SHIPLEY COLLEGE HOST AI CONFERENCE
Shipley College recently hosted a conference on AI in Education on behalf of the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges.
Addressing that colleges are facing an 'AI revolution in education', Shipley College Principal Diana Bird explained that the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) was investing millions in colleges across West Yorkshire 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.