Dr. George Siemens and Dr. Tanya Gamby- Virtual Keynote Speakers
George Siemens is Chief Scientist of SNHU’s Human Institute. Tanya Gamby is Director of Health and Wellness for Human Systems.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1:30PM – 2:45PM U.S. EASTERN TIME ZONE | VIRTUAL
ELEVATING EQUITY: NAVIGATING THE NEXUS OF AI AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
The realms of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are no longer mere conceptions but integral threads in the fabric of higher education. The keynote, a symphony of diverse international perspectives, embarks on a journey beyond the theoretical confines, shedding light on the equitable and humanizing applications of AI in higher education. Catering to a myriad of educational roles—faculty, instructional designers, support staff, and innovation advocates, this session delves into the multifaceted implications of AI, from operational enhancements to instructional innovations.
Drawing wisdom from the pioneering work of the Global Research Alliance for AI in Learning and Education (GRAILE), this discourse will encompass a breadth of contexts, addressing the complexities intrinsic to AI—ethics, fairness, assessment, and the cultivation of digital literacies, while emphasizing the criticality of a holistic approach in institutional responses to AI. Attendees will gain insights into both the immediate and futuristic impacts of AI, furnished with pragmatic strategies to foster an institutional culture conducive to AI adoption, ensuring the sustained fulfillment of learner needs in a perpetually evolving educational landscape. The keynote aims to equip attendees with the acumen to harmonize technology with humanistic values, enabling the elevation of education in an era steeped in digital transformation.
George Siemens researches how human and artificial cognition intersect in knowledge processes. He is Chief Scientist of SNHU’s Human Institute – an organization building resources to respond to the systemic impact of AI on learning and wellness. He is the founding Director and Professor of the Center for Change and Complexity in Learning (C3L) at University of South Australia and developed the Masters of Science in Learning Analytics at University of Texas at Arlington. He has delivered keynote addresses in more than 40 countries on the influence of technology and media on education, organizations, and society. His work has been profiled in provincial, national, and international newspapers (including NY Times), radio, and television. He has served as PI or Co-PI on grants funded by NSF, SSHRC (Canada), OLT (Australia), Intel, Boeing, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Soros Foundation. He has received numerous awards, including honorary doctorates from Universidad de San Martín de Porres and Fraser Valley University for his pioneering work in learning, technology, and networks. He holds an honorary professorship with University of Edinburgh.
Dr. Siemens is a founding President of the Society for Learning Analytics Research www.solaresearch.org. He has advised government agencies Australia, European Union, Canada and United States, as well as numerous international universities, on digital learning and utilizing learning analytics for assessing and evaluating productivity gains in the education sector and improving learner results. In 2008, he pioneered massive open online courses (sometimes referred to as MOOCs). His is founding President of the Global Research Alliance for AI in Learning and Education (GRAILE – www.graile.ai).
Tanya Gamby Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and Director of Health and Wellness at Human Systems. Dr. Gamby has over 25 years experience working in integrated health care, community mental health centers and educational settings. She is the co-owner and clinical director of Autism Services Kaua’i. Dr. Gamby is the Past-President of the Hawaii Psychological Association and has spent many years serving on state and local mental health boards and advisory panels on initiatives to integrate the educational, medical and behavioral care communities. Dr. Gamby’s work adopts a systems perspective, using best practice therapeutic interventions with an emphasis on the interconnectedness of physical and mental health to the broader systems they exist within. With growing technological developments, connecting individuals to communities, to environmental systems, and to healthy practices are urgent needs, especially in light of the increased rates of loneliness and mental health declines.