Blog
Mastering the Whack-A-Mole of Emerging Technologies in Education
Imagine this. As a learning professional or educator, you're constantly being pushed to integrate the latest technologies into your programs. Your inbox is flooded with emails from stakeholders demanding innovative solutions. You conduct some quick research and find yourself immediately overwhelmed by the sheer volume of conflicting trends and perspectives, all needing more relevant advice and context. Your social media feeds are inundated with new influencers claiming to have the answers, but it's hard to know who and what to trust. Meanwhile, leadership is breathing down your neck, pushing for quick, tangible results. You think "How can I keep up with so many trends? Is this even worth my time?"
Don’t Be Afraid to Revamp Traditional Assignments to Meet the Needs of the AI Revolution
In my role as an instructional designer for a small university, I use AI on a daily basis. I use it to aid in my procedures for online course design and I strive to incorporate it into student learning activities. I am quick to have AI create module objectives or a course map straight from an instructor’s syllabus, and I can write a prompt to create rich AI patient simulations for budding counselors or future nurses. I can even find ways to implement AI-based in-class tutoring.
How Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Are Changing the Landscape of Education
Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, leveraging data to enable “smart” governance through “data-driven” strategies. In education, this transformation is particularly evident as big data and AI reshape learning environments, personalize student experiences, and improve administrative efficiency, revolutionizing teaching methodologies (Luckin et al., 2016). Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) further enhances this shift, presenting new opportunities for educational innovation that may significantly impact the future of education (Baker & Inventado, 2014). Popular media and online platforms amplify the widespread belief that AI will define the future of education (Nemorin, 2023).
AI and the Ragged Boundary Problem
At the recent edition of The Learning Ideas Conference (June 12-14, 2024), my co-presenter, Jan Greenberg, and I spoke briefly about “The Alignment Problem.” In his book by that name, Brian Christian describes it as ensuring that AI models “capture our norms and values, understand what we mean or intend, and, above all, do what we want them to do.” We addressed the alignment problem as we aimed to answer the question “Is AI appropriate for young children?”
Changing Student Perception through AI-Based Teaching and Learning in a Business Analytics Course
A 2023 summer course titled “Teaching with Cases” at Harvard Business School, organized by the Harvard Business Publishing, changed my perception of the use and application of AI in the classroom. It was fascinating how I watched a YouTube video on the use of AI in case teaching by a Harvard professor (as part of pre-readings for the 2023 Summer course) and then used AI to discuss the case study assigned to me for the course. That was my first-ever experience of handling AI in the context of a classroom where I was a student, learning how to use AI in teaching through a case study. While the short course at Harvard was illuminating, my most important takeaway from the experience was the confidence and eagerness it instilled in me to apply AI toward my own teaching at Penn State University in Fall 2023.
Harnessing AI and Innovative Online Strategies for Faculty Training
Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into online faculty training signals a significant shift in higher education pedagogy and professional development. Combining adaptive learning algorithms with immersive virtual environments enables personalized, scalable training, unlike traditional models. Rather than replacing educators, AI can augment them, enhancing teaching capabilities and unlocking potential. This piece explores AI’s diverse impacts, from customized learning to simulating classrooms, optimizing instruction, and innovating future training. While requiring ethical care, AI propels faculty development into a new era of enriched potential.
Unlocking Creativity through Creative Teaming
In my role leading transformation in fashion, music and other creative industries, I’ve learned what it takes to lead teams that learn quickly, create dynamic, creative projects and do so while remaining agile. Here are four ways to unlock creativity while building a strong team and culture.
Embracing Innovation in Education: My “Debut Show” at The Learning Ideas Conference 2023
In the vibrant realm of academia, there are pivotal moments marking one's journey as a scholar. For me, The Learning Ideas Conference 2023 is the cornerstone of my scholarly adventure, illuminating my path with fresh insights and innovative ideas at the intersection of learning and technology.
How to Ace Your First Conference Presentation
As a first-time conference speaker at TLIC 2023, it is needless to say that it took me a lot of preparation before actually standing in front of the audience. While speakers at academic conferences are most commonly workplace professionals, doctoral candidates, or professors, sometimes master’s degree students will be presenters as well, as I was.
The el-AI-phant has entered the room
Back in the Fall of 2022, learning and performance practitioners from around the globe were invited to submit presentation proposals for the 2023 Learning Ideas Conference. At about the same time, the world was taken by storm with ChatGPT and other forms of generative artificial intelligence (AI). While still relatively new to the activities of learning and performance (and everything else), a cadre of the best minds in this space stepped up with new ideas, new research, and startling discoveries that put hopes, fears, and curiosities in perspective.