As we cycle through the fall national conferences and meetings related to EdTech (chief among them being Educause and WCET), the emerging consensus regarding AI in higher education includes:
- Generative AI is here to stay—as you will recall, I teach Political Science (Government) – I tell my students you may hate politics—you don’t have to like it, but you do need to understand it and get involved. The same is true for AI.
- Faculty are exercising strong influence over the specifics of implementing AI on our campuses. There are debates over appropriate parameters amongst faculty, on the administrative side of the house, not so much. Administrators tend to accept the inevitability of AI.
- Students want our colleges and universities to get our collective act together and help them to better prepare for the expectations and needs in the 21st Century workplace
- AI will seemingly be everything, everywhere, all at once for the foreseeable future. Every software will eventually have an AI component.
- Users do not like the excessive power needs of AI and expect the industry to find ways to greatly reduce the power drain
- Effective, adaptive AI professional development training is needed for students, faculty and administrators
Given the rapidly changing nature of AI, attending a national edtech conference every year is highly recommended. If you are relatively new to attending a national conference. It is important to find the conference(s) that fit your specific needs. I remember attending a conference early in my career that was sponsored by a major brand—turned out to be a waste of time. It was excessively university-centric and solutions required a very large (40+) staff. I quickly learned that “right-sizing” was important to maximize the experience. For me, the ITC has always been my preferred annual conference. It is community college focused, it is more affordable than the “big conference”, and I have been able to more effectively network. I also come back every year with great ideas, proven solutions and probably 15 new friends. I hope you will consider joining us in Austin, T March 13-15. Take a minute to check out the specifics about the conference on our webpage.
A REMINDER: Please take a moment to complete the Fall 2025 ITC National Survey. It should only take 5-7 minutes to complete. Your participation is critical to the success of this project as well as its accuracy and validity.
2025 Faculty & Administrator Survey: Online Learning & Accessibility in Higher Education
Recommended Reading
Faculty Lead AI Usage Conversations On Campus, Inside Higher Ed
Since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, higher education as a sector has grappled with the role large language models and generative artificial intelligence tools can and should play in students’ lives. A recent survey by Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab found that nearly all college students say they know how and when to use AI for their coursework, which they attribute largely to faculty instruction or syllabus language.
Preparing Workforce-Ready Graduates In The Age Of AI, Campus Technology
Artificial intelligence is transforming workplaces and emerging as an essential tool for employees across industries. But for students preparing to enter the workforce, a recent MIT study warns that those relying too heavily on AI in school may retain less and learn less, hindering essential skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and memory.
Students Think Universities Should Do More To Prepare Them For An AI-Driven Future, eCampus News
Academic institutions have an important role to play in providing concrete pathways to reinforce optimism and curiosity about AI.
Emerging Technology: A Report on Trends in EdTech, Education Dive
Note: to access the full report, you will need to provide your contact information.
Yet another new generation of digital technology — led by generative artificial intelligence — holds immense promise for instruction and operations in higher education, and its uses are as varied as the tools themselves.
Educause 2025: Where Will Higher Ed Be In 10 Years, EdTech Magazine
What does the next decade hold for higher education? At the 2025 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference, a panel of experts gave their predictions for the state of curriculum, workplace and leadership in higher ed by 2035.
Designing for HyFlex/Hybrid Spaces – A Strategic Priority, University Business Magazine
Note: Community colleges have had less success with this modality. Hybrid learning is here to stay—Gen Z demands flexible, tech-enabled education. Smart AV tools boost engagement and solve key challenges in hyflex classrooms.
Video Of The Week: GPT-6 Explained: The Next AI Leap
OpenAI’s next flagship model, GPT-6, is already in development—and it might just redefine how AI works with you, not just for you.
