Christoph Stein and Iris Groher (JKU) joined experts in Pavia (Italy) to discuss the changing role of educators in an age of rapidly advancing digital technology, focusing particularly on generative AI, such as ChatGPT. The session was an opportunity for educators to explore innovative digital education and create new educational strategies to meet the demands of an increasingly digital world.

Education: Past and Present
The week began with a visit to the historical library at the University of Pavia, highlighting significant changes in education over the centuries. In the past, educators were called upon to teach subjects only a handful of people knew anything about and could only obtain information often contained in expensive, difficult-to-access books. Nowadays, with the internet and digital tools, the world is at our fingertips. Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, is taking advancements one step further, giving students opportunities to perform previously time-consuming assignments faster. This shift is raising important issues about what role educators play in this new era.

Generative AI: Pros and Cons in Education
When it comes to writing papers and solving problems, generative AI can provide quick answers, however there are countless challenges to address. Education has always been about fostering critical thinking and honing problem-solving skills, not just completing homework assignments as quickly as possible. While AI can generate content quickly, the process of working intensively on the assignments, structuring arguments, and reflecting on what has been learned is not something that can be 'automated'. Educators at Staff Training Week focused on these various key points of discussion and these distinctions.

Workshops and Hands-on Experience with Digital Pedagogy
Participants took part in workshops focusing on integrating digital tools into educational practices, focusing mainly on how new technologies can improve conventional educational methods instead of replace them. By exploring different technological aids, educators learned more about how to support students' long-term educational development.

A Personal Take
Christoph Stein considered the session a transformative experience and a unique opportunity to not only share ideas and information with other educators from different backgrounds, but also learn more about new ideas and potential opportunities to use digital tools when holding his own courses. The shared experience underscored digital education's ability to foster innovative learning environments while maintaining the essence of education: to develop critical thinking skills and support reflective thought.

The EC2U Staff Training Week in Pavia was both a conference as well as a defining moment in the ongoing developments in continuing education in a digital world. The sessions underlined just how important it is for educators from across Europe to come together and address the challenges new technologies can pose. Given ongoing advancements in digital technologies, educators must learn how to continually adapt and explore innovative approaches, especially when it comes to including these technologies in the classroom and ensuring students are learning and retaining essential core skills needed to succeed in a digital age.