AI Institute Brings Educators Together to Shape the Future of Learning

For three days this June, Lakefield College School welcomed more than 90 educators and school leaders from across North America for the 2026 AI Institute, a collaborative professional learning experience focused on one of education's most important questions: How can schools thoughtfully integrate artificial intelligence while keeping people at the centre of learning?

Held June 24–26, the Institute combined keynote presentations, hands-on workshops, collaborative design sessions, and peer-led discussions, giving participants the opportunity to explore emerging AI trends while developing practical strategies they can bring back to their own schools.

The Institute was led by keynote facilitator Eric Hudson, whose opening session, Beyond the Chatbot, Beyond Efficiency, challenged participants to look beyond AI as simply another classroom tool. Instead, the conversations focused on the human skills, relationships, creativity, and leadership that will become even more essential as AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life.

Throughout the three-day program, educators experimented with new AI tools, explored topics such as agentic workflows and "vibe coding," shared innovative practices through micro-talk sessions, and worked collaboratively to design AI initiatives tailored to their own school communities. The program concluded with an Exhibition of Learning, where participants presented works-in-progress, exchanged feedback, and set goals for the year ahead.

Participants also heard from guest speaker Evan Harris, whose presentation on deepfake and synthetic media safety in schools offered valuable insight into one of the fastest-evolving challenges facing educators today.

Beyond the formal sessions, the Institute fostered meaningful connection through shared meals, waterfront activities, and evening receptions, creating space for conversations that extended well beyond the classroom.

As the 2026 AI Institute came to a close, participants left with more than new tools and ideas. They returned to their schools with new professional connections, practical action plans, and a shared commitment to ensuring that as artificial intelligence continues to evolve, education remains deeply human.

The AI Institute reflects Lakefield College School's ongoing commitment to advancing conversations around innovation in education while equipping educators with the knowledge, confidence, and community to lead meaningful change in their own classrooms and schools.