Where AI Meets Humanity
Reflections from NYSCATE 2025
Last week, Evin and I packed our bags and headed to upstate New York for the 2025 NYSCATE Conference—a vibrant gathering of educators, technologists, and visionaries working at the intersection of learning and innovation. Our mission was simple: tap into the pulse of what New York public schools are really thinking when it comes to technology and its role in the classroom.
It didn’t take long to discover the dominant buzzword echoing through the halls: AI.
From packed sessions on AI-powered grading tools to exhibitors showcasing adaptive learning platforms, artificial intelligence is clearly front and center in educational conversations. But something was missing—something deeply important.
The human element.
As Evin and I moved from session to session, it became clear that while AI is exciting (and yes, powerful), few were talking about what students lose when we offload too much of their learning journey to machines.
At Thinkering Collective, we believe education is fundamentally human. When students rely on AI to write their essays, solve their problems, or organize their thinking, we risk robbing them of the very skills that will shape their future:
Critical thinking
Logic
Grit
A fail-forward mindset
If students learn to punt everything to ChatGPT, they won’t learn how to problem-solve when the system fails, or how to navigate ambiguity when no clear answer exists. That’s not innovation, that’s automation without intention.
We’re not anti-tech. In fact, we build with AI. But we build differently. We build with humans in the loop. Not just as an industry term but helping to define what that means.
At NYSCATE, we were honored to be invited as a Spotlight Presenter, featured in the largest room on the program. Most of our audience walked in unfamiliar with Thinkering. They left engaged, inspired, and energized by our mission to humanize education through relationships, creativity, and real-world learning.
We didn’t just talk about AI. We talked about purposeful AI.
We didn’t just showcase tools. We showcased student agency.
We didn’t just pitch a product. We offered a movement—one rooted in curiosity, connection, and co-creation.
What this conference reminded us is that the work we’re doing isn’t just relevant—it’s necessary. As the education sector embraces rapid innovation, it’s our responsibility to slow down, ask hard questions, and design systems that honor both technology and the human spirit.
So, to the NYSCATE community: thank you for having us. And to every educator reading this—don’t forget the learners behind the logins.
We’re here. We’re building. And we’re inviting you to Thinker with us.