AI in Education Conference hosted by Shipley College

Shipley College hosted its staff conference on AI in Education on Thursday 22 March where colleagues from West Yorkshire colleges were invited to attend as part of the LSIF Teaching and Learning project.

Shipley College Principal Diana Bird opened the day with a welcome to the staff gathered in Victoria Hall in Saltaire as well as guests from Luminate Education Group, Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and WYCC.

Addressing that colleges are facing an 'AI revolution in education' Diana explained that the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) was investing millions in colleges across West Yorkshire including Shipley College to progress digital skills in teaching and learning as well as a number of key sectors, through a mix of new equipment, CPD opportunities and course development.

Keynote speaker and author of 'The AI Classroom: Teaching & Learning in the Artificial Intelligence Revolution', Dan Fitzpatrick took to the stage to present an interactive and creative overview of the advancements in AI and its potential in further education.

The day included a mix of workshops and presentations as well as an engaging employer panel session hosted by Creative Director at Global Media, Penny Lee Brown to discuss the impact of AI on skills needs now and in the future.

Panellist Sammy White, a Learning Evangelist at Glean talked about the potential for AI to unlock new ways of learning to support neurodivergent students and students with additional needs, creating a 'personalised learning experience' for those whose needs can't always be met with traditional methods.

Sam Walker from ACS Group, a B2B group in Baildon, suggested that AI could help to remove the tasks from your day to day work that doesn't add value, "AI can mean that you can focus on what you're best at". He added that most businesses are already using AI in their operations without realising it and that we are evolving alongside it already.

Shipley College is one of the seven colleges receiving the Department For Education's LSIF funding for developing AI and digital skills within Teaching and Learning. The other colleges are Kirklees College, Bradford College, Calderdale College, Luminate Education Group, Heart of Yorkshire Group and Leeds College of Building. Among other digital learning and teaching equipment, all colleges are purchasing VR headsets and working collaboratively to develop courses that can help students and staff to develop their skills in the evolving digital environment.

Find out more about the Digital Innovation project.