Blog
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.
Gaining Value from Your Conference Investment
As conference season gears up, it's essential to make the most of your attendance. Whether online or in-person, there is an opportunity for learning and networking to impact your vision and goals. Taking advantage of this knowledge requires planning. Not just travel or block your calendar, but what do you intend to be the outcomes of participating in a conference? And how should you prepare?
The Learning and Performance Post-Pandemic Abyss: How Shall We Recover?
I am more than excited to see the challenges learning and performance (L&P) practitioners face these days and the innovative solutions they propose. Perusing the Learning Ideas Conference 2023 sessions, I see topics like Socially Enabled Intelligent Chatbots, Inclusiveness, Responsible Design, and even The Cringeworthy in Online Learning. They evoke memories of difficult projects that reaped rewards and/or caused profound despair, but always informed us of the many trajectories in which L&P is heading. I would love to think that such endeavors are systematically addressed with tried-and-true methods, toward unequivocally successful outcomes. I also dream of whiskey springs and comfortable airline economy seats that smell like root beer. The grand L&P experiment is, in reality, more trial-and-error than not.
Awesome Hybrid Training
So, you are presenting at The Learning Ideas Conference. Great! The people attending your presentation will be both in-person and remote. This is the new definition of Hybrid Training. There are plenty of online presentations that will help you make the greatest impact on the attendees. I've attended many of these presentations. Below are some best practices I've found that you can apply to your presentation so both types of attendees are engaged and feel included. And check out my challenge to you at the end.