Plenary #1: Designing Open Learning Tools in a Generative AI Era
Program Type
Other
Start Date and Time
15-5-2026 11:15 AM
End Date and Time
15-5-2026 12:00 PM
Location
Zoom
Program Description
As generative AI rapidly reshapes how teaching, learning, and knowledge creation are approached, educators are being asked to adapt instructional practices in the midst of ongoing change, competing priorities, and increasing cognitive load. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to engage students meaningfully, support critical thinking, and navigate evolving expectations around AI use without overhauling entire courses or abandoning established pedagogical values. This presentation builds on the tradition of open educational practice by examining how generative AI can support, not replace, educator‑led creation and sharing. This session frames generative AI as a tool in the creation process, helping educators lower technical barriers to design interactive learning experiences grounded in multimedia learning theory. Using a classroom‑tested example, the talk highlights an openly licensed, interactive web‑based tool designed to prompt student reflection on where thinking happens during the research and writing process when generative AI may be used. The tool encourages intentional decision‑making, invites students to consider what cognitive work may be lost through over‑reliance on AI, and supports metacognitive engagement across a range of instructional contexts and AI policies. By combining generative AI with open licensing, educators across roles and disciplines can create, remix, and share adaptable tools that reflect their pedagogical values, expand access, and reimagine their role in the future of open education. Learning outcomes: 1. Describe how generative AI can support educators in creating interactive, openly licensed learning tools 2. Identify ways multimedia learning theory can inform the design of AI‑supported instructional resources 3. Recognize opportunities to create or adapt open tools that encourage student reflection and critical thinking around generative AI use
Plenary #1: Designing Open Learning Tools in a Generative AI Era
Zoom
As generative AI rapidly reshapes how teaching, learning, and knowledge creation are approached, educators are being asked to adapt instructional practices in the midst of ongoing change, competing priorities, and increasing cognitive load. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to engage students meaningfully, support critical thinking, and navigate evolving expectations around AI use without overhauling entire courses or abandoning established pedagogical values. This presentation builds on the tradition of open educational practice by examining how generative AI can support, not replace, educator‑led creation and sharing. This session frames generative AI as a tool in the creation process, helping educators lower technical barriers to design interactive learning experiences grounded in multimedia learning theory. Using a classroom‑tested example, the talk highlights an openly licensed, interactive web‑based tool designed to prompt student reflection on where thinking happens during the research and writing process when generative AI may be used. The tool encourages intentional decision‑making, invites students to consider what cognitive work may be lost through over‑reliance on AI, and supports metacognitive engagement across a range of instructional contexts and AI policies. By combining generative AI with open licensing, educators across roles and disciplines can create, remix, and share adaptable tools that reflect their pedagogical values, expand access, and reimagine their role in the future of open education. Learning outcomes: 1. Describe how generative AI can support educators in creating interactive, openly licensed learning tools 2. Identify ways multimedia learning theory can inform the design of AI‑supported instructional resources 3. Recognize opportunities to create or adapt open tools that encourage student reflection and critical thinking around generative AI use
