In the age of artificial intelligence, many parents are curious — and perhaps even concerned — about how schools are approaching AI and integrating it into the classroom.
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schools → approach → classroom
Employers predict that nearly 40 per cent of the core skills required to do today’s jobs will be disrupted over the next five years, which directly impacts students’ job prospects.
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which → predict → prospects
But, thanks to AI, 170 million new roles are expected to be created, as 92 million are displaced.
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million → expect → AI
“It is incredibly important to us that girls are not left behind in the AI movement, so we are strategically building AI literacy for students by embedding the learning in their classroom context in various ways,” said Dr. Kristen Clarke, executive director of teaching and learning with The Bishop Strachan School, an independent Toronto-based day and boarding school for girls.
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Clarke → leave → girls
“For BSS, it is imperative that we create environments where girls can use and lead in AI as women are currently underrepresented in this area,” she said.
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she → create → area
The number of women working in AI is growing — a topic explored during a recent panel discussion at the school, called The Power of Women in Tech and AI.
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number → work → Tech
Bringing together parent and alumnae leaders, the event explored the future of work within a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
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event → bring → landscape
Despite this, research from Lean In has found that women are less likely to use AI at work and less likely to use it daily.
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women → find → it
“We want our girls to lead in AI so that it can be designed to alleviate the challenges that women face, so that it can be human-centred, and so that they can stay future-ready,” said Clarke.
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Clarke → want → that
Preparing students for an AI-driven future includes building skills in AI literacy, safety and innovation.
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Preparing → prepare → literacy
“In order for us to prepare our students for this future we need to educate them on AI, not only as users but as architects who have both a responsibility and an opportunity to help create this future,” said Meagan Enticknap, head of school at BSS.
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Enticknap → prepare → BSS
“We know that our students will need to have the ability to use digital technologies, analyze and interpret data, and apply artificial intelligence tools and concepts to solve problems and drive innovation,” she said.
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she → know → innovation
That means implementing AI in a thoughtful, informed way for both students and teachers — not jumping on the first app that comes out but rather considering how AI can be a tool for learning and improving systems.
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AI → mean → systems
BSS prepares students not just to use AI, said Enticknap, but to lead with the judgment, curiosity, creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking that will define success in the years ahead.
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that → prepare → years
Students are exposed to elements of AI literacy and digital citizenship in Grades 5 to 8.
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Students → expose → 8
By the time they reach the Senior School, they engage in inquiry and research lessons that incorporate AI literacy and explore practical uses of the technology.
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that → reach → technology
For example, Clarke said that arts students use AI to script drama and edit media, English students use it to analyze complex texts, while humanities students examine how modern historians use AI to advance historical research.
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historians → say → research
Business students use AI as a “brainstorming buddy” for proposals while evaluating financial risks like investing, she said, while math and science students critically evaluate AI tool design and output.
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students → use → design
“In technology classes, teachers are supporting students in understanding and using AI with productive habits, such as debugging code and clarifying concepts, while setting clear boundaries around appropriate use,” said Clarke.
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Clarke → support → use
BSS faculty hone their skills through professional development, which includes targeted sessions on platforms like Brisk, NotebookLM and Gemini.
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which → hone → Brisk
Faculty and staff also engage with the broader educational community on AI through events like the CIS UnConference and AI Summer Institute at Lakefield College School.
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Faculty → engage → School
When it comes to AI literacy, BSS has two ‘pillars’ that inform its approach: understanding and using AI and critically evaluating AI’s benefits, risks and potential implications.
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that → come → benefits
It also has a focus on ethical citizenship, which is one of the attributes in the Signature of a BSS Girl — a set of evidence-based personal attributes nurtured and taught at the school.
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which → have → school
That means learning how to use AI responsibly and ethically.
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That → mean → AI
“As AI becomes more present in education, responsible use matters as much as innovation,” said Enticknap.
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Enticknap → become → innovation
For BSS, that means ensuring any AI-related activity is grounded in clear principles, privacy protections, transparency, academic integrity, bias awareness, safety and human accountability.
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activity → mean → principles
“The key question is not whether to engage with AI,” she said, “but how to do so in a way that reflects the school’s mission and values.”
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that → engage → mission
The Aporia
