An insightful evening for Canberran educators
By Mrs Alison Steven, Acting Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning
We were thrilled to welcome the founding director of The Next Word, Matt
Esterman, who presented to more than 60 educators from schools across Canberra last Wednesday.
The fabulous event co-hosted with Sentral, sparked meaningful discussion
about the impact of generative AI (gen AI) beyond just teaching and learning.
Matt’s message was clear: AI is here, let’s use it for the better. Thanks also
to Simon and Jackie Vaughan, who, in partnership with ASI Solutions,
shared how their schools are tailoring AI to support teachers.
Key takeaways included the importance of having open conversations with
our young people about how and why they are using gen AI, as well as practical
suggestions on how we can integrate AI into our workflows.
The closing message of the evening: 'Stay human'. In schools, staying human means prioritising empathy, connection, trust and authentic communication. While AI can enhance efficiency and provide valuable tools, it's essential to ensure that technology serves to strengthen - not replace - the human relationships at the heart of education.
