Spring Conference

“These aren’t just good strategies (and they are!) but, when integrated systematically, they are transformative experiences for both students and instructors.” –Jim Kain, Neumann University, PA 

The April 26, 2024 conference will be held virtually through Zoom 8am-2pm PT!

The 2024 Conference Agenda will be posted soon.

SPRING CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

Please note: all times are listed in Pacific Time (PT)

“Thank you for putting this together and having good presenters with valuable content.” –Sylwia Kulczak, Rio Hondo College, CA
“Thank you – this was an amazing conference!” –Nicole Adsitt, Cayuga Community College, NY

The 2024 Conference Agenda

2024 Spring Opening Keynote Session with Priten Shah, MEd and BA,
author of AI & The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

In the rapidly evolving landscape of education, the fundamental aims of fostering critical thinking, creativity, and lifelong learning remain unchanged. However, the advent of artificial intelligence and its integration into educational practices presents both challenges and opportunities for rethinking our pedagogical approaches.

This keynote address, drawing from Wiley’s Jossey-Bass published “AI & The Future of Education,” invites college professors to explore the enduring value of a liberal arts education amidst these technological shifts. We delve into how a liberal arts foundation, with its emphasis on diverse disciplines and critical inquiry, is more relevant than ever in preparing students for a future where adaptability and holistic understanding are paramount.

As we distance ourselves from an overly career-centric model of education, we discuss strategies for revitalizing the liberal arts tradition to foster a culture of innovation, ethical reasoning, and societal engagement in our students, equipping them for the complex realities of the AI-driven world.

Join us in envisioning an educational paradigm that not only adapts to, but also leverages, the transformative potential of AI to enrich the humanistic foundations of learning and prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

PRITEN SHAH is CEO of Pedagogy.Cloud, which provides innovative technology solutions to help educators navigate global challenges in a rapidly evolving world. He is the author of Wiley’s Jossey-Bass publication, “AI & The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.“

Priten is also the founder of the civic-focused nonprofit United 4 Social Change. He has a B.A. in philosophy and an M.Ed. in education policy from Harvard University.

2024 Spring Mid-Day Keynote Session with Lynn Dickinson, MA, MPW, MA, author of
How to Use ChatGPT (and Other Large Language Models) as a Teaching Assistant

Lynn will provide highlights from her new, bestselling book of the same title, including an overview of the most important and valuable things to consider when using ChatGpt as a teaching assistant, how to get started with AI, and why it’s important to do so. She’ll share some of her learnings from conversing with AI and offer some specific behind-the-scenes techniques she uses to make teaching easier and more effective with ChatGPT.

Lynn Dickinson is a seasoned educator, a pioneering voice in the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education and author of the Amazon bestseller, “How to Use ChatGPT (and Other Large Language Models) as a Teaching Assistant.” With a career spanning both academia and the human side of the tech industry, she offers a unique, insider perspective on the rapidly evolving landscape of educational technology. Lynn currently serves as a full-time faculty member at Santa Monica College in the department of Communication and Media Studies, with a keen interest in the practical application, institutional policy, and ethical implications of AI in education.

Holding Master’s Degrees in Communications Management, Professional Writing, and Spiritual Psychology, along with having completed all the coursework for a doctorate in Communications Theory and Research, Lynn’s multifaceted academic background lends a broad foundation to her innovative approach to pedagogy. Prior to her career in education, Lynn travelled for four years with rock parody artist, “Weird Al” Yankovic and his band, working as their tour publicist. She then served as the original Editorial Director at Hollywood.com, and later as Associate Partner of Content Strategy at global internet consultancy, marchFIRST, where sixty-three of the Fortune 100 corporations were counted among her team’s clients. This robust blend of media and technology experience sets Lynn apart as an educator attuned to the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.

Lynn’s passion for technology-assisted pedagogy extends beyond the classroom. A dynamic speaker and workshop facilitator, Lynn is committed to helping fellow educators harness the power of AI to enhance their teaching practice and to future-proof their classrooms and institutions. She offers presentations and workshops for both faculty and administrators on appropriate, effective, and ethical ways to harness the power of Large Language Models in higher education.

Lynn can be reached at lynn.m.dickinson@gmail.com.

2024 Spring Closing Keynote with Dr. Jonathan Brennan,
Author of the upcoming books Learning with ChatGPT, Dall-E and AI Generative Tools: An Educators’ Guide to AI and Effective Student Learning and ChatGPT Poetry Throwdown Challenge 

Moore’s Law states that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years, increasing computer speed and capability while reducing cost, and that such growth is exponential. A recent Stanford report notes that “Prior to 2012, AI results closely tracked Moore’s Law, with compute doubling every two years,”  but “Post-2012, compute has been doubling every 3.4 months.” The horse has already left the barn. It’s time for educators to learn to surf the AI wave!

Dr. Jonathan Brennan is an English faculty member at Mission College (CA). Researching best practices in student engagement, he has authored five books, including On Course: Strategies for Success in College, Career, and Life, and Engaging Learners through Zoom.

He received the Hayward Education Excellence and Stanback-Stroud Diversity awards and has trained over 6,000 educators in active learning. In the last two decades, he has focused his research on higher education leadership, developing synchronous virtual learning tools, best practices in non-cognitive learner competencies, and the intersection between race, culture, equity, and access to education.

2023 Program

Please note: all times are listed in Pacific Time (PT)