2026 Presentations

• Place/Sponsor of Presentation 1

  • Hi AI! Virtual Conference 

  • Learning Technology Center of Illinois 

• Date of Presentation 1

  • Premiered January 15th, 2026 and was available online after conference.

• Revisions were made for 2026 based on more recent research related to AI.

The original session description is as follows.  

This session will examine AI’s evolution over time from a social science perspective. How AI existed in the past, and how it exists in the present, and the ethical implications of usage are the main focus. These topics are necessary for educators so that the myths surrounding AI can be dispelled, and implementation can take place in a meaningful manner. Educators will be equipped with the tools necessary to decide how to implement AI in the classroom in a way they feel comfortable. The texts that are the basis of this session are How AI Works: From Sorcery to Science  by Ronald T. Knuesel, and A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence by Michael Wooldridge. Recent world events with AI at the center of them will also be referenced through various news outlets. 

By the end of this sessions, educators will 

• Understand the historical events that lead to the development of AI

• Analyze current world events where AI was at the center of controversy

• Determine how to implement AI in the classroom in an ethical manner. 

The materials for this presentation can be accessed to the left.