Inclusion is a well-established pillar of the Future of Education Technology Conference. That’s because today’s educators are seeking new ways in which edtech can advance their mission to ensure every learner “is provided space and has a seat at the table,” says Kimberly Zajac, a K12 speech pathologist and a featured speaker on FETC 2025’s Inclusion Track.
At FETC, Zajac, who works in Massachusetts’ Norton Public Schools, will share ideas for using the efficiencies of artificial intelligence to make instruction ever more inclusive of students with disabilities and learning differences.
“It’s certainly supporting educators in their ability to personalize and differentiate instruction for learners who are arriving with different skill sets and different strengths and challenge areas,” Zajac says on the latest episode of District Administration’s Talking Out of School podcast. “But it also raises the bar on how we go about teaching and learning, and how we can include checks and balances to make sure that all students are included in the thinking behind what we offer in their learning experiences.”
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AI translation tools are breaking down language barriers so educators can communicate more clearly with students and their families, building opportunities for community engagement. One of Zajac’s FETC sessions, “Creative Joy with AI,” focuses on how AI can stimulate students’ imaginations in new ways.
“It’s no different than if I were to pick up a marker or a paintbrush or even a camera,” she points out. “It’s just a different tool to utilize in the process of transforming my idea into something tangible. You get an output, and then you continue to refine it, as any artist or creator would with any product they created without the use of AI.”
FETC 2025 snapshot
FETC 2025 takes place Jan. 14-17 in Orlando. Here’s a rundown of Kimberly Zajac’s sessions:
- Inclusive Innovation: Leaning into Ethical and Equitable AI Solutions
- Making the Magic Happen with Magic School AI
- Creativity Jackpot! Adobe Express to Inspire Educators & Learners Across the Curriculum