Keynote Session
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Chen, Kean University
Location: Main Room
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:10 PM, ET
Enhancing Teaching and Learning with Artificial Intelligence (AI): The POWER Way
As AI permeates daily life and becomes increasingly integrated into education, teachers and students are navigating new opportunities and challenges associated with AI use, particularly generative AI. Understanding how to engage with AI effectively and responsibly is becoming an important consideration for educators. Yet AI remains a “double-edged sword” (Chen & Lin, 2024): when used appropriately, it can yield meaningful educational benefits, but when misused or overused, it can pose serious ethical risks. In this keynote address, I present the POWER framework, which consists of five core principles (Purposeful, Optimal, Wise, Ethical, and Responsible) that guide the appropriate use of AI in education. These principles are action-oriented and conceptually interconnected, offering a coherent guide for practice. When applied effectively, the POWER framework can enhance teaching and learning with AI. The question is: how does it work in practice? To guide practice, I provide concrete examples and principle-specific questions that illustrate the POWER way of engaging effectively with AI.
Biography:
Jennifer J. Chen earned her doctorate in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She holds additional degrees from Columbia University and Harvard University. Dr. Chen is currently Professor of Early Childhood Education at Kean University. She is recognized among the world’s top 2% of scientists in the Stanford University/Elsevier rankings. Dr. Chen has been honored with numerous awards in recognition of her excellence in teaching, mentorship, research, and scholarship, including the 2026 Kean Excellence in Research Award; the 2025 and 2021 Kean Presidential Excellence Awards in Scholarship; the 2023 Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher Educator Award from the NAECTE Foundation; the 2022 NJAECTE Distinguished Scholarship in Early Childhood Teacher Education/Early Childhood Education Award; the 2020 NAECTE Foundation Established Career Award for Research in Early Childhood Teacher Education; the Kean Faculty Research Mentor of the Year Award; the Kean Presidential Excellence Award for Distinguished Teaching; and a Fulbright Scholar Award.
A nationally and internationally respected scholar, Dr. Chen has made significant contributions to the fields of early childhood education and psychology through more than 100 scholarly publications, including three authored books, one co-authored book, four co-edited volumes, and numerous peer-reviewed research articles.
Location: Main Room
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:10 PM, ET
Enhancing Teaching and Learning with Artificial Intelligence (AI): The POWER Way
As AI permeates daily life and becomes increasingly integrated into education, teachers and students are navigating new opportunities and challenges associated with AI use, particularly generative AI. Understanding how to engage with AI effectively and responsibly is becoming an important consideration for educators. Yet AI remains a “double-edged sword” (Chen & Lin, 2024): when used appropriately, it can yield meaningful educational benefits, but when misused or overused, it can pose serious ethical risks. In this keynote address, I present the POWER framework, which consists of five core principles (Purposeful, Optimal, Wise, Ethical, and Responsible) that guide the appropriate use of AI in education. These principles are action-oriented and conceptually interconnected, offering a coherent guide for practice. When applied effectively, the POWER framework can enhance teaching and learning with AI. The question is: how does it work in practice? To guide practice, I provide concrete examples and principle-specific questions that illustrate the POWER way of engaging effectively with AI.
Biography:
Jennifer J. Chen earned her doctorate in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She holds additional degrees from Columbia University and Harvard University. Dr. Chen is currently Professor of Early Childhood Education at Kean University. She is recognized among the world’s top 2% of scientists in the Stanford University/Elsevier rankings. Dr. Chen has been honored with numerous awards in recognition of her excellence in teaching, mentorship, research, and scholarship, including the 2026 Kean Excellence in Research Award; the 2025 and 2021 Kean Presidential Excellence Awards in Scholarship; the 2023 Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher Educator Award from the NAECTE Foundation; the 2022 NJAECTE Distinguished Scholarship in Early Childhood Teacher Education/Early Childhood Education Award; the 2020 NAECTE Foundation Established Career Award for Research in Early Childhood Teacher Education; the Kean Faculty Research Mentor of the Year Award; the Kean Presidential Excellence Award for Distinguished Teaching; and a Fulbright Scholar Award.
A nationally and internationally respected scholar, Dr. Chen has made significant contributions to the fields of early childhood education and psychology through more than 100 scholarly publications, including three authored books, one co-authored book, four co-edited volumes, and numerous peer-reviewed research articles.
