AI, “HI”, and Final Thoughts from Dan Verdick, Director, Client Solutions
It’s something else to be a human being at an EdTech conference these days, as we Earthlings start out 2026 CE and officially kick off the second quarter of the 21st Century.
Everywhere on the conference floor at BETT 2026 were brightly lit, colorful signs, each of them designed to attract the eyes and hearts of the intelligent humans walking beneath them – even if the messaging was more about a new form of intelligence currently sweeping the globe, with all its tantalizing promises of how it can help with educational content and services for today’s publishers, including content gen, speed to market, product expansion, and more. While AI offers considerable potential, it was interesting to hear the concerns shared by attendees about the level of calibration required to align the computer generated output with real-world actualities. Our customers and new friends approached us throughout the conference, seeking information about our “human in the loop” services and our policies and approach with clients on using AI in the services we provide. People came away from those conversations reassured that they have complete control about how or whether to use AI, and that the content development process at Westchester Education is human-centered and collaborative.
Prescriptive vs. Creative – Can Standards Help Teachers Succeed?
On the second day of the conference, Westchester Education hosted a discussion at the BESA stand on the coming UK curriculum and assessment, with special guests Caroline Wright, Director General of BESA, and Professor Dr. Ger Graus, the spirited and renowned education thought leader with decades of experience about what truly works in the classroom.
The discussion centered on many aspects of the standards, with extensive focus on a key point: How can teachers remain creative and adaptive, rather then be risk-averse when the standards require them to cover what may be on a standardized test? Though there wasn’t a clear-cut answer, the concern was real – that there’s a magic and awe to teaching that is hard to quantify and qualify in any standard.
As the UK awaits the standards’ official release, educational publishers will be challenged to create materials that not only adhere to the new guidelines, but also empower teachers to keep their students engaged with creative lessons and content, that inspire continued learning. “Schooling is about 12 years,” Ger Graus noted. “But education is a lifetime.”
AI and the Westchester Humans Who Can Help
Does your firm need support for how and why to use AI for your programs? At Westchester Education, we’ve created an approach that both embraces the power of AI, and provides the realism that what it can do needs to be properly engaged with, and even reined in at times.
Our approach is rooted in transparency with our partners, ensuring every step about the use of AI is open and clearly defined. Next, we build into our workflows the necessary due diligence to be sure the content is verified, accurate, and usable. We empower our clients with choices at every step of the way, so that we work together to create resources that are as engaging and dynamic as the young humans they will serve.
It’s always going to be about HI - Human Intelligence – in education, whether that’s the students in the classroom, the human teaching at the front of the room, or the humans developing products and resources to facilitate learning. As companies weigh their options about the kinds of Artificial Intelligence they need to use, it’s important to remember to make the smart choice, too, and keep people in the loop who can help at every step of the way. Westchester Education is here to support our clients in exploring the best path forward for their needs. Let us know how we can help you.