Keeping Humans at the Center of Technology | ACDS

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Keeping teaching “human centered” in the age of AI

June 10, 2026

Faculty and staff professional development workshop in June 2026 focuses on new technologies

After school ends for the year, learning continues on campus as Aspen Country Day School faculty and staff gather for sessions to skill up. This year, our presenter was one of the most sought-after advisors for schools on questions of technology: educator and strategic advisor Eric Hudson.

A key theme of the workshop was Hudson’s characterization of generative AI as an “arrival technology.” AI is not a trend on the horizon but a technology that has already arrived, making the question not whether schools should respond to it, but how they can help students engage with it thoughtfully and responsibly. “Asking ‘should we adopt generative AI’ is the wrong question,” Hudson said. “Rather, the question is: ‘What is the role of schools in a world where AI is present?’ How schools evolve in their teaching is a design problem.”

Faculty explored how our school can help students develop the judgment, curiosity, and critical thinking needed to navigate emerging technologies. Discussions examined everything from the opportunities AI presents to questions of ethics, accuracy, bias, creativity, and human agency.

A photo of Eric Hudson, presenter to schools on technology and use of AI, with an illustration of his matrix for deciding how schools can implement technology.
Eric Hudson articulates his approach to “human-centered AI” in presentations to schools and organizations worldwide. His Substack is a goldmine for thought leaders in education.

“Innovation has always been part of education, but our responsibility remains the same: helping students become thoughtful, capable, and engaged human beings,” said Aspen Country Day School Head of School Josh Wolman. “Eric challenged us to think carefully about how emerging technologies can support that work without losing sight of what matters most.”

Hudson encouraged educators to keep people at the center of the conversation. Rather than viewing AI primarily as a policy challenge, he emphasized the importance of helping students develop the literacy, judgment, and agency needed to navigate a world where these technologies are increasingly present.

“Innovation has always been part of education, but our responsibility remains the same: helping students become thoughtful, capable, and engaged human beings,” said Aspen Country Day School Head of School Josh Wolman.

Faculty also spent time experimenting with a variety of AI tools, reflecting on practical applications for teaching and learning while considering where technology can support human work and where human insight, creativity, and relationships remain irreplaceable.

The workshop reflected Aspen Country Day School’s commitment to preparing students not just for the world as it exists today, but for the world they will help shape. As technology continues to evolve, the school’s work remains grounded in the enduring values that define an Aspen Country Day education: curiosity, critical thinking, meaningful relationships, and a lifelong love of learning.