Education in an age of Generative AI: Learning from the Past to Design the Future

Punya Mishra. Arizona State University (USA)

In an era of multiple global challenges, generative AI has emerged as a defining transformative force—generative, multimodal, and social in ways unlike previous technologies. In this talk, Punya Mishra, Director of Innovative Learning Futures at Arizona State University, examines what generative AI genuinely is (and isn't), advocating for educators to approach it creatively, playfully, and proactively. He also emphasizes that AI should enhance learning experiences rather than dictate them, while addressing significant long-term societal risks. Mishra promotes a balanced approach that recognizes AI's transformative potential while remaining vigilant about its broader implications for education and society.

Creativity Lesson I Learned the Hard Way: Confessions from an Education Designer Description

Laura McBain. Stanford University d.school (USA)

Laura McBain, designer and Managing Director at the Stanford d.school, shares key insights from her work using design to drive innovative transformation amid rapid technological change. In this keynote, she explores how divergent thinking—the ability to generate multiple solutions to a problem rather than settle on a single, conventional answer—can unlock bold, imaginative futures for learning. Drawing on real-world stories, tools, and failures, McBain invites educators to challenge the status quo, embrace risk, and rethink the role of creativity in shaping the future of education.