Embedded Files
AI and Us:
Discussion with IDEAS: What Do Students Really Want?*
November 6, 1015, 1:00-2:15 pm, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, Room 600
Discussion with IDEAS: What Do Students Really Want?*
November 6, 1015, 1:00-2:15 pm, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, Room 600
UMass Amherst Instructional Design, Engagement, and Support (IDEAS) group is excited to host a Discussion with IDEAS. Join us as we explore the important question of what students really want and provide you with insights and strategies to implement in your course to promote student success. The classroom is evolving and so are student expectations of technology in their classroom. Instructors are constantly surrounded by the latest buzzwords or trends, but what is it students actually want, and how to create meaningful interactions or learning experiences? How to ensure your course is accessible to all students? How can you meaningfully engage with your students? These are some of the questions we will explore and provide meaningful insights so you can make a difference.
Faculty Perspectives: Two Approaches to AI Policy in Practice*
November 14, 2025, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Zoom
Faculty Perspectives: Two Approaches to AI Policy in Practice*
November 14, 2025, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Zoom
Join us for a facilitated conversation with Torrey Trust, teacher education and curriculum studies, and Fred Schaffer, political science, as they share success stories demonstrating contrasting and thoughtful strategies for integrating AI considerations into their teaching. Facilitated by Dan Cannity, IDEAS, and Kristen Helmer, CTL, this conversation explores the real-world implementation of AI policies—what's working, what's challenging, and what these faculty have learned from their students' responses.
Co-facilitated by the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and Instructional Design, Engagement, and Support (IDEAS)
Teaching with AI: Exploring the UMass GenAI Platform*
December 10, 2025, 11:30 am-1:00 pm, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, Room 600
Teaching with AI: Exploring the UMass GenAI Platform*
December 10, 2025, 11:30 am-1:00 pm, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, Room 600
The UMass GenAI Platform offers faculty and staff access to multiple AI models that can enhance teaching and course design. In this interactive workshop, instructors will gain hands-on experience experimenting with different models and prompts while learning promising practices for effective implementation.
Through a series of guided exercises, participants will practice using different AI models to generate discussion questions, design interactive learning activities, explain complex concepts in accessible ways, create case studies, and draft student support materials. Each activity demonstrates practical applications that can immediately enhance teaching and student learning.
The workshop concludes with reflection and group discussion about potential classroom applications, responsible use, and how to use the UMass GenAI Platform for various purposes across teaching contexts and disciplines. Come curious, experiment freely, and leave empowered with new ideas and strategies for using the UMass GenAI Platform for teaching and course design.
Co-facilitated by Dan Cannity (IDEAS) and Kirsten Helmer (CTL)
Keeping the World Connected: Building a Faster, Smarter, and Greener Internet with Ramesh K. Sitaraman*
March 3, 2026, 4:00 pm, Old Chapel
Keeping the World Connected: Building a Faster, Smarter, and Greener Internet with Ramesh K. Sitaraman*
March 3, 2026, 4:00 pm, Old Chapel
As part of the Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series, Ramesh K. Sitaraman will present his 25-year journey of how his research helped transform the early internet into the fast, resilient, and globally accessible infrastructure we depend on today, even in the most remote corners of the world. As artificial intelligence reshapes the digital landscape, we now face the ever-increasing energy demands required to keep AI data centers running. Sitaraman will discuss his research focus on building a more sustainable internet powered by clean energy.
*Affiliated events
Page updated
Report abuse