SXSW EDU is just around the corner, and the Gates Foundation has several events and sessions planned for the week. We’re excited to discuss the student-centered approaches our partners are leading, including highlighting how everyone can enjoy and explore the magic of math and having lots of great conversations about equitable approaches to Artificial Intelligence in education.
Below are some of the sessions the Gates Foundation and our grantees will be leading at SXSW EDU. We hope to see you in Austin!
Gates Foundation SXSW EDU sessions
Teaching Students to Tell Stories with Data
March 4, 2024, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CT
Behind every data set is a story waiting to be told, and who doesn't love a good story!? In this session, we will show how high school students can be engaged in the practice of creating and telling stories based on data. Our experience bringing authentic data science practices and tools into math classrooms has also revealed the potential of data to give students a fresh interest in math and coding. We'll unveil ways you can bring this experience to your school so that your students can be empowered to tell their stories.
Equity Concerns in AI & Education
March 5, 2024, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CT
AI is everywhere and making sure that everyone has a fair shot at learning is now a top concern. This session takes a deep dive into the tricky world of Equity Issues in AI and Education. We will explore the many challenges that pop up when AI and education mix, talk about some ways to solve these challenges, and share ideas that make the use of AI in education more fair, inclusive, and accessible.
Route K-12 Podcast: Busting Society’s Big Math Myth
March 5, 2024, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT
Why do we believe that some people aren’t “math people” when all of us are born problem solvers? We level crooked tables and split bar tabs without even thinking about it. So this belief that not everyone can do math just doesn’t “add up.” We’re going to shatter that misperception at a live recording of the Route K-12 podcast. We’ll demonstrate that everyone can—and should—excel in math. Expect a dynamic show filled with audience interaction, tangible examples of transformation from classrooms to policymaking, and an electrifying chat with the "Lady Gaga of math education." Don’t miss it!
Professional Learning & Justice Seeking in Our Classrooms
March 5, 2024, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT
How do we bring equitable ideas into our everyday classroom practice, in an increasingly divided landscape? At this panel, we'll hear from professional learning providers who both create and implement content to empower and prepare school staff at all levels to deliver equitable, high quality instruction. What are they finding in classrooms right now, and how are they ensuring that their work has long term effects in the schools they work with? Join us as we discuss collaboration, systemic bias in education, and how exactly teachers and administrators can make big changes in their classrooms.
Making the Most of Middle School Math
March 6, 2024, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CT
Middle school math skills are directly connected to later success in high school and career, but only 26% of 8th graders are math proficient. New technologies can shift that, however, offering new opportunities to close opportunity gaps – especially for our most vulnerable students. Learn about solutions turning the tide in student performance in a conversation with leaders prioritizing the importance of middle school math.
Math Instruction & AI: the Future of Content & Assessment
March 6, 2024, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CT
Unlock the power of AI for math teachers! Can AI make math learning more engaging, more relevant, more effective? Our expert panel reveals the transformative impact of AI in math classrooms. Discover how AI elevates teaching, amplifies student engagement, and equips educators with cutting-edge tools. See how AI can help increased student agency, improve accessibility to mathematics for struggling readers and provide teachers deep insights. Delve into research, A/B testing, continuous improvement, AI, and universal design. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the future of math teaching and learning!
Advising for PS Access: Powered by AI + Human Intelligence
March 6, 2024, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT
As students consider a wider variety of post-high school options, how can we ensure they are receiving quality navigation and guidance supports to make informed decisions? Digital tools, including those powered by AI, present a unique opportunity to transform how we think about high quality advising, especially for students furthest from opportunity. Hear from leading innovators who are looking to transform how we think about advising for Postsecondary Access, ensuring students receiving timely and accurate advice that empowers them to make informed decisions.
AI-Enabled Teacher Coaching: Opportunities & Challenges
March 6, 2024, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT
Instructional coaching can help teachers build the combination of expertise in development, pedagogy, and empathy needed to support daily growth of young children. But the costs of providing coaches with information needed to identify and track components of high-quality instruction limits the scale of implementation. This discussion with leaders in early childhood teaching, classroom observation, and AI-systems on innovations in instructional coaching will explore how advances in AI might help support teacher coaching while addressing concerns regarding privacy, equity, and bias.
Reimagined STEM Courseware: Equity-Centered Digital Learning
March 6, 2024, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT
This session showcases how through courseware, technology can support equitable student success initiatives for BILPOC, and poverty affected students. Panelists include equity-minded faculty, researchers, and developers who will highlight how courseware products have been reimagined to center equity through student and instructor facing features and functionalities. Courseware products for introductory college statistics and chemistry courses will illustrate how, through intentional equity-centered approaches, these tech-enabled products are positioned to advance equitable student outcomes.