At the Ottawa Catholic School Board, writing is more than a skill it's a process of discovery. Across our classrooms, students are learning to express themselves with purpose and confidence, supported by innovative tools that put them in charge of their learning.
Innovation Meets the Classroom
Two OCSB schools St. Francis Xavier High School and Corpus Christi Elementary School recently welcomed the Brisk Teaching team for an inside look at how students are using Brisk Boost, an AI-powered writing assistant designed specifically for learners.
What they found wasn't just tech in action it was Deep Learning in motion.
Writing That Pushes Thinking at St. Francis Xavier
In Ashley Scarcello's English class at St. Francis Xavier, students were hard at work on persuasive writing assignments. With guidance from resource teacher Tara Potter, they used Brisk Boost's Writing Coach feature to reflect, revise, and take their writing further.
The AI didn't hand them answers it asked thoughtful questions, nudged them to dig deeper, and offered suggestions they could accept or ignore. One student put it perfectly: "It's not a shortcut it's more like having a tutor beside you."
Critical Thinkers at Corpus Christi
Over at Corpus Christi, Daphne Capaldi's students brought curiosity and candour to the experience. As they explored Brisk Boost, the room buzzed with conversation about their writing, their process, and the tool itself.
They offered direct feedback to the Brisk team what worked, what didn't, and how the tool could be even better. They weren't just learning with AI they were shaping it. That's the kind of student voice and agency we value at OCSB.
Collaboration That Centres Students
Throughout both visits, OCSB's Learning Technology Department worked alongside classroom educators and Brisk staff to observe how students interacted with the tool. What stood out wasn't just the app's functionality it was the way students used it to take ownership of their work.
This wasn't technology doing the thinking. It was technology that encouraged students to think harder, reflect more deeply, and stay in control of their learning.
AI That Supports, Not Replaces
This pilot project shows how AI can support differentiation, accessibility, and Deep Learning, without ever replacing the student voice at the centre.
From high school to elementary, our students are learning that AI isn't a crutch. It's a partner. It's a tool to help them write stronger, think bigger, and become even more independent learners.
One Idea at a Time
At OCSB, we believe in using technology to empower students, not do the work for them. Tools like Brisk Boost help us bring that belief to life in meaningful ways, every day.
When students lead with their ideas and are supported by tools that respect their effort, the learning gets deeper, and the writing gets better.
One student, one sentence, one bold idea at a time.
