A Summer of AI and Cultural Discovery: Highlights from TLIC's Greece Summer Course 2025
Ioannina, Greece (July 14, 2025) - The Learning Ideas Conference (TLIC), in collaboration with the Laboratory of New Technologies and Distance Learning at the School of Education, University of Ioannina, hosted its annual Summer Course in Ioannina, Greece, from July 8th to 10th, 2025. Set at the Epirus Palace Hotel Congress & Spa, this year’s three-day program centered on the theme “AI, Learning, and Cultural Heritage,” exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping education and cultural preservation from various perspectives.
Set against the majestic mountain landscape of Ioannina, the course brought together local and international experts across diverse fields such as education, AI, user experience design, and museum studies. The main faculty included Dr. David Guralnick of Kaleidoscope Learning; Dr. Jenny Pange, former Dean of University of Ioannina’s School of Education; Dr. Gila Kurtz and Dr. Eran Gal of the Holon Institute of Technology (HIT) in Israel; and Dr. Antonella Poce from the University of Rome Tor Vergata in Italy.
Led by this distinguished faculty, participants from Greece and abroad engaged in interactive discussions, hands-on workshops, and cultural excursions to local museums in the area. Sessions explored the role of AI in higher education, Generative AI, and 3D Digital Object-Based Learning (OBL). Workshops led by Dr. Kurtz and Dr. Gal provided students with practical skills to design more effective AI prompts, while Dr. Poce’s session on Generative AI and OBL introduced new approaches to integrating emerging technologies into learning experiences, especially cultural studies. The program also included student poster presentations, giving participants the opportunity to share their findings and insights with the faculty.
“It was a real privilege to take part in a conference that brought together voices from Greece, the US, Italy, and of course, two lecturers from my own faculty… Hearing such a range of perspectives on AI, learning, and cultural heritage was truly eye-opening. The ways in which different people approach the integration of AI, not just as a tool, but as an experience, left me both inspired and full of new ideas,” said Danielle Arish, a participant from the Holon Institute of Technology (HIT).
The TLIC Summer Course in Greece will return to Ioannina in June 2026, with a new focus on how AI is transforming teaching and learning. For more information and updates, visit the program’s official website at: aiteachingandlearning.org.
About The Laboratory of New Technologies and Distance Learning, School of Education, University of Ioannina
Established in 2003 (Government Gazette 144/12-6-2003), the Laboratory of New Technologies and Distance Learning operates within the Department of Early Childhood Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Ioannina. It addresses key educational and research needs in information technology, ICT-based educational programs, and scientific research, including methodology, analysis, and results. To learn more, visit their website: lab-ntodl.ecedu.uoi.gr/en