Key Takeaways from C21 Canada AI Task Force Report WebinarReport Launch and Purpose
The webinar marked the official launch of the C21 Canada AI Task Force report, which aims to guide education systems in navigating AI’s impact on learning, teaching, and future work. The report represents insights from extensive consultation with leaders from K-12 systems, industry, research institutions, and community organizations.
Panel Insights on AI Readiness
– Infrastructure considerations are critical but often overlooked in AI implementation discussions
– Educators need empowerment and reassurance that AI will enhance rather than replace teaching
– Ethical guardrails must address transparency, privacy, fairness, and mental health impacts
– AI literacy should be treated as a core competency, not an optional skill
– Professional learning for educators must reach beyond early adopters to the broader teaching population
Data Governance and Infrastructure
A significant gap exists in both K-12 and post-secondary education regarding data governance, data literacy, and infrastructure to support AI implementation. Key requirements include:
– High-quality, governed data with proper tagging and privacy controls
– Reliable connections and robust cybersecurity measures
– Identity and access management systems
– Interoperable systems where AI integrates with existing platforms
– Continuous monitoring and evaluation of AI tools
Implementation Challenges
Five key challenges were identified for creating secure, ethical AI environments:
– Engaging school leaders who must understand AI to support implementation
– Managing aggregated data that lacks proper context
– Establishing governance frameworks for responsible AI use
– Addressing the gap between AI’s confident analysis and actual correctness
– Building data literacy skills among educators and administrators
Human-Centered Approach
Panelists emphasized that AI should enhance, not replace, human aspects of teaching and learning:
– Learning integrity must be maintained, ensuring technology enhances rather than replaces human understanding
– Purpose should drive implementation, not tools
– AI literacy must include understanding how AI works, its strengths, limits, and ethical implications
– Safe spaces for experimentation and innovation are essential
Equity and Inclusion Concerns
The panel highlighted important equity considerations:
– Technologies are never neutral and can perpetuate existing biases
– One-third of humanity remains offline, creating access disparities
– Only 10 of 7,000 languages are being used to build the largest language models
– AI implementation must align with values of equity, quality, and student agency
Student Perspectives
Research cited in the webinar revealed:
– 77% of students want school-based guidance on ethical and safe AI use
– Three-quarters of Canadian students now use generative AI (up from 60% last year)
– Students are often ahead of educators in AI adoption and can provide valuable insights
Next Steps and Collaboration
The webinar concluded with calls for:
– Continued national collaboration between education, industry, and government
– Funding from ministries directed toward EdTech and professional development
– Development of Canadian legislation on AI and intellectual property
– Launch of a third round of the C21 Dell AI use case project focusing on data literacy
– Addressing emerging concerns around “parasocial” relationships with AI and mental health impacts
