The goals of the Center for Learning Innovation symposium are to educate participants, foster collaboration and learning, encourage critical thinking and drive innovation.
Teaching Today: AI, Innovation & Impact at Illinois Tech
DATE: August 27, 2025
TIME: 11:00 AM - 3:45 PM
LOCATION: The Tower, 10 W. 35th Street, 7th floor, CLI Conference Room
Register Now! Agenda Below
The Center for Learning Innovation is thrilled to announce our keynote speaker for the 2025 Symposium, Jorge Costa, from Arizona State University.
Jorge Costa is a music producer, composer, sound engineer, and educator whose work across music, film, and television has generated over one billion streams. He is a founding member of the think tank Humanizing AI, co-founder of the Renewal Music Collective, and Assistant Professor of Studio Engineering and Recording at Arizona State University. His work explores the intersection of music creation, technology, artificial intelligence, and the future of humanity.
Career highlights include collaborations with artists such as Korn, Carl Verheyen, Engelbert Humperdinck, Melissa Etheridge, Wiz Khalifa, Dr. Dre, Jerry Goodman, Alex Wurman, and Sonya Belousova, as well as the development of the first university course on AI in Music Production. He holds a dual degree from Berklee College of Music in Music Production & Engineering and Contemporary Writing & Production.
AI in the Classroom: The Path from Fear to Curiosity and Excitement
"When I first encountered AI four years ago, my initial reaction was fear of being replaced and of not knowing enough. But instead of retreating, I embraced that vulnerability and invited my students to explore the technology with me as collaborators.
This shift from expert to co-learner, transformed our classroom into a space of shared discovery, rooted in critical thinking, curiosity, and a sense of excitement. Together, we questioned, experimented, and reflected—learning not just how to use AI, but how to engage with it thoughtfully and responsibly.
In this keynote, I invite you to walk that path with me as we reimagine the classroom as a space where AI enhances human connection, empowers collaboration, and opens new doors for learning and transformation for our students and for ourselves."
AGENDA
11:00 - Pilot Implementation and Evaluation of Kyron Studios AI Teaching Platform, Matt Smith, Assistant Professor, Biology
11:20 Tips on AI writing, Ellisa Cole, Associate Teaching Professor, English Language Services
11:40 Sharing Educational Materials Across Platforms, Tianrui Sun and Sujith Samuels, Center for Learning Innovation
12:00-12:20 Understanding Quality Matters Standards to design engaging courses, Settimio Pacelli, Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
12:20-12:50 Snacks and Networking
12:50-1:05 Expanding Access: Illinois Tech’s Strategic Initiatives, Norma Scagnoli, Chief Learning and Innovation Officer
1:00 AI in the Classroom: The Path from Fear to Curiosity and Excitement, Jorge Costa
1:45-2:00 Coffee Break
2:00 Armour ABET outcomes PANEL
2:30: Debrief on the HLC Accreditation Process, Mary Jorgenson Sullivan, Teaching Professor, English Language Services, Associate Accreditation Liaison Officer
2:45: Live Demos and Flipped Classrooms, Somdev Banerjee, Associate Teaching Professor of Chemistry
3:00: Announcing the 2026 Program Assessment Award, Jamshid Mohammadi, Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs
3:10-3:45 - Reception