Presentations
Reworking The World’s Education with Personalized AI Tutors
Presenter: Iulian Vlad Serban, Ph.D. (CEO of Korbit Technologies)
Abstract: Korbit is a startup working to transform education with artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Korbit’s bold mission is to democratize education by providing a high-quality, personalized, and active learning experience for millions around the world at low cost, anytime and anywhere.
Korbit is developing a real-time intelligent tutor – a so-called personalized AI tutor. The tutor personalizes the curriculum for each learner and adapts itself to the learner’s needs while providing real-time targeted pedagogical support (such as feedback, definitions, explanations, examples, and illustrations). This new technology has proven to be highly effective in multiple cohort studies. In a head-to-head study comparing Korbit against a big online learning platform, Korbit students achieved 70% better learning outcomes in only 3 hours. Korbit was founded by AI researchers from the Mila Research Laboratory and Cambridge University, and has won multiple awards including the “Best Solution During the COVID-19 Pandemic” (EnlightenED Awards), and the “Emerging Entrepreneurs” award (C2 Montreal). Korbit has helped to teach over 15,000 students and professionals to date. Although it is early days for the young startup and its nascent technology, the potential to make learning truly personalized and active for millions is massive.
In this talk, Iulian Serban will introduce Korbit, discuss the startup’s journey, show what personalized AI tutors are all about, discuss how they are being used at Dawson College and elsewhere, and provide his perspective on how they are going to transform education in the near future.
Date: May 7, 2021
The Hazards of Using Big Data
Presenter: Dan Pomerantz (Computer Science, Dawson College)
Bio: Dan Pomerantz is a faculty member in the Computer Science department at Dawson College. As a Dawson.AI Teaching Fellow, he developed course material related to the ethics of AI. Before joining Dawson, Dan was a lecturer in the Computer Science department at McGill University and subsequently a software developer engineer at Microsoft.
Date: April 14, 2021
Concepts in AI Algorithms
Presenter: Garry Ka Lok Chu (Mathematics, Dawson College)
Abstract: Do you know how machines sort emails? Can Toffoli score in his next NHL game? Is there any ethical issue in AI algorithms? We will explore these AI concepts together in this talk.
Date: March 12, 2021
Concordia Institute for Co-operative Education’s 40th Anniversary
Title: How AI and the digital revolution will change the recruitment landscape
Moderator: Claude Martel (Director of the Institute for Co-operative Education, Concordia University)
Presenters: Joel Trudeau (DawsonAI Project Lead, Dawson College); Dr. Carolyn Hass (Vice President, Product and R&D, Success Finder); Antoine Riachi (Co-founder & Lead of R&D, Valital Technologies)
Abstract: What to expect in the talent searches of the future.
Date: March 11, 2021
DawsonAI 2020 Speaker Series
Title: Applications of machine learning in education
Presenter: Sameer Bhatnagar (Physics teacher, Dawson College)
Abstract: This talk will be a brief overview of how Machine Learning techniques are applied to different systems in education. Latent Skill Estimation, Automatic Essay Scoring, Personalized Content Recommendation and Feedback, Early Identification of Students at Risk: these are all examples of how some core ML techniques are being used at scale today in different learning platforms.
Date: November 13, 2020
Title: What is AI and how can it be used for good?
Presenter: Charles C. Onu (Machine Learning Researcher & Vanier Doctoral Scholar, Mila & McGill University)
Abstract: Hearing the words “artificial intelligence” has almost become a daily occurrence. What really does the pursuit of artificial intelligence involve? What does it mean to build AI? How can this play an important role in social good, and specifically, in providing access to healthcare for millions? We will answer these questions during this talk.
Date: November 11, 2020
Title: Bible-Quran Link: Using AI to Promote Religious Tolerance
Presenter: Ahmad Banki (Economics Teacher, Dawson College)
Abstract: In this talk, Ahmad Banki will discuss how a comparative study of religious scriptures can be powered by AI and can help raise the level of religious tolerance. Ahmad will give us a glimpse of his work to develop a comprehensive map that links verses of the Quran to their equivalents in the Bible. The purpose of this map is to show how much similarity there is between these two religions.
Date: November 10, 2020
Ped Day 2020
Title: Can Essays Written by AI Systems Be the Next Great Cheat Code?
Presenters: Cheryl Simon, Carl Saucier-Bouffard, Gregory Polakoff, Charles Le Guen, Daniel Pomerantz
Description: Intelligent authoring systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The texts they generate are no longer tantamount to gibberish – rather, they can produce essays that rival that of college students in both quality of sentence structure and grasp of the topic at hand. In this session, participants will learn about the history of text-generating AI systems as well as what this means for them as they grade take-home essays, both today and in the future.
Date: October 14, 2020
Title: Are AI-Powered Exam Proctoring Systems the Answer We Have Been Waiting For?
Presenters: Jennifer Sigouin, Vanessa Gordon, Garry Chu, Carl Saucier-Bouffard, and Ahmad Banki
Description: To what extent can we detect and prevent cheating in exams through remote AI proctors? In this session, we will explore what is currently available, past experiences, and potentials for the future. We will highlight the practical and ethical concerns around monitoring students physically, as well as tracking their private data. We will also explore some alternatives to reduce cheating in exams.
Date: October 14, 2020
Dawson College – 50th Anniversary Talks
Title: Reimagining Education
Presenter: Prof. Ollivier Dyens
Date: 2018
Title: Education on the Edge of the Technological Singularity
Moderator: Sameer Bhatnagar
Panelists: Abhishek Gupta, Zhenglin Xiong, François Paradis, Sahir Bhatnagar
Date: 2018
