AI in School Development: Online Lecture Series by the SD-AI Lab

The PostdocLab “School Development and AI Agency Research Lab” (SD-AI), led by PD Dr. Ramona Lorenz of TU Dortmund University and Dr. Manuela Endberg of the University of Duisburg-Essen, (SD-AI), funded by the College for Social Sciences and Humanities of the UA Ruhr, hosted an online lecture series in October 2026 on the topic of AI in school development. Two workshops featuring four international keynote presentations by renowned female scholars from the U.S., Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany opened up diverse perspectives on shaping responsible AI-supported school development and addressing questions of agency at all levels of the education system.

The presentations spanned a wide range of topics, from the design of sustainable educational ecosystems to concrete learning and training systems: Prof. Dr. Evrim Baran (Iowa State University) demonstrated how teacher education, schools, and other stakeholders can be connected to form a human-centered AI ecosystem. Prof. Dr. Sigrid Hartong (Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg) examined the opportunities and risks of AI for school development and emphasized the importance of critical, values-oriented technology design. Prof. Dr. Sabine Seufert (University of St. Gallen) provided insights into research on the AI driver’s license and agent-based training systems that support professional practice through simulation, feedback, and reflection. Finally, Associate Professor Olga Viberg (KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm) focused on human agency and the distribution of responsibility. She discussed how human-centered AI can strengthen human judgment rather than reducing autonomy or obscuring responsibilities.

The subsequent discussions within the two network groups generated particular added value. Here, the academic insights were combined with experiences, questions, and perspectives from various fields and further explored collectively. The focus was on fundamental yet very concrete questions: Who bears responsibility for AI-supported decisions? How can the scope of action for teachers and school administrators be defined? What competencies, structures, and forms of collaboration are needed so that schools can shape AI in a self-determined and responsible manner?
The intensive exchange made it clear that collaboration across all levels is necessary to clarify responsibilities, ensure human agency, and develop sustainable approaches for dealing with AI in schools.

Many thanks to our speakers and all participants for the inspiring ideas, the engaged discussions, and the valuable shared perspectives!