About the Event

"Use AI responsibly" can mean a dozen different things depending on the course, the professor, or the assignment. Misaligned expectations lead to frustration, confusion, and accidental academic integrity violations. To build a transparent learning environment, we have to move past vague syllabus policies and establish explicit, clear boundaries.

This 45-minute webinar offers practical frameworks for communicating exactly how, when, and why AI tools should—or shouldn't—be used in your classroom. We will explore how to craft dynamic syllabus statements, use clear expectations for assignments, and facilitate open, productive dialogues with students. Learn how to transform your AI policy from a standard disclaimer into a powerful teaching tool.

About the Participants

Jonathan D. Becker, J.D., Ph.D.

After graduating cum laude from Duke University with a B.A. in Public Policy Studies in 1994, Jonathan Becker received a law degree and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Boston College Law School and the Boston College Graduate School of Education in 1997. Additionally, in May of 2003, he earned a Ph.D. in the Politics of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. From September 2002 to August 2007, he was an assistant professor in the Department of Foundations, Leadership and Policy Studies in the School of Education and Allied Human Services at Hofstra University. After moving to Virginia Commonwealth University where he served as an assistant professor of educational leadership from 2007-2012, Becker became the director of innovation and online academic programs. Having done that from 2012 through 2017, he is now back in the Department of Educational Leadership at VCU as an associate professor.

Becker’s expertise lies clearly at the intersection of education, technology and law/policy, and he teaches courses in school law, the politics of education, educational technology and school leadership, and educational research methods. In collaboration with school law experts Dr. Scott McLeod and Dr. Justin Bathon at the University of Kentucky, Becker developed a set of multimedia tutorials on legal issues in education for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Additionally, he has published articles and presented to various audiences on the use of social media by educational leaders. Most recently, Becker co-authored a book chapter with Dr. Laura Gogia on Universal Design Through Openly Networked Connected Learning.

Lance Eaton, Ph.D

Dr. Eaton is the Senior Associate Director of AI in Teaching and Learning at Northeastern University. He has earned a Master's in American Studies (UMASS Boston), Public Administration (Suffolk University), and Instructional Design (UMASS Boston). He completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education (UMASS Boston) with a focus on academic piracy and how scholars navigate the privatization of research literature in the 21st century.

His work engages with the possibility of digital tools for expanding teaching and learning communities while considering the profound issues and questions that educational technologies open up for students, faculty, and higher ed as a whole. He has engaged with scores of higher education institutions about navigating the complexities and possibilities that generative AI represents for us at this moment. His musings, reflections, and ramblings on AI and Education can be found on his blog: AI Simplified.

Kristina Ishmael (Host)

Kristina IshmaelKristina Ishmael is the AI Policy Program Manager at Google and a Global Strategist who bridges the gap between ambitious national policy and the daily realities of the classroom. While she most recently served as the Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology—where she led the world’s first national ministry guidance on Artificial Intelligence—her leadership is anchored in a singular truth: her policy brain was built sitting on tiny chairs.

Kristina began her career as an early childhood educator, where she witnessed firsthand the disconnect between policy mandates and the practical realities of the classroom. This "human-first" perspective became her north star during her tenure in the Biden-Harris Administration. There, she ensured that the landmark report, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning, moved beyond high-level theory to provide actionable guardrails and guidelines designed to bridge the gap between national policy and classroom practice.

Known for her grounded and transparent approach to leadership, Kristina provides a unique 360-degree perspective that spans from the classroom carpet to the federal cabinet. Whether leading internal AI strategy or engaging with global ministries, she remains a dedicated advocate for a world where technology serves the whole person and policy remains deeply rooted in the humanity of the learner. Currently based in Bilbao, Spain, Kristina brings a vibrant, transatlantic lens to creating equitable, "anywhere, anytime" learning environments for all.