Empathy as Interface: Rethinking AI in Education

For K–12 educators exploring AI, ethics & inquiry—where learning blends humanity with technology. This interactive workshop invites K–12 educators, instructional coaches, and school leaders to move beyond buzzwords and explore AI literacy through the lens of the Digital Humanities. Centering people, perspectives, and participatory practices, the workshop connects technology to broader conversations about ethics, storytelling, identity, and community. Participants will engage in collaborative inquiry, explore a critical, human-centred framework, and leave with adaptable strategies and concrete entry points for their own classrooms. Designed for educators who believe learning should be rooted in humanity as well as technology, this experience equips students to navigate a future shaped by both algorithms and empathy. Tricia Friedman is a long-time educator who has lived and worked in China, Thailand, Morocco, Ukraine, Indonesia, US, Switzerland, Singapore and now Canada. She is the Director of Shifting Schools and the walker of her beloved dog. She's also an avid podcaster, you can catch her every Monday on the Shifting Schools podcast or every Thursday on Be a Better Ally.