Session Descriptions

Session A 
Tuesday, January 6, 1 – 2:30 pm 

Movie Screening: Coded Bias 

Join the watch party of the 2021 documentary directed by Shalini Kantayya, Coded Bias. As described on the documentary’s website: “In an increasingly data-driven, automated world, the question of how to protect individuals’ civil liberties in the face of artificial intelligence looms larger by the day. Coded Bias follows M.I.T. Media Lab computer scientist Joy Buolamwini, along with data scientists, mathematicians, and watchdog groups from all over the world, as they fight to expose the discrimination within algorithms now prevalent across all spheres of daily life.” Popcorn is optional.   

Session B 
Tuesday, January 6, 3 – 3:45 pm 

Open discussion of Coded Bias 

Whether you joined the screening or watched the documentary on your own, we will debrief, share reactions and observations, and discuss the implications of the film. Facilitator: Christine Rener, Pew FTLC.   

Session C 
Wednesday, January 7, 9 – 9:45 am  

Digital Literacy @ GVSU and Beyond: Building a Culture of Technological Equity 

This introductory section will engage participants in the work underway to catalyze digital literacy across the curriculum at Grand Valley. Through dialogue and collaborative exploration, participants will interact with a framework that contextualizes digital literacy within the institution’s values and liberal arts mission. The framework will serve as a tool for identifying the digital literacy skills students need to succeed while also guiding critical and collaborative reflection on the conditions and resources required to foster equitable and inclusive learning environments. Facilitator: Vinicius Lima, Visual and Media Arts.  

Session D 
Wednesday, January 7, 10 – 11:45 am

Developing AI Use Policies for Your Course 

Facilitators: Jessalyn Richter & Elizabeth Kalos-Kaplan, Writing 

Session E 
Wednesday, January 7, 1 – 1:45 pm 

What Do All Students Need to Know About AI? 

AI, and especially generative AI, may be the topics of the day, but what do students need to understand in order to join those conversations? This session invites participants into a broad exploration of what all students should know in order to live, work, and learn responsibly in the genAI era. Through guided discussion and applied examples, participants will examine how AI reshapes knowledge production, creative labor, institutional decision-making, and student learning, while also considering issues of power, sustainability, access, and risk. Facilitators: Alisha Karabinus, Writing & Interdisciplinary Studies; Janelle Malagon, School of Interdisciplinary Studies   

Session F 
Wednesday, January 7, 2 – 2:45 pm 

Microsoft Tools for Collaboration 

Join us for an informative session exploring key collaboration tools in Microsoft 365. We’ll compare OneDrive and Teams, clarify when to use each tool, and highlight strategies for working together more effectively. The session will also include a brief overview of GVSU’s limited version of Microsoft Copilot and what it means for AI-assisted work across campus. Facilitators: Stephanie Balaskas, Keifer McCrackin, eLearning Technologies; Eric Bellmore, Academic Research Computing  

Session G 
Wednesday, January 7, 3 – 3:45 pm 

Impact of AI on How People Learn 

Facilitators: Arya Jadhav, College of Computing; Larry Burns, Psychology  

Session H 
Wednesday, January 7, 4 – 4:45 pm 

Designing for All: A Collaborative Exploration of Universal Design for Learning and Educational Technologies

An interactive, dialogue-driven discussion that unpacks the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), their application in educational technologies, and associated best practices. Together, we will explore strategies that make learning environments more inclusive and accessible for all learners. Participants will leave with practical insights and actionable ideas to integrate UDL into their own teaching and technology design. Facilitator: Annie Bélanger, Provost's Office 

Session I 
Thursday, January 8, 9 – 9:45 am 

How AI works 

Let's learn together what AI and Generative AI really are, how they work, and how we can use them responsibly in our teaching and professional lives. Facilitator: Rahat Ibn Rafiq, College of Computing 

Session J 
Thursday, January 8, 10 – 10:45 am 

Ensuring Accessibility of Digital Course Content 

This session will introduce the new digital accessibility website and its accompanying resources. Presenters will also highlight the technologies that support creating accessible content, particularly Blackboard Ally, and discuss what these tools mean for faculty as they develop accessible materials within their courses. Facilitators: Barbara Stevens, eLearning Technologies; Tim Mohnkern, Student Accessibility Resources; Josh Isaak, University Relations  

Session K 
Thursday, January 8, 11 – 11:45 am 

Multimedia Storytelling 

Join us for an informative session exploring various approaches to multimedia storytelling. Facilitators: David Schultz, Language Resource Center; faculty panelists 

Session L 
Thursday, January 8, 1 – 3:45 pm   

Adobe Express Afternoon 

Join the team from The Bridge and a group of faculty from across the university to learn about Adobe Express, Adobe’s cloud-based design tool for creating stunning graphics, videos, PDFs, web pages, and more. Facilitators: Kyle Macciomei & Noah Campbell, The Bridge and colleagues.