Programme

The AI frontier has moved again – and late 2026 looks very different from where we stood a year ago. This fast-paced workshop is a live scan of the edge: the newest capabilities reshaping education, from AI that acts on its own to tools most people haven't met yet, and the questions they raise for teaching, learning and assessment. Expect hands-on encounters with what's just become possible, honest discussion about what it means, and a look ahead at what's coming next. Whatever your current mental model of AI, this is the session where you update it.

How do we design meaningful, high-impact learning experiences in the age of AI? Join us for this interactive workshop where we unpack the process of creating tailored learning activities designed for modern higher education. Guided by the 4Ds framework and the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model, this session explores how to align activity design with clear pedagogical purpose. We’ll critically examine when to integrate AI tools, when non-AI approaches serve students best, and how to design effective simulations that bring real-world problem-solving into the classroom.​

What you’ll explore:​

• Practical application of the 4Ds and CoI frameworks​
• Identifying purpose-driven AI vs. non-AI learning strategies​
• Step-by-step techniques for designing engaging learning simulations​

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming how higher education supports teaching, learning and student success. This interactive workshop explores how AI teaching assistants, custom chatbots and AI-enabled learning support tools can be integrated to provide personalised student support, streamline learning management and enhance institutional teaching practices. Participants will discover practical strategies for building AI-augmented classrooms that extend learning beyond scheduled class time while preserving the educator’s central role in designing learning experiences, exercising professional judgement and fostering meaningful teaching and learning connections. The session combines practical examples with hands-on demonstrations that participants can readily adapt to their own educational contexts​

Trauma-informed practice is increasingly recognized as essential for fostering student success, belonging, and wellbeing in higher education. This presentation explores how trauma influences learning, engagement, and self-regulation, before introducing practical, evidence-informed strategies that educators can immediately apply in their teaching and student interactions. Participants will examine the neuroscience of stress, the role of strengths and values in building resilience, and simple approaches to creating psychologically safe learning environments. Participants will leave with practical strategies to respond with confidence, compassion, and consistency.​