Queens Campus Event Highlights Responsible AI Mentorship for High School Learners

AI education has become an essential part of today’s education system as most of the universities around the world increasingly adopt it. However, responsible use of AI needs to be emphasised by the institutions as students should learn about bias, accountability and ethical practices to use AI safely. In line with this, D’Angelo Centre in Queens, New York, took a step ahead and organised a workshop on responsible AI on November 12. Students from Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter High School in Brooklyn received information on ethical AI use.

A fundamental component of the entire program was carried out by the First-Year Seminar students of St. John's University, who, in turn, guided their high school peers through AI-related discussions and demonstrations. By acting as mentors to the visiting high school students, the university students were allowed to practice applying concepts learned in class. This workshop further complements the broader goal of the university in promoting AI ethics in education and assisting in developing AI literacy among students. Adjunct professor Omar Lopez, who organised the workshop, reportedly stressed how using technology appropriately was not just a classroom practice, but an opportunity to shape the way students learn, create, and connect with their community. Thus, the workshop was designed to highlight both academic and social aspects of responsible AI usage.

In terms of content, the high school AI mentorship involved presentations on AI sourcing, checking for bias in AI-generated material, and recognising when reliance on AI crossed into cheating. As such, the sessions underscore AI bias and academic integrity in modern education. Further said to have participated in some interactive quizzes where they competed for St. John's merchandise, the New Beginnings students even enjoyed an unexpected guest appearance from Johnny Thunderbird. The guests have spoken of being inspired and educated. One of the students interviewed was Gianel Oscar Hernandez, who was quoted as saying, "AI is everywhere and we should learn how to use it responsibly before getting to college."

St. John's accounting student Conor Guilfoyle also stressed the importance of teaching responsible AI usage before college, since the consequences can be quite heavy for even the most innocent of mistakes. He further elaborated on how peer-learning made hard-to-grasp subject matter easier through the essence of peer-led AI learning. New Beginning teachers also emphasised that the workshop exposed their students to some vital exposure to college-level discussions on technology. Particularly, teacher Zack Krajcik said AI would be a major part of their futures and thus must be applied responsibly.

On an institutional level, Dean Luca Iandoli of Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies went to the event and related it to the new St. John's University AI Resource Hub mission. He was quoted as expressing that AI posed a challenge regarding learning and employability, and that the goal of the University was to prepare every student to embrace AI safely and ethically.

Accordingly, Professor Sophie R. Bell, Chair of the Department of Core Studies, elaborated that the First-Year Seminar course propels students to do critical thinking, effective communication, and independent thinking. She asserted that ethical and cognitive discipline were needed to make sure that AI tools ultimately promote instead of undermine intellectual growth. Participants also pointed out that the interactive AI ethics event organised by St. John's for Brooklyn high school students reflected wider trends in instructional integration of artificial intelligence. Across New York, it was said that institutions were soon putting more focus on responsible AI mentoring and accountability to enable students to take on the future academic and professional challenges.

The project, consequently, was described as serving the public good by equipping young learners with practical knowledge on how to use AI responsibly, safeguarding their rights through transparent procedures, and fostering integrity in education. The St. John's first-year seminar, responsible for AI mentoring high school students, reportedly showcased that peer-led programs allow for bridging secondary and higher education. In teaching ethical AI usage, sourcing, and bias detection, the University reaffirmed its commitment to preparing students for a digital future. Ultimately, the workshop has been viewed as a good step toward ensuring that New York's youngsters obtain the skills, awareness, and discipline to use artificial intelligence responsibly, thus supporting academic integrity and employability.

Editor’s Note

This workshop at St. John’s University showed the importance of instilling responsible AI education early on in young people. By involving high-schoolers in discussions and demonstrations by first-semester seminar students, the event provided practical lessons on fair and ethical applications of artificial intelligence. The sessions helped students understand key issues like bias in AI, academic integrity, and responsible use of technology. They learned to check sources of information, question results thereof, and recognise when dependence on AI might become abuse. These are skills that will become very important to them as they transition into higher education and will follow them into professional life. In addition, the workshop also stressed the importance of peer-led learning in that university students mentor younger learners. The format allowed for the simplification of complex ideas and illustrated that responsibility in technology is not a matter of rules, but one of forming good habits and learning to think independently. Moreover, the event reflected growing concern over preparing students for the digital future. Teaching AI ethics should not only cover defending academic standards, but also issues regarding relevance to students' rights, safe application of AI, and confidence in using technology.

As per Skoobuzz, this initiative is a significant stride toward equipping young people with the awareness, discipline, and integrity required for responsible AI use. It will not only support their learning and career prospects but also foster them into individuals who utilise technology thoughtfully and ethically.

FAQs

1. Why was the workshop on responsible AI education organised?

The workshop was reported to have been organised to introduce high school students to the principles of ethical AI use. It formed part of St. John’s University’s wider mission to promote AI ethics in education and strengthen AI literacy among students.

2. What topics were covered during the workshop?

Sessions included AI sourcing, checking for bias in AI-generated material, and recognising when reliance on AI crosses into cheating. These topics highlighted the importance of AI bias and academic integrity in modern education.

3. How did the high school students benefit?

Students from Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter High School were reported to have gained exposure to college-level discussions on technology. They also took part in interactive quizzes, which made learning engaging and reinforced the importance of responsible AI education.

4. What did university representatives say about the initiative?

Adjunct Professor Omar Lopez emphasised that responsible technology use could shape how students learn and connect with their communities. Dean Luca Iandoli linked the event to the University’s new AI Resource Hub mission, stressing that AI posed both learning and employability challenges.

5. What wider trends does this workshop reflect?

Observers noted that the event reflected broader trends in artificial intelligence in the classroom, with institutions across New York increasingly focusing on responsible AI mentoring and accountability to prepare students for future academic and professional challenges.

6. Why is this initiative important for public interest?

The workshop was described as serving the public good, since it equipped young learners with practical knowledge of how to use AI responsibly, safeguarded their rights through transparent procedures, and promoted integrity in education.