ICEIPI 6th
The 6th International Conference on Educational Innovation and Psychological Insights (ICEIPI 2025) was a hybrid conference which included several symposium series (offline and online) around the world. Dr. Kurt Buhring from Saint Mary’s College, Dr. Rick Arrowood from Northeastern University, and Dr. Gregg S. Lloren from University of the Philippines Cebu have chaired these symposium series on related topics. ICEIPI 2025 provided the participants with good opportunities to exchange ideas and build networks, and it will lead to further collaborations between both universities and other societies.
Symposium
Saint Mary’s College
Organizer: Dr. Kurt Buhring, Associate Professor in Saint Mary’s College
In preparation for the symposium meeting, students read “On Defining and Studying Religion,” Chapter Two from Gary E. Kessler’s Studying Religion (3rd ed., 2008). Kessler presents advantages and disadvantages to various definitions, including how inclusive or exclusive a definition may be, as well as how we may discern various biases in definitions. First by themselves, then in small groups, students craft their own definition of religion. After writing out these definitions for the whole group, the class analyzes and compares their work with one another as well as definitions offered by scholars such as Clifford Geertz, Paul Tillich, and William Alston. We then discuss how useful or precise these definitions are. As a lighter “case study,” we watch a YouTube video on attending a Notre Dame football game, then consider ways in which this might be a religion and ways it might not measure up to some of our definitions. Defining religion can be very difficult to do well, yet it can still be helpful and important to try to do our best in terms of precision and usefulness.
Northeastern University
Organizer: Dr. Rick Arrowood, Professor in Northeastern University
This symposium invited contributions from professionals, academics, and enthusiasts in sociology, technology, and cultural studies to explore the interplay between artificial intelligence and societal change. Emphasizing AI's impact on education, the symposium examined how AI can transform learning environments, enhance cultural practices, and promote inclusivity. Participants engaged in interactive sessions, group discussions, and case studies focused on integrating AI responsibly into educational contexts, while safeguarding cultural and ethical integrity. By the end of the symposium, attendees gained insights into AI's societal implications, develop critical analysis tools, and identify actionable strategies for ethical AI adoption in both educational and broader community settings.
University of the Philippines Cebu
Organizer: Dr. Gregg S. Lloren, Assistant Professor in University of the Philippines Cebu
The symposium highlighted the theoretical basis of AI in pedagogy, drawing from child psychology and cognitive science to better understand how learners engage with technology. Key discussions included AI-driven personalization, intelligent feedback, multimodal learning support, and the ethical considerations of integrating AI in education. Participants engaged in interactive activities that allowed them to critically examine AI applications in teaching practice, reflecting on both opportunities and challenges such as equity, data privacy, and algorithmic bias. The event brought together educators, researchers, and practitioners who shared insights and co-developed strategies for responsibly using AI in education. Emphasizing collaboration rather than replacement, the symposium concluded with the message that AI, when thoughtfully applied, can act as a meaningful partner in the learning process.
Online Session
The online session of the 6th International Conference on Educational Innovation and Psychological Insights (ICEIPI 2025) was held on August 20, 2025. Dr. Kurt Buhring from Saint Mary's College, Dr. Alexandre Loktionov from University of Cambridge, and Dr. Yu Sang from The University of Sydney were invited to give keynote speeches on related topics. Also, we invited authors of qualified papers to deliver oral presentations at the Online Session in the field of psychology, pedagogy, humanities, etc. Questions from the audience were collected and answered by the presenters.
Highlights
Title: Day and Niebuhr: Responses to the Great Depression
Presented by: Kurt Buhring, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies
and Theology, Saint Mary's College
Title: Ancient Law, Modern Ideas: Pharaonic Power and the History of Statehood
Presented by: Alexandre Loktionov, Ph.D., Research Fellow, Department of Archaeology,
University of Cambridge
Title: Jiaohua through Humanistic Buddhism
Presented by: Yu Sang, Ph.D., Lecturer, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The
University of Sydney
Videos
You can find the Youtube Playlist here.
