Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

On October 1, The School of Education hosted a professional development conference featuring New York City Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. The event focused on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education and attracted an audience of 120 people.

Chancellor Banks, addressing the audience, emphasized that AI is "here to stay" and discussed how it can be used effectively in classrooms. He highlighted AI's potential to help teachers understand student performance better, customize instruction, and prepare students for their futures.

“Early on, we realized we could run, but we could not hide from this technology,” Chancellor Banks said. “So, we thought, ‘How can it be used to solve real challenges in our public schools?’ Pay close attention to what AI represents as a real possibility for change in how we assess our kids.”

The conference titled “The Future Is Now: AI in New York City’s Schools” included discussions on using ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies. Industry professionals such as Jared T. Bloom from Franklin Square Union Free School District and Lauren Maguire from Garden City Public Schools participated alongside Xiaojun Chen from The School of Education.

James D. Wolfinger welcomed Chancellor Banks who delivered a presentation followed by a Q&A session with students and alumni board members. Students appreciated the insights shared by Chancellor Banks regarding AI integration.

“This is an emerging element of what we are going to be doing in the future,” said Kaitlyn Klampert, a student at The School of Education. Gabrielle Amalfitano added that it's important for educators to ensure ethical use of technology by students.

AI tools like Carnegie Learning and Duolingo are popular in education but have faced criticism for potentially encouraging academic dishonesty and reducing teacher-student interactions. However, Chancellor Banks supports these technologies if managed properly.

“If you have a class of 25 kids, there are wide ranges of ability in those students,” he said. “It is a tough feeling for a teacher when you are not reaching every child. In that way, AI can be a special assistant for you."

Chancellor Banks also pointed out the practical applications of AI as a guidance tool for high school students exploring college options and career paths.

“As they plan for a future beyond high school, students need access to comprehensive, up-to-date, and actionable information on the options they have,” he stated.