Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how we work, communicate and access information. What does that transformation mean for education — and how can we make sure learners of all ages are prepared now and for what comes next?

Join experts from the globally renowned Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) as they explore how technology is reshaping the skills we need, how we learn, and how schools, universities and other institutions can respond.

Whether you’re a student, educator, parent or anyone who values education as a pillar of a healthy society, join us for this fascinating discussion led by some of the leading thinkers in the field.

Joining us in person? Guests will also have the opportunity to tour the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Featured Speakers

Opening Reflections

Dr. Eunice Eunhee Jang is a Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at OISE, University of Toronto, and the Director of the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and previously worked as a K-12 teacher in South Korea. Her research specializes in educational measurement and digital literacy; she notably co-developed Ontario's STEP framework and invented BalanceAI, an AI-infused formative assessment platform specifically trained on primary students' writing and speech patterns to provide teachers with precise diagnostic literacy data. Additionally, she serves on prominent advisory panels, including the Duolingo English Test Technical Advisory Board and the TOEFL Committee of Examiners.

Panelists

Dr. Kang Lee is a Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at OISE and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a recipient of the Governor General Innovation Award (2024). He is also a co-founder of Nuralogix, a Toronto-based Affective AI company. Its app, Anura, based on his invention of transdermal optical imaging, is used by more than 20 million users worldwide to monitor physical and mental health.

Lydia Cao is an Assistant Professor at the OISE, University of Toronto. She is an interdisciplinary scholar whose research and teaching explore artificial intelligence in education, computer-supported collaborative learning, immersive technologies (XR), and knowledge building. Her work navigates the design and implications of emerging technologies for teaching and learning and advances global conversations on sustainability education. Dr. Cao is an active public scholar and shares her work via media outlets and invited talks.

Richard Messina is the Principal of the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (JICS) Lab School, an elementary school that is part of the OISE at the University of Toronto. With a mandate to “explore what is possible” the JICS Lab School exists to make a difference in the public domain by providing new insights into research, teacher education, and student learning. Richard Messina is an award-winning teacher and researcher (2007 Outstanding Journal Article in the Field of Instructional Design presented by the Design and Development Division, AECT) and he taught for many years in the JICS Lab School and in the public school system. He was a lead instructor at the Klingenstein Summer Institute, Teachers College, Columbia University for 10 years and has presented at AERA, NAIS, IALS and at conferences in Canada, the U.S., South America, Europe, and Asia. 

Moderator

Todd Cunningham is an Associate Professor, teaching stream in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at OISE. Professor Cunningham is also a school and clinical psychologist whose research has been focused on academic interventions for student-age child who have learning difficulties: He teaches courses in the SCCP program on psychoeducational assessment, as well as adapting and differentiating instruction for students experiencing learning difficulties.