Events

January – February 2026

Agentic AI browsers have sparked significant concern around privacy, security and student learning. This workshop will explore the capabilities and impact of these tools — including their ability to complete assignments and penetrate learning management systems like Canvas — while examining the problems, dilemmas and unanswered questions they raise. Through demonstrations of Atlas, Perplexity and Dia, participants will critically analyze the implications of agentic AI browsers for teaching, learning and information literacy. The session will conclude with a discussion and practical strategies to help students and educators navigate the complex challenges posed by this emerging technology.

How It Works: This presentation is available on demand as a field trip experience at Studio B Discovery Lab. Faculty of Education instructors can book a session and bring their students for an engaging, hands-on learning opportunity. Faculty of Education instructors, faculty, and staff are also welcome to book a visit to experience the presentation individually or with a group.

Please fill out our booking request form and select “Featured Exhibition” to book.

Location: Studio B Discovery Lab – Scarfe 1009

Facilitators: LDDI Team

Tuesday, January 13 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Do you have questions about learning design or learning technologies? Join us for a drop-in session offering advice about course design, course facilitation strategies, digital tools such as Canvas and Zoom, and more. Our experienced team members will answer your questions and empower you with guidance and resources for creating engaging learning experiences.

This session is open to all Faculty of Education faculty members, sessional instructors and TAs. No registration is required — come by the LDDI office any time during the drop-in session and a member of our team will be happy to chat with you.

If you need one-on-one support but are unable to attend the drop-in session, please book a consultation.

Location: Neville Scarfe Room 1008

Facilitators: LDDI Team

March – April 2026

This workshop will explore the capabilities and impact of AI tools for creating presentations — from generating slides, visuals and scripts to structuring narratives and adapting to different audiences. Through demonstrations of tools such as Prezi, Gamma, Genspark and Manus Banana Pro, we’ll critically analyze how AI changes the mechanics of presentation, storytelling and student learning. The session will wrap up with practical strategies for using AI responsibly and creatively in teaching and learning, as well as how to navigate the evolving landscape of AI-enhanced presentations.​

How It Works: This presentation is available on demand as a field trip experience at Studio B Discovery Lab. Faculty of Education instructors can book a session and bring their students for an engaging, hands-on learning opportunity. Faculty of Education instructors, faculty, and staff are also welcome to book a visit to experience the presentation individually or with a group.

Please fill out our booking request form and select “Featured Exhibition” to book.

Location: Studio B Discovery Lab – Scarfe 1009

Facilitators: LDDI Team

Thursday, March 26 | 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

In classrooms where generative AI and digital platforms are becoming part of everyday practice, how do educators and students act with intention rather than simply react to new tools? This Viewpoints panel discussion brings together emergent scholars working at the intersection of AI, pedagogy and critical practice, inviting a grounded conversation about what critical and caring use of AI can look like in real educational settings.

Panelists will draw from their research on critical digital literacy practices in AI‑mediated learning, learner agency and assessment in higher education, and the use of AI and digital technologies in secondary humanities classrooms. Through examples from teaching, collaborative inquiry with educators and policy‑oriented research, they will surface tensions and possibilities around generative AI, measurement and classroom practice — asking how we can design learning environments that foreground agency, motivation and justice.

Location: Zoom

Panel: Kyu Yun Lim, Nesrine El Banna & Irina Tursunkulova

Register Now

Tuesday, April 21 | 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Curious about assignment formats that position students as deeply engaged critical thinkers and knowledge creators? Teaching and learning, especially when inquiry-based, is often messy, iterative, and developmental. How do we design assessments that truly reflect that, especially as AI becomes a more prevalent part of the learning environment?  In this hands‑on workshop, explore podcasting as a flexible, multimodal assessment you might incorporate into your practice. We’ll share rationales and recent experiences (the pretty, the smooth, and the messy) and give you a chance to test out a range of UBC‑supported and other easily accessible tools.

Open to Faculty of Education faculty members, instructors, TAs and students.

Location: Neville Scarfe Room 1007 (basement level)

Presenters: Dr. Kathryn Accurso, Dr. Melissa R. Hunte, Jonathan Ferreira & Dr. Nikta Razavi

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May – June 2026

Wondering whether AI can help you convert learning content into different formats to meet diverse accessibility needs? This workshop will explore how AI tools can be used to improve accessibility and best practices. It will highlight emerging possibilities such as real-time transcription, text simplification, translation and multimodal content, while also examining key risks including inaccuracies, bias, over-reliance, privacy concerns and unequal access to technology.

We'll discuss implications for teaching and learning and share strategies for providing on-demand support to people with diverse needs and contexts. Participants will be introduced to a range of tools that support accessibility, including Zoom, OneDrive, Kaltura, Otter, Copilot, ChatGPT, immersive readers and other emerging AI systems.

This session is open to Faculty and staff interested in AI, accessibility, and inclusive teaching.

How It Works: This presentation is available on demand as a field trip experience at Studio B Discovery Lab. Faculty of Education instructors can book a session and bring their students for an engaging, hands-on learning opportunity. Faculty of Education instructors, faculty, and staff are also welcome to book a visit to experience the presentation individually or with a group.

Please fill out our booking request form and select “Featured Exhibition” to book.

Location: Studio B Discovery Lab – Scarfe 1009

Facilitators: LDDI Team

Wednesday, June 24 | 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

During this workshop, LDDI will support faculty with their applications for Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF) projects, including cross-faculty collaborations. The session will provide consultation on:

• Pedagogical/course design solutions

• Technical support and recommendation for tools and technologies
• Evaluation strategies
• Project management
• Budget planning
• Liaising with other units like the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT)

Location: Online (Zoom)

Facilitators: Natasha Boškić & LDDI Team

Register Now!

Tuesday, July 28 - Wednesday, July 29 | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Join us July 28–29 for the LDDI Summer Institute, a two-day event that showcases and celebrates emerging approaches to teaching and learning. This year’s theme — (Re)imagining Educational Futures — highlights how educators, staff and students are critically exploring possibilities and working together to build more inclusive and connected learning experiences.

Hosted by Learning Design and Digital Innovation (LDDI) and the Faculty of Education Working Groups, the Summer Institute features interactive workshop sessions, thought-provoking panel discussions and guided presentations. Each day offers opportunities to connect with colleagues, explore new ideas and engage with critical topics in teaching and learning.

Day 1 is presented by the Accessibility Working Group and will feature insightful conversations about how accessibility impacts our work, research and practice of teaching and learning. Day 2 is presented by the Artificial Intelligence Working Group and will explore the role of AI in education though a research-creation based lens.

This event is open to UBC faculty, staff, students and alumni, and educators in K–12 and higher education.