CSTANJ CSPDWeek 2026

In 2023, the sudden popularity of powerful chatbots caused educators everywhere to panic about their students’ essays. Three years later, we’re witnessing the rise of the agentic era and are experiencing a “vibe coding” revolution where the barrier between a student’s imagination and a fully functional software application is unimaginably thin. As people around the world realize they can build anything they can envision, computer science has become more important than ever, transcending its role as a specialized skill to serve as the universal language of creation.

Together, we’ll explore some of the most innovative applications of AI in schools, we’ll dive into emerging AI tools and technologies that promise to put “phenomenal cosmic power” in the hands of every learner, and we’ll unpack the practical strategies you need to invite this revolution into your own classroom.

Throughout the course of this keynote presentation, we will take stock of the changes (and challenges) that have arisen since the popular launch of ChatGPT on November 30, 2022.

We will establish a context for what has become possible, or even “expected,” in August 2026, from the ease with which anyone can “vibe code” an application in a matter of seconds, to the actualization of autonomous “agent teams.”

And we will explore a variety of innovative and inspirational applications of artificial intelligence in classrooms and schools. This will include compelling AI tools that teachers can bring into their classrooms, curricular shifts that have implications for how we utilize AI for teaching and learning, and larger-scale AI initiatives that can transform what’s possible in our schools.

This interactive keynote (90 min.) explores the intersection of AI and our values as educators.

Pushing against narratives of AI's "speed," "efficiency," and "optimization," in the classroom, this session creates space for participants to slow down, reflect, and discuss the values that truly drive our teaching. Engaging with the Analog Inspiration card deck, participants will explore how to center human values, skills, and concerns when integrating AI, preventing its misuse, and navigating difficult AI-related scenarios. The session will provide practical strategies for building trust with students, disincentivizing academic misconduct, and designing AI-integrated assignments that put learning at the center.