, how large language models are accelerating literature synthesis in crop science, and how AI pipelines are compressing analyses. What do these shifts mean for how we teach science? When a model can segment an image or predict yield, what skills actually matter? We'll dig into how to design data collection exercises and research projects so that students build genuine scientific judgment rather than just prompt-writing habits. You'll leave with a grounded understanding of where plant science and phenomics research is heading, and practical strategies to make your classroom reflect that reality.


Understand how image data can be used with AI for effective research outcomes
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Trevor Rife

Dr. Trevor Rife

Assistant Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Clemson University
Trevor is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Clemson University. The Rife Lab focuses on developing efficient tools, technologies, and methods to optimize plant breeding and genetics research and works with both national and international... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group
  • Knowledge/Experience Level 3, 2
  • Audience 11-12, Higher Education, 9-12
  • Subject Science, Biology
  • Location/Room Number C123
  • Participants should bring...Part Laptops (with charging cords); Academic standards for their subject

10:30am EDT

Source Code Session #19: A.I. & Data Science in the Energy Industry (single session with no expansion pack)
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Powering Intelligence: How Electric Utilities Enable the AI Revolution

After engaging in this session, participants will be able to explain why AI uses so much electricity and how utilities like Duke Energy are addressing this demand while also using AI tools to run the grid better.

In this fascinating session, educators will learn how utilities like Duke Energy are using AI today to run the grid better. They will look inside a Data Center and discuss why AI uses so much electricity. Finally, attendees will get a glimpse into how utility companies are addressing rapid load growth while protecting customers. Attendees will learn about AI in the real world and how it impacts their lives every day. Educators are encouraged to consider how take this knowledge into their classrooms. 
Speakers
avatar for Nicole Flippin

Nicole Flippin

Senior Vice President Nuclear Operations, GSSMF Board of Directors
Nicole Flippin serves as the senior vice president of Duke Energy's nuclear operations in North Carolina. In this role, she provides oversight for the safe and reliable generation of the Brunswick, Harris, and McGuire nuclear plants. Flippin has over 25 years of experience in the... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group
  • Knowledge/Experience Level 1, 2, 3
  • Audience All
  • Subject All
  • Tags AI, Data Science, Real World
  • Location/Room Number C130
  • Participants should bring...Part Notetaking materials

10:30am EDT

Source Code Session #20: Beyond AI Tools: Teaching About AI, Not Just With AI
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
In this session, I will invite educators to think about AI as more than a classroom tool. Instead of focusing only on prompting or productivity, we will explore AI literacy as a way to help students ask questions about ethics, bias, decision-making, civic life, and real-world systems. Using examples from English and interdisciplinary teaching, I will share practical strategies such as case studies, discussion prompts, short inquiry tasks, and values-based reflection. The goal is to help teachers move from general concern about AI to concrete classroom practice. Participants will leave with a clearer framework for teaching about AI, not just teaching with AI, and they will be ready to extend that work in the afternoon workshop.

After engaging in this session, participants will (or will be able to)...
· define AI literacy as more than tool use or prompt-writing
· explore classroom-ready strategies for discussing AI, ethics, bias, and social impact
· identify a place in their own curriculum where AI literacy fits naturally
· create or adapt one resource they can bring back to their students

Speakers
avatar for Dr. Kathryn Vignone

Dr. Kathryn Vignone

English Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Kathryn Vignone is an English Instructor at SCGSSM where she teaches writing, art history, and interdisciplinary topics that explore the social, ethical, and human dimensions of science and technology. She holds a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Cornell University... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

1:15pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #13X (Part 1): Integrating AI Tools with Curated, Reliable, and Controlled Resources
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
In this extended afternoon workshop, participants will build on the morning session through focused, hands-on work. Educators will revisit the two project examples, taking a deeper look at their structure, design, and classroom applications, with an emphasis on adapting them to their own technology and engineering contexts.

Participants will continue developing the projects they began earlier, refining their resource libraries and expanding content using a closed-source platform such as Google NotebookLM. The session emphasizes curating high-quality materials, aligning resources with instructional goals, and designing practical implementation strategies, with opportunities for guided exploration and collaboration.

By the end of the workshop, educators will share their projects, exchange insights, and leave with a more developed, classroom-ready product and greater confidence in applying AI tools to support student learning.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Haiqing Kaczkowski

Dr. Haiqing Kaczkowski

Engineering Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Haiqing Kaczkowski is an Engineering Instructor at the SCGSSM, where she connects engineering principles to real-world applications. With more than 35 years of combined experience in education and industry, she has observed first-hand how emerging technologies—especially computer... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

1:15pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #16X (Part 1): AI and Image Data for Plant Sciences
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Helping your students understand that data also means images is an important aspect of AI literacy. Using the understanding from the morning session, teachers will develop an activity based on their standards that utilizes image data. 
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Jennifer Brown

Dr. Jennifer Brown

Biology Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Jennifer Brown is a biology instructor at SCGSSM, where her teaching focuses on Molecular Biology, Botany, and Marine Biology. With over 17 years of experience in education, she has contributed to the use of real-life data in classrooms and brings that expertise into the Google AI... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Trevor Rife

Dr. Trevor Rife

Assistant Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Clemson University
Trevor is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Clemson University. The Rife Lab focuses on developing efficient tools, technologies, and methods to optimize plant breeding and genetics research and works with both national and international... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Expansion Pack Workshop, Small Group

1:15pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #20X (Part 1): Beyond AI Tools: Teaching About AI, Not Just With AI
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
The afternoon workshop will be hands-on and product-based. After a short recap and model, participants would choose an existing lesson, text, unit, or topic from their own classroom and use a simple planning template to adapt it into an AI literacy resource. I will provide a small menu of sample case studies, guiding questions, and activity structures so teachers can either build from scratch or revise something they already teach. Most of the workshop will be devoted to drafting, conferring, and peer feedback, with time at the end for revision and sharing. The goal is for every participant to leave with at least one usable product—a discussion protocol, mini-lesson, case-study activity, assessment, or short inquiry sequence. If the participants stay for the entire  three hours, participants will expand their product into a fuller mini-unit; if they stay for 90 minutes, the focus will stay on one strong classroom-ready resource.


Speakers
avatar for Dr. Kathryn Vignone

Dr. Kathryn Vignone

English Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Kathryn Vignone is an English Instructor at SCGSSM where she teaches writing, art history, and interdisciplinary topics that explore the social, ethical, and human dimensions of science and technology. She holds a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Cornell University... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

1:15pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #6X [Part 5 - Cohort Continued]: AI for Every Learner: Practical Tools for Differentiation, Accessibility, and Inclusive Teaching
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
*This is a cohort session. All participants who attend the morning session are invited to attend an accompanying afternoon expansion pack session each afternoon this week to apply your morning learning to the Special Education classroom.*

The 3-hour afternoon workshop gives participants dedicated creation time to apply the morning's framework to real materials from their own classrooms. It is structured as a creation studio rather than a continuation of the lecture.

Hour 1 (1:00–2:00) — Identify and Design: Participants select one real instructional challenge. A lesson that needs differentiation, a text that needs to be adapted for a lower reading level, an assessment that needs scaffolding, or a documentation task they want to streamline. Small groups form around shared challenges. Special educators learn as much from each other as from any presenter. Introduction to the creation workflow: original material → AI prompt → draft → critical review → revision.

Break (2:00–2:15)

Hour 2 (2:15–3:15) — Create: Hands-on creation using Gemini and NotebookLM. Facilitator circulates with targeted coaching. Structured peer feedback in pairs: Does this serve the student? What did the AI miss that a human expert would catch? What needs to be fixed before this goes near a classroom?

Hour 3 (3:15–4:00) — Share, Critique, and Plan: Small group shares. Not just "look what I made" but "here's what the AI got wrong and how I fixed it." Whole-group reflection on AI as a tool for inclusive practice versus a shortcut that bypasses expertise. Individual action planning to identify one specific thing I will try with students in fall 2026.

Participants leave with a real, usable adapted resource and a realistic, critical framework for continuing independently.
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

2:45pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #13X (Part 2): Integrating AI Tools with Curated, Reliable, and Controlled Resources
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
In this extended afternoon workshop, participants will build on the morning session through focused, hands-on work. Educators will revisit the two project examples, taking a deeper look at their structure, design, and classroom applications, with an emphasis on adapting them to their own technology and engineering contexts.

Participants will continue developing the projects they began earlier, refining their resource libraries and expanding content using a closed-source platform such as Google NotebookLM. The session emphasizes curating high-quality materials, aligning resources with instructional goals, and designing practical implementation strategies, with opportunities for guided exploration and collaboration.

By the end of the workshop, educators will share their projects, exchange insights, and leave with a more developed, classroom-ready product and greater confidence in applying AI tools to support student learning.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Haiqing Kaczkowski

Dr. Haiqing Kaczkowski

Engineering Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Haiqing Kaczkowski is an Engineering Instructor at the SCGSSM, where she connects engineering principles to real-world applications. With more than 35 years of combined experience in education and industry, she has observed first-hand how emerging technologies—especially computer... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

2:45pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #16X (Part 2): AI and Image Data for Plant Sciences
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Helping your students understand that data also means images is an important aspect of AI literacy. Using the understanding from the morning session, teachers will develop an activity based on their standards that utilizes image data. 
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Expansion Pack Workshop, Small Group

2:45pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #20X (Part 2): Beyond AI Tools: Teaching About AI, Not Just With AI
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
The afternoon workshop will be hands-on and product-based. After a short recap and model, participants would choose an existing lesson, text, unit, or topic from their own classroom and use a simple planning template to adapt it into an AI literacy resource. I will provide a small menu of sample case studies, guiding questions, and activity structures so teachers can either build from scratch or revise something they already teach. Most of the workshop will be devoted to drafting, conferring, and peer feedback, with time at the end for revision and sharing. The goal is for every participant to leave with at least one usable product—a discussion protocol, mini-lesson, case-study activity, assessment, or short inquiry sequence. If the participants stay for the entire  three hours, participants will expand their product into a fuller mini-unit; if they stay for 90 minutes, the focus will stay on one strong classroom-ready resource.


Speakers
avatar for Dr. Kathryn Vignone

Dr. Kathryn Vignone

English Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Kathryn Vignone is an English Instructor at SCGSSM where she teaches writing, art history, and interdisciplinary topics that explore the social, ethical, and human dimensions of science and technology. She holds a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Cornell University... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

2:45pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #6X [Part 6 - Cohort Continued]: AI for Every Learner: Practical Tools for Differentiation, Accessibility, and Inclusive Teaching
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
*This is a cohort session. All participants who attend the morning session are invited to attend an accompanying afternoon expansion pack session each afternoon this week to apply your morning learning to the Special Education classroom.*

The 3-hour afternoon workshop gives participants dedicated creation time to apply the morning's framework to real materials from their own classrooms. It is structured as a creation studio rather than a continuation of the lecture.

Hour 1 (1:00–2:00) — Identify and Design: Participants select one real instructional challenge. A lesson that needs differentiation, a text that needs to be adapted for a lower reading level, an assessment that needs scaffolding, or a documentation task they want to streamline. Small groups form around shared challenges. Special educators learn as much from each other as from any presenter. Introduction to the creation workflow: original material → AI prompt → draft → critical review → revision.

Break (2:00–2:15)

Hour 2 (2:15–3:15) — Create: Hands-on creation using Gemini and NotebookLM. Facilitator circulates with targeted coaching. Structured peer feedback in pairs: Does this serve the student? What did the AI miss that a human expert would catch? What needs to be fixed before this goes near a classroom?

Hour 3 (3:15–4:00) — Share, Critique, and Plan: Small group shares. Not just "look what I made" but "here's what the AI got wrong and how I fixed it." Whole-group reflection on AI as a tool for inclusive practice versus a shortcut that bypasses expertise. Individual action planning to identify one specific thing I will try with students in fall 2026.

Participants leave with a real, usable adapted resource and a realistic, critical framework for continuing independently.
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
 
Thursday, July 16
 

9:00am EDT

Source Code Session #21: Administrator’s Session: Cultivating Future-Ready Citizens: Empowering Student and Community Voices in Responsible AI Integration
LIMITED
Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Also available via virtual link: 

Greenville County Schools (GCS) will share its strategic approach to generative AI, highlighting a human-centered vision focused on student success, a premier workforce, and a caring culture. This session will provide an overview of the district’s three-year AI implementation plan and how GCS is building AI literacy, fostering responsible innovation, and preparing students and educators for a rapidly evolving future.

Participants will learn about the district’s phased approach, beginning with foundational awareness and exploration in Year 1, expanding to intentional educator integration in Year 2 through tools such as MagicSchool.ai, and culminating in Year 3 with student empowerment and future-ready learning experiences supported by MagicStudent.
The session will also highlight the development of Board Policy and Administrative Rules that guide the responsible and intentional use of AI and technology, including efforts to balance innovation with healthy screen-time practices.
Attendees will leave with practical insights into how a large school district can thoughtfully implement AI while maintaining a strong focus on teaching, learning, workforce development, and student well-being.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Susan Stevens

Dr. Susan Stevens

Associate Superintendent of Academics, Greenville County Schools
Dr. Susan Stevens serves as the Associate Superintendent of Academics for Greenville County Schools, bringing extensive experience and a proven record of educational leadership. Her career in education began in 2006 following a successful tenure as a corporate research scientist... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Large Group

9:00am EDT

Source Code Session #22: The AI Teaching Assistant That Never Sleeps: Honing the AI First Mindset
LIMITED
Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
AI is not just a shortcut or a search box—it can function like a tireless teaching assistant, thought partner, editor, tutor, and brainstorming companion. This session will introduce practical ways educators can adopt an “AI First” mindset: asking where AI can save time, deepen learning, personalize support, or improve the quality of your work and save time on manual tasks. Designed for non-experts, the session will focus on real examples rather than technical theory, showing how AI can help draft materials, refine assignments, generate feedback, support student inquiry, and strengthen day-to-day productivity. Participants will leave with a deeper appreciation of what AI can do, how to use it responsibly, and how to begin building AI into their teaching practice with curiosity, judgment, and confidence.

Apply an “AI First” mindset by recognizing moments when AI can save time, improve quality, or expand instructional possibilities. Identify practical classroom and workflow uses for AI as a teaching assistant, planning partner, tutor, editor, and productivity tool. Craft more effective AI prompts to generate stronger lesson ideas, feedback, rubrics, examples, explanations, and student supports. Leverage AI’s multimedia capabilities, including text, images, audio, documents, and data, to support instruction, communication, and daily productivity. Understand the major AI model options and recognize which tools are best suited for different teaching and productivity tasks.
Speakers
avatar for Justin Young

Justin Young

Director of Investments, MEMCO - Multilateral Endowment Management Company
Justin Young, an SCGSSM 2003 alumnus, is Director of Investments at MEMCO, where he helps nonprofit institutions build resilient portfolios and evaluate investment opportunities across public and private markets. A former GSSM student and graduate of the University of South Carolina... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group
  • Knowledge/Experience Level 1, 2, 3
  • Audience All, Administrator
  • Subject All
  • Tags Productivity
  • Location/Room Number C126
  • Participants should bring...Part Laptops (with charging cords)

9:00am EDT

Source Code Session #23: Lean Into AI: Machine Verified Mathematics
LIMITED
Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
If you ask an LLM to do mathematics, how does it know what is "correct"? Although models have been improving, they still sometimes make mistakes, especially in the "harder" sciences like mathematics. And yet, prominent mathematicians such as Terry Tao are vocally advocating for the use of AI in their research and have been publishing machine assisted proofs. Why do renowned experts like Dr. Tao trust AI, how can the AI help with research, and what does this have to do with high school students? The answer to all of this is strongly related to interactive proof assistant languages like Lean, which have existed prior to the current LLM boom. This session will cover some of the basics and describe how GSSM has used Lean to create research opportunities in mathematics that are accessible for gifted high school students.
Speakers
avatar for Taylor Belcher

Taylor Belcher

Computer Science & Mathematics Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Taylor is a Mathematics and Computer Science Instructor at the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics. He taught high school and college mathematics for over a decade before joining the CS department at GSSM. He has an MA in Pure Mathematics from Bowling Green... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group

10:15am EDT

Source Code Session #24: Administrator’s Session: AI for AI for Teaching, Learning, and Productivity
LIMITED
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This session explores practical AI applications for educators, from foundational concepts to real-world classroom use cases. Presenters will introduce core AI ideas, discuss responsible adoption strategies, and examine how AI is reshaping teaching, learning, and academic integrity. Through real-world examples and live demonstrations, attendees will see how AI tools can enhance productivity. The session will also highlight approaches to AI enablement, including ambassador programs and cross-functional best practices. Participants will leave with actionable ideas and a clearer understanding of how to begin using AI effectively and thoughtfully in educational settings.

After participating in this session, attendees will be able to:
1. Explain core AI concepts and their relevance to teaching and learning.
2. Identify practical ways AI can support instruction, productivity, and classroom engagement.
3. Apply strategies for integrating AI into education and use by educators.
Speakers
avatar for Dwayne Daily

Dwayne Daily

Emerging Technology Initiatives Leader, Trane Technologies
Dwayne Daily is an Emerging Technology Initiatives Leader at Trane Technologies with more than 20 years of experience leading digital transformation and enterprise technology programs across global organizations. He has built and scaled AI and digital platforms, led the rollout of... Read More →
avatar for Matt Erdman

Matt Erdman

Emerging Technology Initiatives leader, Trane Technologies
Matt Erdman is an Emerging Technology Initiatives leader with special interest in AI. Matt has led large-scale analytics initiatives, built training and mentoring programs, and helped Trane Technologies use research, data, and machine learning to make better decisions. Previously... Read More →
avatar for Rashmi Vadlakonda

Rashmi Vadlakonda

Smart Transformation Engineer & Gen AI Ambassador, Trane Technologies
Rashmi Vadlakonda is a Smart Transformation Engineer at Trane Technologies with a focus on digital transformation, and technology implementation. She has led initiatives in additive manufacturing, manufacturing execution systems, and enterprise technology adoption to improve workflows... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Large Group

10:15am EDT

Source Code Session #25:Beyond ChatGPT: Launching South Carolina’s AI Pathway to Meet Graduation Requirements and Workforce Demand
LIMITED
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This session spotlights South Carolina’s custom-designed Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (Course 1) and the full AI Career Pathway — created specifically for our state to meet workforce demand while providing a powerful option for satisfying the computer science graduation requirement. Students learn the foundational building blocks behind AI systems, including machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, data preparation, and responsible AI design — all through project-based units grounded in South Carolina’s priority industries.

Participants will learn implementation strategies for meeting graduation requirements while exposing students to viable career pathways, including approaches for adopting the full pathway and building dual enrollment partnerships with regional postsecondary institutions. We will share lessons from pilot implementation, strategies for embedding AI into existing CTE programs, and insights from new initiatives that connect pathway skills to real-world AI applications, validation processes, and industry. Participants will articulate how to guide students from basic AI tool use to a deeper understanding of the concepts, systems, and design behind AI technologies.
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Cook

Andrew Cook

Career Pathways Specialist, Office of Career Readiness, South Carolina Department of Education
Andrew Cook has over 40 years of experience in computer architecture and software development with a career that expands across three major technology-driven corporations - NCR, AT&T, and Intel. He began as a software developer and systems analyst at NCR and AT&T before moving into... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group

10:15am EDT

Source Code Session #27: AI in Education Today: What Every Educator and Administrator Needs to Know
LIMITED
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
The AI landscape in education is moving fast, and not all tools are created equal. This session gives educators a clear-eyed look at where legislation and policy stand today, how those decisions ripple down to the classroom level, and what to watch for as districts navigate responsible AI adoption. We'll unpack what makes MagicSchool distinctly different from general-purpose chatbots and consumer AI tools, and explore how purpose-built AI supports meaningful, intentional screen time for students and educators alike.


By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Summarize the current state of AI-related legislation and policy and its implications for classroom practice
  2. Distinguish between general-purpose chatbots and purpose-built AI tools designed specifically for education
  3. Evaluate AI tools through the lens of purposeful screen time and student safety
  4. Articulate why MagicSchool was built for educators and how that distinction shapes responsible adoption in their district

Speakers
avatar for Karisa Schwanekamp

Karisa Schwanekamp

Solution Architect, MagicSchoolAI
 Karisa Schwanekamp is a Solutions Architect at MagicSchool, where she partners with school districts to implement AI tools that are practical, purposeful, and grounded in real classroom needs. A former educator of 21 years spanning special education, elementary education, STEM... Read More →
avatar for Derek Lovell

Derek Lovell

District Partnerships - Carolinas, MagicSchoolAI
Derek Lovell partners with school districts across the Carolinas to help educators thoughtfully integrate AI into teaching and learning. With 17 years of experience in K–12 education and EdTech, he is passionate about building strong relationships and supporting districtwide innovation... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group

10:15am EDT

Source Code Session #28: Keeping Humans in the Loop: AI Use with Integrity
LIMITED
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
AI isn’t replacing student work. It is replacing student struggle.

In an era when AI can write an essay, solve an equation, and generate a research summary in seconds, the most important question is no longer whether students can use AI — it’s whether they are thinking while they do it. This session reframes the AI-in-schools conversation away from detection and discipline toward something far more powerful: building the responsible use, critical thinking, and informed judgment that make students genuinely prepared for the world they are entering.

Drawing on the aiEDU AI Readiness Framework, participants will explore how AI bias shows up in classrooms, what it looks like to be a critical consumer of AI outputs, and how to design learning experiences that honor both human judgment and the tools that are here to stay.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
  1. Identify at least two ways AI systems reflect bias and explain why this matters for classroom learning and student agency.
  2. Recognize human cognitive biases — including confirmation bias and authority bias — that shape how students and teachers interact with AI outputs.
  3. Apply a framework for evaluating student AI use that centers critical thinking and responsible judgment, not detection or compliance.
  4. Redesign or adapt at least one existing task to support transparent, integrity-centered AI integration using a prompt rubric and transcript as the assessable artifact.
Speakers
avatar for LeNard Pitts

LeNard Pitts

Senior Program Lead, East Coast The AI Education Project, aiEDU- The AI Education Project
LeNard Pitts is a passionate advocate for educational equity and digital empowerment in underestimated communities. As Senior Program Lead at aiEDU, he builds the critical thinking and human judgment students need to lead in a world shaped by AI. With over a decade of experience... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group

11:15am EDT

Transition to Closing Ceremony
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am EDT
Following the last session, please join us at the hotel in the Coker Room for the Closing Ceremony. 
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am EDT
Hampton Inn Coker Room 203 East Carolina Ave., Hartsville, SC, US
  Break, Large Group
  • Knowledge/Experience Level 1, 2, 3
  • Audience All
  • Location/Room Number Coker Room

11:45am EDT

Closing Ceremony & Keynote
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT
Keynote Speaker: Lilyn Hester, Head of Southeast External Affairs & Government Relations, Google

Housekeeping Bits and Final Farewells
Speakers
avatar for Jackie Weber

Jackie Weber

Director of Educator Development Outreach Programs, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Jackie Weber is the Director of Educator Development Programs for the Outreach Center at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics.  With over 28 years of nationwide experience in STEM educational leadership, she continues her focus on professional development... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT
Hampton Inn Coker Room 203 East Carolina Ave., Hartsville, SC, US
  Keynote, Large Group
  • Knowledge/Experience Level 1, 2, 3
  • Audience All
  • Subject All
  • Location/Room Number Coker Room
 
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