Séminaire de Ivon Arroyo

Rethinking Education in Times of AI

Date : 14/04/2026
Heure : 11h
Lieu : Auditorium de l’Institut Claude Chappe (IC2, Le Mans) et visio
Intervenante : Ivon Arroy

Abstract: This talk provides a broad and critical overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI)’s evolution within the field of Education, from its early origins to the most recent developments involving generative AI. It will examine the meaning of “intelligence” and “education,” drawing on pedagogical perspectives from thinkers such as Montaigne, Paulo Freire, Jean Piaget, Seymour Papert, and Fernando Savater. These thinkers emphasize fostering curiosity and promoting active learning during the learning process. Throughout the lecture, various applications of AI in education will be discussed, including intelligent tutoring systems, assistants for students and instructors, data analytics tools, and adaptive assessment platforms. The discussion will also address the principal challenges and ethical concerns associated with these technologies, including privacy, bias, plagiarism, transparency, and the potential risk of passive dependence on technological systems. Finally, the talk invites reflection on how the opportunities offered by conversational systems and AI applications can be leveraged to expand access to online educational resources and enhance educational quality, while maintaining a strong commitment to ethical and social responsibility.

Bio: Ivon Arroyo is a professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst who works in the fields of learning sciences, artificial intelligence in education, and educational technology. Her research focuses on designing AI-driven learning systems and embodied educational technologies that help students learn mathematics and STEM subjects more effectively. She leads the Advanced Learning Technologies Lab, where her work explores intelligent tutoring systems, educational data mining, affect-aware learning technologies, and interactive games that combine physical activity with learning. Her projects aim to improve student engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes, particularly for K–12 learners and multilingual populations.