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On-demand recording · Educators AI Playbook · Session 2

Design thinking, agency and avoiding AI overwhelm

Missed session 2 of The Educators AI Playbook? Watch the full recording — Mark Orchison and Dan Fitzpatrick move beyond individual AI experimentation to a practical, school-wide strategy, and are joined by Dr. Sabba Quidwai to explore how design thinking builds leadership and agency in an AI-driven world.

Recorded 15 January 2026
Session 2
About this session

The Educators AI Playbook is a monthly briefing for school leaders and educators, hosted by Mark Orchison, Founder & CEO of 9ine, and Dan Fitzpatrick, the internationally recognised strategist known as The AI Educator. Session 2 moves beyond individual experimentation to focus on a practical, school-wide AI strategy.

The session opens with a monthly AI rundown covering why tools like ChatGPT for Education and Microsoft Copilot are becoming embedded in teacher workflows, and why student collaboration matters more than ever. From there, a Responsible Roadmap tackles the compliance risks of free-versus-paid AI tools, shadow IT, and how schools should be updating Acceptable Use policies to address issues like hallucinations.

Guest speaker Dr. Sabba Quidwai, CEO & Founder of Designing Schools and a former education executive at Apple, joins to explore design thinking and leadership — how schools can build agency and avoid AI overwhelm by leading with a human-centred, empathy-first approach rather than reacting tool by tool. The session also previews BETT 2026's "Learning without Limits" theme.

Speakers

MO

Mark Orchison

CEO & Founder, 9ine

Over 20 years' experience helping schools navigate technology, cyber, privacy and safeguarding — a highly respected voice in K-12 education governance.

DF

Dan Fitzpatrick

The AI Educator · co-host

Bestselling author of The AI Classroom, Forbes contributor, and award-winning strategist who has helped over 100,000 educators worldwide navigate AI responsibly.

SQ

Dr. Sabba Quidwai

CEO & Founder, Designing Schools · guest speaker

A former education executive at Apple and doctoral researcher in design thinking, Sabba now helps schools build cultures of innovation rooted in empathy — equipping educators and leaders to navigate AI with confidence rather than overwhelm.

Want help putting this into practice?

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