Events

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

About the Event With information—and generative tools—always at their fingertips, today’s students risk "cognitive off-loading," or outsourcing everything from critical thinking to basic recall to external devices. As educators, how do we pivot from punishing this behavior to designing around it? This webinar moves past the AI panic to focus on practical, evidence-based instructional design. We will explore how to restructure assignments, assessments, and classroom discussions to place a premium on unique human cognition. Join us to discover how you can design learning experiences that motivate students to engage, think deeply, and reclaim ownership of their own intellectual growth. About the Participants Dr. James Basham, University of Kansas (Guest) Dr. Elisabeth Bauer, University of Augsburg (Guest) Anil Hurkadli (Host) Anil HurkadliAnil B. Hurkadli's experience sits at the intersection of policy and practice. Prior to working with the Google for Education team, Anil served at the U.S. Department of Education as Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Educational Technology and Chief of Staff for the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development. His role included shaping guidance on AI’s use in educational settings and advising the Education Secretary and other senior agency officials on issues related to emerging technologies and digital equity. In addition to his education policy experience, Anil taught at the University of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and coached educators at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. Anil was also the Senior Vice President of Community Impact with the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation; in that role, he managed philanthropic partnerships with city, county, and state governments to implement innovative policy solutions. He previously worked with the Thrivent Foundation, Teach For America, and Minneapolis Public Schools. Anil holds degrees from Northwestern University, the University of Minnesota, and Harvard University.

7 attending

0

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Wednesday, July 22, 2026

About the Event For centuries, the traditional essay has been the gold standard for assessing critical thought, synthesis, and student voice. Today, generative text can mimic that structure in seconds, forcing us to ask an uncomfortable question: are we assessing our students' ability to think, or just their ability to format prose? It’s time to move beyond the panic of the "death of the essay" and explore what comes next. This 45-minute webinar dives into the future of writing-based assessments. We will discuss how to restructure the writing process itself, shift the focus toward metacognition, and explore alternative or multimodal formats that AI cannot easily replicate. Join us to discover how we can revitalize writing assignments to ensure they remain a true, authentic reflection of a student’s unique intellectual journey. About the Participants TBA (Guests) Zac Chase (Host) Zac Chase, M.A., M.Ed. Zac Chase, M.A., M.Ed., is the Global Lead of Scaled Programming for Google for Education. He served as a digital equity advisor for the U.S. Department of Education, where he led the development of the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan. He has also worked as a classroom teacher, adjunct instructor, and a school & district administrator. Chase’s publications include the 2024 and 2016 National Educational Technology Plans, “Future Ready Learning: Reimagining the Role of Technology in Education," and “School 2.0: Building the Schools We Need.” He holds a master’s degree in education policy and management from Harvard Graduate School of Education, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Nova Southeastern University, and a bachelor of arts degree in English and secondary education from Illinois State University.

9 attending

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Wednesday, August 5, 2026

About the Event As artificial intelligence reshapes the educational landscape, universities face a difficult tension. On one hand, institutions must provide clear, cohesive guidance to maintain academic integrity and protect the value of a degree. On the other, the cornerstone of higher education is academic freedom—the right of individual professors to determine the pedagogy, tools, and philosophy that best suit their discipline. This 45-minute webinar tackles this delicate balancing act head-on. We will discuss how academic leaders and faculty senates can establish flexible, institution-wide frameworks that protect and support students without micromanaging the classroom. Join us to explore collaborative models of governance that empower instructors to innovate with AI on their own terms while maintaining shared institutional standards. About the Participants TBA (Guests) Zac Chase (Host) Zac Chase, M.A., M.Ed.Zac Chase, M.A., M.Ed., is the Global Lead of Scaled Programming for Google for Education. He served as a digital equity advisor for the U.S. Department of Education, where he led the development of the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan. He has also worked as a classroom teacher, adjunct instructor, and a school & district administrator. Chase’s publications include the 2024 and 2016 National Educational Technology Plans, “Future Ready Learning: Reimagining the Role of Technology in Education," and “School 2.0: Building the Schools We Need.” He holds a master’s degree in education policy and management from Harvard Graduate School of Education, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Nova Southeastern University, and a bachelor of arts degree in English and secondary education from Illinois State University.

9 attending

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