At Dwight New York, we see education as the spark that unlocks human potential. As artificial intelligence reshapes the world around us, we’re committed to making it a tool for creativity, deeper learning, and student empowerment. AI use is steeped in the spirit of the IB, encouraging principled action, interdisciplinary thinking, and curiosity. Students reflect on bias, dive into global challenges, and use AI to better understand both themselves and the world they’re shaping.
In our Middle Years and Diploma Programs, students team up with AI as a creative partner — brainstorming ideas, researching big questions, and analyzing outcomes. Along the way, they tackle tough conversations about authorship, fairness in algorithms, and technology’s social impact. As Ofer Rubin ’26 puts it, “AI tools can be extremely helpful in getting creative processes started. I’ve learned how to responsibly use AI to supplement my learning, without letting it take over.”
Teachers are key to making this happen. They model smart, responsible AI use and design opportunities for students to experiment, question, and reflect. Justyn Ambrose, Head of Media Arts, says, “We’ve integrated AI into the Media Arts curriculum so students can engage with these technologies safely, ethically, and creatively. Using Adobe’s Firefly, they combine traditional photography skills with cutting-edge text-to-image creation — building a full toolkit for the future.”
Teachers also weave AI into their planning to differentiate instruction and spark even more inquiry, supported by professional learning programs that focus on ethical innovation. In addition, teachers leverage AI tools to enhance the report cardwriting process, helping them efficiently collect and summarize student performance data. AI assists teachers in organizing comprehensive academic information, allowing them to craft deeply personalized comments that genuinely reflect each student’s unique learning journey, growth, and individual achievements.
Dwight New York is Leading the Way in Ethical AI
Education
At our school, AI isn’t just a trend — it’s part of our educational DNA. We prepare our students and teachers not only to use these tools but to understand, question, and imagine what comes next with this new technology.
Dwight NY Receives First Global AI Certification for K-12 Schools
At Dwight New York, we are proud to be among the first schools to receive an MSA RAIL (Responsibility, AI, and Innovation in Learning) certification. This certification signifies our commitment to transparent, student-centered AI integration. With clear, divisionspecific guidelines, students learn to cite and reflect on AI use thoughtfully. Faculty receive ongoing training and resources, ensuring responsible, innovative practice across the curriculum.
Leading with Curiosity and Ethics: How Dwight Seoul is Embracing AI
At Dwight Seoul, artificial intelligence is being embraced as a powerful tool for enhancing teaching and learning, used thoughtfully and ethically across divisions. From university counseling to Makerspace, our students and teachers are engaging with AI in ways that reflect both innovation and responsibility.
“It’s not about shortcuts,” says Alexis Ahn, MYP Design Teacher, “It’s about stretching our imagination.”
In Upper School, students use AI tools like College Genie and ChatGPT to support their university search. These tools help narrow choices and prepare students for more focused discussions with counselors. In MYP Design, students use AI to simulate interviews, roleplay user feedback, and generate product names, fueling creativity and deeper thinking.
Lower School students are also exploring AI in ageappropriate, creative ways. In Library and Makerspace classes, they use Canva for digital art, Suno to create original songs, and School AI for guided, safe interactions. These experiences foster early digital literacy while reinforcing critical thinking skills.
Teachers use AI to streamline lesson planning and adapt materials for diverse learners, including EAL (English as Additional Language) and Quest students. AI helps generate personalized learning paths, interactive activities, and vocabulary lists, freeing up time for deeper inquiry and student engagement.
Equally important is the ethical lens through which AI is used. Faculty model responsible AI use by incorporating evaluation tools like the CRAAP (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose) test, encouraging
students to be thoughtful and discerning. The IB’s AI guide also helps ensure our practices align with global standards and our values as an IB World School.
Stephanne Siberry, Librarian Teacher, says, “It is an exciting learning adventure empowering Dwight School Seoul students with AI! We’re creatively using tools while fostering crucial ethical awareness and critical thinking. This dynamic field, supported by the IB’s AI guidance, allows me to cultivate positive skepticism and open-mindedness in our young researchers — a thrill for us all!”
At Dwight Seoul, AI is not a shortcut — it’s a catalyst for exploration and growth. With a network-wide commitment to thoughtful policy and innovation, we are proud to be leaders in shaping how AI supports education in a global, interconnected world.
AI at QD: Cultivating Innovation with Integrity
Empowering Educators as AI Pioneers
At Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School (QD), teachers lead the charge in using this new technology through our “AI and Ed Tech” Professional Learning Community (PLC). There, our teachers experiment with AI systems and language models while addressing ethical challenges.
“We’re not just adopting AI—we’re dissecting it.” This was a sentiment shared by QD Computer Science and Mathematics teacher Mr. Liu Hongyi, who this spring partnered with English teacher John Pasden in delivering a faculty-led PLC focused on integrating AI into teaching and learning.
QD American Principal Robbie Shields said, “How we teach, how we assess students’ work, and the possibilities we have as educators are expanded significantly by the presence and development of these technologies, but it’s important that we get it right.”
At QD, a big part of “getting it right” stems from bringing students into the process to dialogue about AI. This was evident in our approach to leveraging the tools in class, as seen in our English B classes. Here, the team has elected to use an AI image generator, asking students to craft prompts that address specific plot points in novels. These AIgenerated images reflect each students’ understanding and experience of the written work. Beyond this fun and innovative approach, it’s also helping students become better communicators.
“AI helps me refine my grammar and tone, but Mr. Pasden shows us how to keep our own voice,” shares a grade 11 student.
Beyond the Classroom
With AI being such a new area impacting teaching and learning, QD is seeking different expertise and perspectives to better understand how it can benefit students. Recently, Ni Jiahui, Head of the Digital Center, attended an AI conference at NYU Shanghai, where USC’s Dr. Immordino-Yang reframed AI’s role in learning, urging educators to prioritize cultivating human ideas over outsourcing thinking to machines.
“As AI reshapes cognition, we must anchor teaching in what makes us uniquely human,” reflects Ms. Ni. From this, Ms. Ni added, “Ultimately, our goal isn’t to future-proof students—it’s to empower them to shape that future responsibly.”
At QD, AI isn’t replacing human potential; it’s revealing new dimensions of it.
Teaching for Tomorrow: How Dwight School Dubai Is Integrating AI to Shape the Future
At Dwight School Dubai, artificial intelligence is being embraced as a powerful tool to enhance learning, spark creativity, and prepare students for an ever-evolving world, all while maintaining a strong focus on ethical and responsible use.
Our students engage with AI as curious creators and thoughtful innovators. Across grade levels, they use AI tools to support research, boost creativity, and critically examine the technology’s wider social impact. Younger students are beginning to explore generative AI by learning to write clear prompts and create images using tools like Canva’s Magic Media, turning imagination into visual expression. In subjects like Design and Computer Science, older students are introduced to algorithmic thinking and machine learning through inquiry-based projects.
“Working with AI has made me think differently,” shares Halle Ashlin ’28. “It’s not just about using cool tools – it’s about asking better questions and thinking about the impact our choices make.”
For our teachers, AI acts as an intelligent assistant, enhancing rather than replacing the human element of education. Educators use AI for planning support, realtime feedback through AssessPrep, and differentiated
instruction via platforms like Diffit. Starting next year, the addition of AI tools through IRIS Connect will offer our teachers valuable insights into their practice, further supporting professional development.
“Our approach to AI is rooted in our commitment to personalized learning and the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework. Student use of AI supports key IB elements, including Approaches to Learning (ATL) and Academic Honesty,” explains Rajakrishnan Kalaichelvan, Art Teacher & Upper School Digital Learning Leader. “It also encourages interdisciplinary learning by helping students examine global issues through ethical, social, and technological lenses.”
To ensure responsible use, we have implemented clear guidelines around AI and academic integrity, ageappropriate tool vetting, staff training, and student digital citizenship education. Ongoing review processes ensure that any AI tools we adopt align with our values and IB philosophy.
After all, AI is not just about adopting new technology. It’s about using it with intention to enhance learning, foster inquiry, and truly ignite the unique spark of genius in every student.
Dwight Hanoi Comes Online at the Dawn of AI
Man City Football Academy Trip
At Dwight School Hanoi, our journey with AI begins at the very heart of learning — in the planning process itself. As an IB school, we chose Toddle as our LMS because its planning tools are specifically built for an inquiry-based environment. Our AI use is grounded in responsibility. With guidance from the Dwight Network AI Taskforce, Dwight Hanoi has developed an AI policy to ensure safe, ethical, and purposeful AI integration.
Through the Toddle AI Assistant, teachers can brainstorm provocations, design differentiated lessons, and generate assessment tools — all aligned with IB pedagogy. Toddle is quickly emerging as an innovator in the AI and education space, and its seamless integration of AI into the planning process was a key factor in our decision to adopt the platform. Beyond Toddle, educators are exploring tools like MagicSchool and Flint, seeking ways to boost student engagement, support diverse needs, and reclaim time for more impactful teaching. Several teachers have also begun trialing Toddle’s AI Tutor, which has shown early promise in supporting EAL learners and differentiation.
“I used Toddle AI to revise vocabulary for our Unit of Inquiry. When I gave specific prompts, it became a powerful tool, especially for students who struggle with English and dictionary definitions.”
- Yonny Chang, Grade 4 Teacher
“I tried it with my Grade 7s to review types of graphs. It helped assess student understanding and suggested areas for revision.”
- Eric Poon, Middle and Upper School Math Teacher
Student use of AI in the classroom is just beginning. As AI is implemented, teachers act as facilitators and ethical guides in this space, modeling critical use of AI and helping students understand when, why, and how to engage with it. As AI at Dwight supports our IB values — fostering inquiry, reflection, and learner agency, while aligning with our founding values of innovation and personalized learning — we are sure to see success as we integrate AI technology more deeply into our curriculum.
At Dwight Hanoi, AI is not replacing learning — it’s enhancing it. Our focus is on empowering teachers and students alike to explore this evolving tool with curiosity and care.
A group of our students, along with a few Dwight New York students, recently traveled to the UK to take part in a week-long intensive training camp at the City Football Academy in Manchester. Our students trained daily with Manchester City coaches, engaged in tactical drills and match play, and received individual feedback throughout the week. Students also toured the iconic Etihad Stadium; took in a premier league game; met professionals behind the scenes; and participated in workshops that emphasized mindset, preparation, and global citizenship.
As the newest member of the Dwight family, we were proud to represent our network in this program. We’re excited to see where this journey leads and look forward to sharing more opportunities for global engagement with our fellow Dwight campuses.
Developing AI Fluency: How Franklin School Equips Students for a TechDriven World
Franklin School incorporates ethical AI usage throughout its curriculum. Beginning in grade 9, Franklin’s Skills Course has a seven-week AI Information lesson, where students are assigned to research various important aspects of the new technology, including how machines gain intelligence by tracking a phone’s history and searches. Their research expands into how AI is used in various career fields, touching on everything from medical software to insurance, loan, and financial aid algorithms. They end the course with a discussion on how to use AI for social good.
Franklin offers two AI electives that are each a year long. “Creative Applications of AI” explores how generative AI can be used in fields like art, music, writing, and game design, and students complete hands-on projects with cutting-edge tools. In addition, students can take “AI Design Lab.”
“AI Design Lab takes a deeper dive into how AI works, from neural networks and computer vision to natural language processing and machine learning,” explains Director of Innovation Jaymes Dec.
These electives often extend into transdisciplinary work, as is evident in the recent collaboration with the Psychology course. AI elective students paired up with Psychology students to investigate if AI can replicate human emotions. Psych students were able to effectively explain to AI students which five factors influence human emotion. The AI students then took that information to a chat bot, to code it accordingly.
“It tested my knowledge on what I’ve been learning, breaking down these scientific terms to someone who’s never taken a Psych class,” says Abby ’28.
Teachers are also developing AI skills at Franklin. Canvas, our homework submission website, has an AI indicator tracking system that teachers set, determining how much AI usage students can incorporate into their submissions. Similar to turnitin.com, the site scans and alarms teachers when over-usage of AI is detected. This helps keep students accountable for the proper use of AI.
In the most recent episode of our podcast, Franklin UnlimitED, Founding Head of School Will Campbell spoke with Dr. Paul Teys, an educator with over 40 years of experience in school leadership about how AI isn’t the future — it’s now. Dr. Teys says a school’s job is to “prepare students to work alongside AI. It’s such a rich resource that’s now available.”
Franklin is doing just that — preparing students (and teachers) to effectively and productively use AI to their full potential.
Accreditation News
Franklin School is now accredited by the Middle States Association, in only its third year. Read more about the accreditation and stellar report our school received here.
AI Sparks Student Potential at Dwight Global Online
At Dwight Global Online School, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is grounded in our mission to spark student potential while promoting ethical, intentional, and innovative use. “AI supports learning, but never replaces student thinking — academic integrity is paramount,” said Head of Academics and Student Affairs Elizabeth Hutton. “Clear assignment-specific AI usage levels guide appropriate student use, with required citations and disclosure.”
Students engage with AI as collaborators, using tools to brainstorm, receive feedback, and explore ideas, always with full transparency and human oversight. This process starts with older Middle School students, who are introduced to AI gradually, focusing on digital literacy, ethical awareness, and safety. AI use at Dwight Global exemplifies the IB Approaches to Learning by reinforcing critical thinking, research, and reflection. In IB-specific contexts, AI can support early drafting for IAs, TOK discussions, and Extended Essay planning — with full citation and ethical use.
Teacher Caleb Westbrook says, “One way I am integrating generative AI into my English 11 classroom is through a multifaceted project in our dystopian short story unit. In this project, students debate the merits of AI in education, analyze its limitations, use AI during both the brainstorming and revision stages of writing their own short story, and reflect on how their views on generative AI evolve throughout the process.”
One student reflected, “This assignment really made my mind open about applying AI to education. I previously only saw it as something used to take shortcuts, but now I consider it more as a writing partner that tests creativity, particularly when used with intention. It is not a question of us doing less — it is a question of enriching the process with fresh perspectives.”
Teachers use AI to enhance personalization, create differentiated resources, and streamline tasks like lesson planning or editing. However, all outputs are reviewed to ensure pedagogical accuracy and alignment with Dwight’s values.
In February 2025, Dwight Global ran a series of “UnConferences” for faculty to attend on the topic of AI. Staff members facilitated discussions and presented several applications that teachers and students can use to ease workflow for activities such as note-taking, outlining, and summarizing while still adhering to the school’s AI Policy.
Dwight Global Online Launches New Signing Day Tradition
Our new Signing Day event, held at Dwight School New York, celebrated 18 recruited senior athletes. These athletes have been recruited by Duke, Stanford, Columbia, Dartmouth, and more, and Signing Day honors their commitment to play college sports after graduation this spring, or turn professional.
Tennis player Kendall Smith, bound for Wesleyan University, said it was “inspiring to hear everyone’s speeches and reflect on how far we’ve come.”
Chancellor Stephen Spahn, himself a former Ivy League athlete, told students: “You have proven to be elite in your sport while gaining the best education. The lessons learned in sports make you unique.”
