2026 BCASP Virtual Spring Workshops

Artificial intelligence is increasingly appearing in school-based work through email platforms, meeting transcription tools, document assistants, and other productivity features embedded in district systems. Many school psychologists are unsure what these tools actually do, what their district allows, and how professional and ethical expectations apply in a public-school context. This introductory session is designed specifically for psychologists working in public education and focuses on building a practical, responsible foundation for AI use.

Rather than concentrating on specific products, the webinar will introduce a functional understanding of AI tools and demonstrate how they can support common professional tasks such as organising records, summarising information, improving clarity of communication, and conducting preliminary research. Throughout the session, examples will be used to highlight the distinction between appropriate assistance (e.g., structuring information) and tasks that must remain under the psychologist's direct professional judgement (e.g., interpretation and decision-making).

The session will also address how AI use intersects with district governance, data handling, and informed consent considerations. Participants will be introduced to a practical framework for deciding when AI use is appropriate, how to maintain professional accountability, and how transparency expectations may vary depending on the task and context. The goal is not to promote or discourage AI use, but to support informed, cautious adoption aligned with school-based practice.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe common types of AI tools and what functions they perform
• Identify appropriate school psychology tasks where AI may be used to assist
• Apply professional and institutional considerations when deciding whether to use AI
• Understand how consent and transparency expectations relate to AI-assisted work
• Plan a safe, small first step for exploring AI within their district environment

Participants will be encouraged to identify the AI tools available in their district and to conduct limited, safe experimentation using non-identifying or sample materials prior to the second webinar.

This follow-up session focuses on higher-stakes professional work, particularly assessment thinking and written communication. Building on the foundational concepts introduced in Webinar 1, this session examines how AI can be used to support conceptualisation and professional writing without delegating clinical judgement or weakening professional reasoning.

School psychologists rely on writing not only to document conclusions but to clarify, refine, and communicate their thinking. This webinar introduces a defensible workflow in which the psychologist develops interpretations first, then uses AI to assist with articulation, review, and refinement. Through case-based examples, participants will see how AI can help make reasoning more explicit, identify gaps in evidence, consider alternative explanations, check logical consistency of recommendations, and review tone for strengths-based balance.

The session will emphasise maintaining authorship, defensibility, and clarity when AI is used. Participants will also explore how to distinguish between appropriate conceptualisation support and inappropriate delegation of interpretation. Although psychoeducational reports will serve as the primary examples, the same principles will be extended to consultation summaries, emails, and other school-based documentation.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Apply a structured workflow for AI-assisted conceptualisation and writing
• Use AI to clarify and strengthen professional reasoning without outsourcing judgement
• Review written work for coherence, evidence alignment, and strengths-based balance
• Maintain authorship and professional accountability when using AI tools
• Explain and defend their AI-assisted workflow in school-based practice

Together, the two webinars provide a progressive introduction to responsible AI integration in school psychology, moving from understanding tools and safe entry points to strengthening professional reasoning and communication.