Nelson launches AI literacy tools for Canadian educators & students
Nelson has announced plans to address the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence in Canadian education with a new AI literacy module for educators and students, alongside a keynote by President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Brown at the Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit in Toronto.
A recent KPMG study indicated that Canada ranks among the least AI literate nations globally, with concerns around trust and awareness. In response, Nelson is introducing resources within its digital learning platform Edwin, aimed at bridging knowledge gaps for both teachers and learners and helping them navigate developments in artificial intelligence.
AI resources in classrooms
The new educational material, launching in mid-November, is designed to provide foundational knowledge of artificial intelligence for teachers and students. Lessons will offer an introduction to AI concepts, real-world examples, and guidance on related issues such as bias, ethics, and responsible use of technology. The resources are intended to support integration of AI literacy into multiple areas of the curriculum.
For educators, the content will include practical activities and support for developing students' critical thinking and analytical skills when using AI tools. According to Nelson, these resources are intended to help teachers manage both the use and potential misuse of artificial intelligence within the classroom environment.
Teacher experience with Edwin and AI
"I started using Edwin in lessons that are outside of my core subjects, such as science. Edwin provides rich curriculum-aligned materials, allowing me to provide the proper information for my students in an effective forum. Within the first week of using Edwin, I was able to guide my students to develop a commercial on biodiversity! Now, I use AI to complement and assist in my teaching practice. For example, AI helps me narrow down vast amounts of information and gives me alternatives in my lesson planning. Additionally, we know students use AI in some capacity to do their assignments. As educators, we have to find different ways to assess our students, review the work and educate them to use AI properly. Teaching has always been more of an art form than an exact science and AI, in my opinion, cannot replace the interaction between student and teacher but rather enhances it. I look forward to using the new resources on Edwin to help me engage in conversations with my students about AI, helping them develop skills to question, analyze and use AI responsibly, " said Nigel Romany, Grade 6 and 7 teacher, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board.
EdTech leadership summit keynote
At the Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit, scheduled at the Innovation Complex at the University of Toronto Mississauga, Brown will deliver a keynote titled "The Intersection of Human and Artificial Intelligence." The address will examine the rise of AI in educational contexts, discuss opportunities and challenges presented by the technology, and explore the importance of fostering human intelligence within AI-driven settings.
The summit targets senior leaders in K-12 and post-secondary education, industry partners, policy makers, teacher leaders, investors, parents, students, and EdTech startups, and aims to provide attendees with evidence-based research, best practices, and case studies to help them adapt to digital changes and promote sustainable, human-centred learning.
Nelson's ongoing support for educators
Alongside the AI literacy resources, Nelson has also refreshed its Edwin content for the 2025/26 school year to align with updates in Manitoba's K-12 curriculum. Recent developments include the Edwin Academy, which offers training, classroom resources, and support for teachers, curriculum leads, and administrators.
The Edwin Academy is accessible to all teachers using the platform, while parents have been offered access to educational resources for at-home support. Nelson's objective is to address key challenges faced by teachers in integrating digital tools and artificial intelligence into their teaching practice.
Company leadership's perspective
"As AI continues to grow and evolve, there is a digital divide that exists for educators," said Brown. "It's important to ensure they are armed with the right knowledge and understanding, materials and support so they can in turn support their students' learning. We're excited to launch valuable and necessary resources for educators to help them with specific ideas on how to manage AI use and misuse in the classroom, and more. I am also looking forward to participating in this year's important EdTech Leadership Summit, that is focused on the same topic, to connect with other industry leaders for discussions about AI in education, and how we can continue to empower students' critical thinking."
Edwin's AI resources will be available to educators from Nelson in mid-November.