Practical Workshops

Beyond office hours: AI chatbots as on-demand tutors

Workshop Leader: James McDiarmid,  Head of Computer Science, Marlborough College Malaysia

With today's learners expecting constant access to support, AI chatbots have proven to be helpful companions, offering immediate, personalised tutoring outside typical classroom hours.

In this workshop, we'll explore how these chatbots are becoming trusted learning partners, supporting students exactly when and where they need it. We'll address real-life scenarios where AI chatbots have effectively boosted student engagement and performance, providing tailored help for individual learning needs in classrooms. Participants will have the opportunity to delve into the practical side, seeing examples of chatbots successfully integrated into various teaching approaches and how they can experiment with using them effectively.

Together, we'll also openly address common challenges educators might face when introducing this technology (such as: digital literacy and accessibility, trust in platforms accuracy, data privacy and sharing, and over-reliance on technology) and how best to overcome them in each individual’s context. One of the most important discussions we’ll cover is the ethics of AI in education, touching upon crucial topics like privacy, fairness, and ensuring meaningful human involvement. Through facilitated group discussions, reflections and feedback, participants will consider how AI-driven tutoring can complement traditional teaching methods (rather than replacing them), to enhance student learning experiences responsibly and thoughtfully.

By the end of the session, attendees will have the practical knowledge, access to a framework of tools, and the confidence to experiment with AI chatbots in their own educational contexts, equipped with the awareness needed to do so ethically and effectively.

Workshop participants will:

•  Understand key principles when designing your own custom AI chatbot

•  Learn practical strategies and best practices for integrating chatbots into educational settings

•  Reflect on key ethical considerations like privacy, equity and maintaining meaningful human oversight in AI-assisted tutoring

Intended Audience: All K-12 IT Directors, Teaching & Learning coaches, EdTech coaches and teachers

Goodbye, boring lessons! Evolving learning through generative AI and worldbuilding

Workshop Leader: Ryan Nicholas Leong,  Founder & Youth Coach GENIUS Generation Youth Coaching

Stepping into a classroom can conjure a sense of dread… but what if that were to change forever? With storytelling and new-age tech tools mastered right, both teachers and students can look forward to memorable experiences any day.

Like a theme park experience, suit up with a personalised profile of your strengths and catch a mission briefing from the vast knowledge of a voice-to-voice AI clone, while its human counterpart guides you on a multi-sensory, design-thinking adventure through the creative use of basic classroom tools!

Then, ramp up the fun by creating your own curriculum adventures for your students, based on your topical expertise. This skill will stay with you for life!

No more late-night sighing at your desk. Through simple forms and GenAI magic, ease of thought and a few finger-clicks… you can be a scriptwriter, art director, music composer and more, shaping the world of learning for students, parents and supervisors, who will go ‘WOW’ when they see your work!

The most impactful education is one that stirs emotional and energetic confidence within every student. That translates to fewer problems and stress for educators to manage over time. Become a future-ready educator that is able to architect memorable experiences with multimodal tools, at will, today!

Workshop participants will:

•  Appreciate how storytelling and GenAI boosts student engagement

•  Master prompt engineering with up to 4 different GenAI tools, to build a database of multi-sensory creations

•  Create an engaging, gamified slide deck curated to one’s topical expertise, which can be applied to the classroom

Intended Audience: Adventurous K-12 educators keen about "edutainment", principals looking to distinguish their schools to parents, and anyone keen to see how GenAI can complement the classroom experience.

No code, no problem: building simple apps to automate routine processes

Workshop Leader: Jamie Twinney,  EdTech Coach

Tired of spending hours on repetitive tasks like tracking student progress, managing parent communications or handling drawn-out feedback processes? In this hands-on workshop, educators will learn how to reclaim their time and boost efficiency by leveraging the power of automation – no programming experience required.

We'll explore real-world scenarios within the educational setting, covering practical applications such as automated data collection, streamlined communication, simplified feedback processes, and even using data sheets to create academic reports with just a click.

By the end of the session, educators will gain the confidence and skills to identify automation opportunities in their daily workflow and build basic automations to tackle them, paving the way for a more productive and focused teaching experience.

Workshop participants will:

•  Recognise repetitive, time-consuming tasks within their current workflows that are suitable for automation using no-code platforms

•  Build simple automated workflows that connect different applications and services to streamline processes

•  Apply no-code automation concepts to solve common challenges in education, such as automating data entry, sending reminders, managing communication and generating academic reports from data sheets.

Intended Audience: All K-12 teachers who deal with a high volume of administrative tasks, grading and parent communication; or administrators and support staff who would like to streamline processes like enrollment, data management and report generation.

AI in action: a hands-on guide to whole-school rollout

Workshop Leaders: Simon Hornbrook, Head of Digital Technologies and Integration (High School), SJI International and  Claire Simms,  Head of Digital Technologies and Integration (Elementary School), SJI International

How can schools effectively roll out generative AI in a way that benefits teachers, students and administrators alike?

Think of this workshop as your AI launchpad. You’ll dive into interactive challenges, test AI tools in real-time, and tackle the big questions schools face when executing a whole-school GenAI rollout. Expect to:

• Crack the code on AI: our prompt engineering challenge will fast-track your mastery of prompt design, enabling you to generate high-quality lessons plans, quizzes, and more – in mere seconds.

• Tinker, tweak and test out AI tools: discover how we navigated the vast landscape of AI tools, conducted rigorous trials with diverse stakeholders, and eventually, how we selected and implemented the optimal Gen AI tool for our academic community.

• Debate the big questions: gain insights into our ongoing training initiatives to foster widespread engagement and maximize the potential of this groundbreaking technology. Here, you will also confront the ethical considerations that come with AI integration.

By the end of the session, you will have a personalised AI rollout plan for your institution, a toolkit of resources and the confidence to lead AI adoption – without the overwhelm. Whether you’re AI-curious or already experimenting, this workshop will help you turn your ideas into action.

Workshop participants will:

•  Enhance AI literacy and prompt engineering skills

•  Develop a practical AI implementation plan, with practical strategies and best practices to apply to your own educational setting

•  Navigate ethical and practical challenges that come with AI integration

Intended Audience: All K-12 senior leadership, IT Directors, Teaching & Learning coaches, EdTech coaches, teachers, and anyone looking for a roadmap to executing whole-school GenAI rollout

Revolutionise learning with competency-based design thinking

Workshop Leader: Franklin Anariba, Senior Lecturer, Singapore University of Technology and Design

In this workshop, participants will be introduced to DSSTEAM, a newly developed design thinking framework, comprised of Empathy, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test and Communicate phases. DSSTEAM is designed to assist educators and administrators in project-based learning (PBL) approaches. Participants will differentiate between competencies and abilities and utilise Dittrium+ software to create design competency maps for hands-on activities or projects, this way complementing or enhancing learning objectives and measurable outcomes. Additionally, participants will optimise design competency mapping to build assessment rubrics using AI-powered Dittirum+ software that can be used to evaluate hands-on classroom activities or projects.

Workshop participants will:

•  Differentiate between a competency and an ability

•  Learn how to create design competency maps

•  Effectively construct assessment rubrics

Intended Audience: All higher education educators, leaders, project-based leads and department heads

AI or A+? Redesigning your assessments for GenAI using the AI Assessment Scale

Workshop Leader: Mike Perkins, Head, Centre for Research & Innovation, British University Vietnam

Is using AI in assessments ‘cheating’ or simply a new form of academic collaboration? This workshop challenges traditional notions of academic integrity in an AI-powered world. In this practical workshop, participants will explore how the AI Assessment Scale (AIAS) (Perkins et al., 2024) provides a structured framework for integrating Generative AI into educational assessments. Rather than viewing GenAI as merely a potential threat to academic integrity, the workshop demonstrates how the AIAS enables educators to thoughtfully incorporate this technology across a spectrum of assessment tasks—from “No AI” to “AI exploration”.

Participants will engage in hands-on activities including stress-testing existing assessments by attempting to complete them using GenAI tools, identifying vulnerabilities, and redesigning assessments using the AIAS framework. Educators will discover how to develop CustomGPTs and standardised prompts that provide clear structure for students using GenAI in assignments, create AI-informed marking rubrics, and use the AIAS CustomGPT to transform previously created assessments.

The workshop emphasises practical approaches that maintain academic rigour while acknowledging the realities of GenAI in today's educational landscape. By reframing how we think about AI assistance in student work, educators can design assessments that focus on meaningful learning outcomes rather than futile attempts to detect AI use.

Workshop participants will:

•  Evaluate existing assessments for GenAI vulnerabilities through practical stress-testing, enabling identification of tasks that may need redesigning for the AI era

•  Apply the AI Assessment Scale (AIAS) to develop assessments that thoughtfully integrate GenAI at appropriate levels

•  Create structured supports using CustomGPTs and standardised prompts that guide students' ethical and effective use of GenAI in their learning and assessment tasks

Intended Audience: All higher education educators and leaders. While the workshop is primarily designed for higher education contexts, K-12 educators will also benefit from the adaptable framework and strategies presented.

Supporting personalised learning through AI-driven tutoring systems

Discover how AI-driven tools and technologies can transform your teaching and personalise learning for every student.

Intended Audience: All higher education educators and leaders

AI 101: developing AI literacy for today's classrooms

Workshop Leader: Gregor Marković,  Director of Educational Technology,  Wellington College International Tianjin

AI is transforming every facet of our lives – and the classroom is no exception as generative AI has the power to shift the teaching and learning paradigm. This workshop will focus on introducing foundational AI (101) concepts, demystifying terminology such as machine learning, natural language processing and data analytics, and examining how these tools can enhance teaching practices and student learning experiences.

Through collaborative exercises, attendees will explore the time-saving benefits of AI integration such as idea generation, learning material design and assessment scaffolding. We will also address the ethical dimensions and drawbacks of AI integration, such as academic dishonesty, inaccuracy and bias in AI-generated content.

Attendees will leave equipped with a practical toolkit of strategies and resources, ready to implement AI-driven initiatives that not only boost student engagement but also simplify everyday tasks. Whether you’re an AI beginner or looking to refine your approach, this workshop will provide the knowledge and confidence to harness AI’s potential in a way that is both innovative and pedagogically sound.

Workshop participants will:

•  Understand and adapt to the benefits and drawbacks of the quickly expanding use of generative AI in education

•  Overcome any initial reservations about the use of generative AI in the classroom

•  Trial several and master at least one AI tool of choice

Intended Audience: All K-12 senior leadership, IT Directors, EdTech coaches and teachers. While the focus is on K-12, the workshop content may also be valuable for HE educators.

Augment your learning, teaching and assessment strategy with GenAI

Workshop Leader: David Santandreu Calonge, Head, Educational Program Development, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence

Don’t just learn about AI – experience its transformative power in action!

Join us for a comprehensive and engaging workshop focusing on enhancing learning, teaching and assessment through the strategic integration of Generative AI (GenAI) tools. Participants will gain an understanding of various GenAI technologies, including their capabilities and limitations, while also exploring the ethical considerations and potential biases associated with their use in education.

In this session, be prepared to be equipped with practical skills which will enable you to design and implement innovative educational activities that effectively leverage GenAI. This includes adapting existing resources and critically evaluating the impact of GenAI on student learning.

Furthermore, participants will be empowered to identify relevant GenAI applications within their specific teaching contexts / disciplines and develop a plan for their integration. By analysing the impact of GenAI on student learning, teaching and assessment practices and the overall learning environment, participants will be well-equipped to navigate the evolving landscape of AI-augmented education.

Workshop participants will:

•  Identify potential applications of GenAI in their specific teaching context and develop a plan to integrate these applications into their practice

•  Analyse the impact of Gen AI on student learning, teaching and assessment practices

•  Design and implement teaching and learning activities and assessment tasks that effectively integrate Generative AI tools

Intended Audience: All faculty, instructional designers and curriculum development specialists and educational technologists.While the focus is on HE, the workshop content may also be valuable for K-12 educators with relevant roles and interests in integrating AI into their teaching practices.

Bridging the learning gap: evaluating assessment quality through data

Workshop Leader: Che Yee Lye, Senior Lecturer, Singapore University of Social Sciences

In an era where evidence-based decision-making is transforming education, the quality of assessments plays a pivotal role in driving meaningful learning and equitable outcomes. Quality assessments are not only tools for measuring student performance but also critical for identifying learning gaps and guiding instructional strategies.

This workshop is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to evaluate and enhance assessment quality through a data-driven lens. Participants will explore three key principles of assessment – validity, reliability and fairness – and understand how these principles enable quality assessment to be designed and implemented. Participants will also learn how to use data to identify learning gaps and improve overall effectiveness.

This session will combine theoretical insights with practical applications, providing participants with hands-on activities to analyse and interpret assessment data. Real-world examples given to participants will provide a rich context for understanding the impact of high-quality assessments. This workshop is highly relevant for instructors, assessment writers and course developers aiming to align curriculum, teaching strategies and assessment practices.

Workshop participants will:

•  Evaluate assessment quality by applying three key principles of assessment: validity, reliability and fairness

•  Analyse assessment data to identify gaps in alignment with intended learning outcomes

•  Critique how learning and assessment data can inform instructional practices

Intended Audience: All higher education educators, assessment writers, course developers and more

Lesson planning in a flash: harnessing the creative power of Canva

Workshop Leader: Anand Chawla,  Chief Information Officer,  Podar Education Network

Imagine cutting your lesson planning time from days to a couple of hours. What if you could type a single paragraph and get a full lesson plan, ready to go, in a matter of minutes? Or create engaging classroom materials without spending half your weekend formatting slides?

This workshop is all about making that a reality. Canva isn’t just for pretty presentations – it’s a powerhouse for educators. Did you know that you can also use its embedded AI capabilities to instantly generate lesson plans, worksheets, and activities that match your learning objectives? But here’s the catch: AI only works as well as the prompts you give it. That’s why we’re also tackling prompt engineering, teaching you the right words and key phrases to get exactly what you want from generative AI tools.

And it’s not just about the teachers – students benefit too. More than just a design tool; it can function like a digital classroom, making collaboration, assignments and presentations feel seamless and fun.

While most of us have likely already used Canva in some capacity, this workshop will take it one step further and expand the number of use cases at your fingertips. Expect a hands-on session with practical activities and plenty of “aha!” moments. You will leave with ready-to-use materials, time-saving hacks, and the skills to make Canva work for you – not the other way around.

Workshop participants will:

•  Master the art of prompt engineering to effectively guide AI tools in generating tailored lesson plans and worksheets, saving precious time

•  Transform your classroom into a dynamic digital environment where students can collaborate and complete assignments seamlessly

•  Boost your creative confidence by seeing your teaching ideas brought to life with AI

Intended Audience: All K-12 principals and teachers / educators, especially those who are still unfamiliar with AI and would like to explore its generative capabilities.

Nurturing human skills: a practical model for assessment and tracking in an AI landscape

Workshop Leader: Tim Lovatt,  Head of Digital Learning,  United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA)

There is a growing body of research into what skills will remain (at least for the foreseeable future, and probably way beyond), “un-ai-able”. Authentically human skills. The terminology used in the research varies a bit, but it is all pointing in the same direction. The International Institute for Analytics says these skills are “Contextual Awareness”, “Conflict Resolution” and “Critical Thinking”. All things that bring out our humanity in marvellous ways. The Institute of Managers and Leaders in Australia say “Connection”, “Emotional Intelligence”, “Original Thinking” and “Adaptability”. The World Economic Forum say “Creativity”, “Leadership” and “Learning”. And there are many more.

This workshop will be a hands-on exploration of a clear framework for educators.

• What skills should we be nurturing?

• How do we emphasise these skills through assessment?

• How can we track the development of these skills?

• What questions should we still be asking?

Filled with examples, activities and practical take-aways, this workshop will decode AI in education and empower you to make meaningful changes in your school, without reinventing the wheel.

Workshop participants will:

•  Get a framework for teaching, learning and assessment which nurtures human skills

•  Empower your students to use AI thoughtfully and deliberately, playing to their human strengths

•  Learn ways to assess and measure these human skills and track them over time

Intended Audience: All K-12 educators and leaders

Blended learning 2.0! Designing a community of inquiry to enhance student learning

Workshop Leader: Dr Misty So-Sum Wai-COOK,  Senior Lecturer and Chair, NUS Teaching Academy,  National University of Singapore and Dr Marissa E Kwan Lin, Senior Lecturer and Fellow, NUS Teaching Academy, National University of Singapore

Research shows that blended learning (BL), with its focus on the importance of thoughtfully integrating face-to-face classroom with online learning (Cleveland-Innes & Wilton, 2018; Garrison & Vaughan, 2008), has the potential to facilitate impactful student learning (Crosthwaite et al., 2021). To enable such integration, researchers have proposed that BL should provide learners with a Community of Inquiry (COI), where sufficient teacher, cognitive, social and emotional presences are operationalised to engage learners and enhance their skills/knowledge (Cleveland-Innes & Wilton, 2018). They have also emphasised the importance of designing a curriculum that aligns learning objectives with materials, activities and assessments in synchronous and asynchronous teaching/learning (Cleveland-Innes & Wilton, 2018).

Based on a recent study conducted at the Centre for English Language Communication at National University of Singapore, we aim to share evidence-based approaches that can be used to design a BL course with the following considerations:

1) the appropriateness of teacher, cognitive, social and emotional presences used to engage learners and enhance their skills/knowledge in a COI; and

2) the alignment between learning objectives and the use of materials, activities and assessments/feedback in synchronous and asynchronous teaching/learning.

Participants will also have opportunities to work on designing their own BL course during the workshop.

Workshop participants will:

•  Understand the key considerations involved in designing a blended learning course

•  Create a Community of Inquiry (COI) with appropriate teacher, cognitive, social and emotional presences

•  Design a blended learning course by aligning the learning objectives and materials, activities and assessments/feedback in synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning

Intended Audience: All educators in College and Higher Education

Strengths meet tech: using AI and positive psychology to develop student strengths

Workshop Leaders: Ghazali Abdul Wahab,  Senior Teacher,  Canberra Secondary School and Noor Aishah Bte Haja Mohideen, Teacher, Hai Sing Catholic School

What if AI could help your students discover their superpowers?

In this workshop, we’ll explore how the VIA Character Strengths framework – combined with AI tools – can help students to recognise and develop their unique strengths.

You will start by identifying your own strengths and learning how to harness them in the classroom. Then, we’ll have hands-on practice with AI chatbots to create personalised activities that build on students' natural talents. We will guide you to create simple but effective AI prompts that help students recognise and use their strengths in learning. No tech or coding expertise needed – just a willingness to experiment!

The workshop demonstrates practical ways to combine positive psychology with technology in the classroom. Educators will see how strength-based approaches can improve student engagement and emotional well-being.

By the end of the session, you will walk away with:
• Ready-to-use AI prompts that spark student self-awareness
• Practical ways to blend positive psychology with technology to unleash your students’ innate potential
• A classroom-ready plan for bringing character strengths into your teaching to boost student engagement and wellbeing

Join us for an interactive session where AI meets human potential – because every student deserves to shine.

Workshop participants will:

•  Identify and explain the VIA Character Strengths framework and how it can positively impact student development and classroom dynamics

•  Create and implement practical AI-assisted activities that help students recognise and leverage their unique strengths

•  Design personalised strength-based learning experiences by effectively combining positive psychology principles with appropriate EdTech tools

Intended Audience: All K-12 educators who work with students aged 13 and above