Brian Housand - CTRL + ALT + THINK: Rebooting Human Brains in the Age of AI

Ever found yourself reading a student essay that feels just a little too polished to be real? You’re probably not imagining things! In this engaging and thought-provoking session, we’ll explore what it means to teach and learn alongside artificial intelligence while keeping human thinking front and center. Together, we’ll examine how to design learning experiences that prioritize curiosity, reward authentic thinking, and encourage original expression. You’ll leave with practical tools to enhance creativity, deepen complexity, and ensure that students (and not machines) are doing the thinking.

Dr. Brian Housand earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology at the University of Connecticut, with an emphasis in both gifted education and instructional technology.  He has worked in education as a classroom teacher, a teacher of the gifted, and a university professor for over twenty-five years. As a speaker and consultant, he has presented in 40 states and five countries. Brian is a lover of technology, Star Wars, all things Disney, video games, and fonts. He proudly identifies himself as a geek.

How you craft AI prompts determines your results! The same is true with questions of Google, Alexa, Siri, and even humans! Participants in this session will explore ways AI can be utilized to enhance the educational experience of all learners.  They will learn to think like a philosopher, question like a scientist, and create like an artist – all by wielding the power of the perfect prompt using the CRAFT Framework (Context, Role, Audience, Format, Task, and Tone).  Attention will be given to helping students use AI to enhance critical thinking, creativity, and independent learning, rather than tripping into replacing thinking or even cheating.

Dr. Brian Housand will be presenting at Herriman High School.