Strategies for Integrating Thoughtful AI into GIS Teaching and Learning

AI is rapidly changing how students learn, write code, analyze data, and interact with GIS. For educators, the challenge is no longer simply whether students should use AI, but how to integrate it in ways that strengthen rather than replace spatial thinking, critical reasoning, and responsible decision-making. This webinar explores practical strategies for thoughtfully incorporating AI into GIS teaching and learning. Drawing on collaborative work at Esri Canada with a visiting professor, we will examine how educators can help students use AI as a learning and problem-solving partner while continuing to develop the core geographic and analytical skills that GIS education is built around. Whether you are already experimenting with AI in your courses or are still considering where it fits, this session will provide a couple of ideas you can adapt to your own teaching.