More than 300 high school students from Edmonton Public Schools gathered at the Fantasyland Hotel for the second Student Artificial Intelligence (AI) Conference, aiming to build skills and understanding of the rapidly evolving technology.
Learning Beyond the Library
Kanwar Bajwa, a grade 12 student at W.P. Wagner High School, presented a research project on the mathematics behind neural networks. Instead of heading to the library, he used an AI tool to locate sources, showcasing a modern approach to research. Bajwa, interested in math and technology and aspiring to an engineering career, holds a balanced view on AI. He believes AI should handle mundane tasks like washing dishes, while humans should focus on art, literature, and big ideas.
Conference Highlights
Bernice Pui, chair of the conference, noted that over 300 students attended breakout sessions led by data scientists and researchers from the University of Alberta, Google, and the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii). Topics ranged from career pathways to AI robotics and medical applications. The goal, Pui said, is to enhance students' AI literacy, including understanding considerations and limitations, and to help them make AI work best for them.
Adam Danyleyko, product owner at Amii, emphasized the importance of critical thinking in an era where knowledge is easily accessible. He noted that AI is already transforming education, but there is a gap between students' use of AI tools and teachers' comfort in discussing them. He stressed that asking big questions, having conversations, and questioning AI's impact will be crucial in education.
Looking Ahead
The conference aimed to prepare students for a future where AI plays a significant role. By fostering AI literacy and critical thinking, educators hope to equip the next generation to harness AI responsibly and creatively.
