UMN Learning Technologies

Sofia Vivas on Her Journey to Learning Technologies 📚 A Lifelong Love for Learning Sofia Vivas has always been a reader. Her love for reading has always been about more than just stories—it has been about learning. This same passion for knowledge is what led her to discover the field of Learning Technologies (LT) and ultimately pursue a Master of Education. 🚀 An Unexpected Path to LT Sofia’s journey into LT wasn’t linear. As an undergraduate majoring in English, she found herself uncertain about where her academic path would lead. She stumbled upon a course titled Social Media and Connected Learning in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Though it seemed unrelated to English at first glance, she took the leap and enrolled. What she found was a class unlike any she had taken before—one that sparked a new passion. Discussions on ethical concerns surrounding technology, hands-on experience with social networking for professional growth, and the creation of digital portfolios opened Sofia’s eyes to the powerful intersection of technology and education. This curiosity led her to ask: How can I learn more about this? ✨ Looking Forward As she nears the completion of her degree, Sofia embraces the idea that learning is a lifelong journey. Just as she once turned to books to satisfy her curiosity, she now looks to technology as a tool for innovation and meaningful learning experiences. Her journey is a testament to how an open mind, curiosity, and a willingness to explore new disciplines can lead to exciting, unexpected career paths. 🔎 Inspired by Sofia’s journey? Explore how the Learning Technologies program can open new doors for you too! https://lt.umn.edu #LTLearningJourney #FutureOfEdTech #LearningTechnologies #EdTech #DigitalLearning #OnlineEducation #EdTechInnovation #FutureOfLearning #LTUMN #IamLT #UMNdriven #UMNproud #TheLTExperience #LearningTechnologies #wemakethingshappen

💻🎓Empowering Educators in an AI-Enhanced World💡🤝 AI-powered tools are transforming education—supporting content creation, automating administrative tasks, and personalizing learning experiences. However, the future of education isn’t about replacing educators with AI but about leveraging technology to enhance human teaching and learning. This shift presents exciting opportunities, but it also raises concerns about the ethical implications, biases, and the preservation of meaningful human connections in education. Pros: ✅ Personalized Learning / ✅ Efficiency & Automation / ✅ Data-Driven Insights Cons: ⚠️ Bias & Ethical Concerns / ⚠️ Loss of Human Connection / ⚠️ Privacy & Data Security The question is: how can LT professionals be critically aware in this AI-driven landscape? 📚 Upskill in AI Literacy – Understanding how AI works will help you leverage it effectively in instructional design and edtech development. 🤖 Develop Human-Centered Skills – Critical thinking, empathy, and creativity remain irreplaceable. AI can assist, but human educators provide the emotional intelligence and mentorship students need. 🌎 Advocate for Ethical AI in Education – Be part of the conversation on AI ethics, fairness, and inclusivity in learning technologies. 🚀 How are you examining AI’s role in education? Let’s keep the conversation going! https://lt.umn.edu #EdTech #AIinEducation #FutureOfLearning #InstructionalDesign #EdTechInnovation #LTUMN #IamLT #UMNdriven #UMNproud #TheLTExperience #LearningTechnologies #wemakethingshappen

💻🎓Algorithms in education: A double-edged sword In education, algorithms are increasingly used in personalized learning, grading, admissions, and student analytics. While these tools promise efficiency and data-driven insights, they often reinforce existing inequalities rather than solving them. Meet Cathy O’Neil! 🎓Who is she? Cathy O’Neil stands as a critical voice against the unchecked power of algorithms. As mathematician, data scientist, and author of Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy, O’Neil has been at the forefront of exposing how algorithmic decision-making can reinforce social inequalities. 👨🏻🏫What to know? As O’Neil warns, algorithms are not neutral. They often reflect and amplify systemic biases, creating unfair outcomes for students from marginalized communities. She argues that AI-driven admissions models and standardized tests favor historically privileged groups while penalizing students from marginalized backgrounds. 📊Why follow? By following her work, you gain critical insights into: 📌 How AI-driven systems impact education, employment, and society 📌 Ways to challenge and fix biased algorithms 📌 The ethics of AI and data usage in education Cathy O’Neil pushes us to think critically about AI in education and demand fairness, accountability, and transparency in its use. As Learning Technologies professionals, we must ensure that technology serves all students equitably and doesn’t deepen existing inequalities. You can follow her work through her book Weapons of Math Destruction, and her company ORCAA, where she continues to audit algorithms for fairness and accountability. https://lt.umn.edu #AlgorithmicBias #EdTechEthics #CriticalVoices #AIinEducation #DataJustice #FutureOfLearning #LTUMN #IamLT #UMNdriven #UMNproud #TheLTExperience #LearningTechnologies #wemakethingshappen

We're wrapping up our week of student chapter spotlights! Drawing from local and global insights, Seeun (Tina) Jeon's chapter investigates how different communities approach preserving their cultural heritage in our digital age. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e2rEfwkc Join us and explore the power of connection in education! https://lt.umn.edu #edtech #culture #preservation #digitalHeritage #UMN

Another day, another excellent student book chapter to share! Today we're highlighting John Bartucz's chapter which provides a thoughtful examination of AI transparency and its implications for education and society. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e7Zi4ecU Join us and explore the power of connection in education! https://lt.umn.edu #edtech #CS #computerScience #CSEducation #UMN #teaching #learning

Learning Technologies student book chapter day 3 of 5! Who says academic writing has to be disconnected from daily life? Today we're celebrating Neal Fredrickson's chapter which uses holiday turkey preparation to explain important food safety principles. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eyDd_jjq Join us and explore the power of connection in education! https://lt.umn.edu #edtech #CS #computerScience #CSEducation #UMN #teaching #learning

Continuing with our students’ book chapters: Meet Galyna Arabadzhy's chapter, which challenges conventional wisdom about online discussion forums and offers alternatives. Read more details: https://lnkd.in/e4Jc7w7b Join us and explore the power of connection in education! https://lt.umn.edu #edtech #LMS #collaboration #discussionForum #onlineLearning #teaching #learning #UMN

Our PhD students turned their Fall 2024 class into a published book, and we are sharing their book chapters over the next five days, starting today. First, we're celebrating Shreepriya Dogra's chapter, which explored how creating a sense of belonging can transform computer science education in Minnesota. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/es2D3-ja Join us and explore the power of connection in education! https://lt.umn.edu #edtech #CS #computerScience #CSEducation #UMN #teaching #learning

🎓💡 Building Meaningful Connections in CI 5323 – Online Learning Communities This course goes beyond simply using technology for instruction—it explores the foundations of community-building in digital spaces and how online learning can be enhanced through intentional design. CI 5323 Empowers students to design and research engaging, interactive, and supportive online learning environments that foster collaboration, connection, and knowledge sharing. 🌍 What does it mean to learn in a community? A strong learning community provides more than just information; it offers interaction, support, and shared purpose. 🔹 Theories of distance learning – Understanding how online education differs from traditional models. 🔹 Community models in education – Exploring frameworks that encourage engagement and belonging. 🔹 Tech tools for connection – Investigating platforms that facilitate collaboration and meaningful interactions. Students in CI 5323 don’t just study online communities—they build them! 🎓💡 Ready to transform online learning? If you’re passionate about making online education more interactive, inclusive, and impactful, CI 5323 is the perfect course to develop your expertise and design the future of digital learning communities. Join us and explore the power of connection in education! https://lt.umn.edu #EdTech #DigitalLearning #ConnectedLearning #OnlineEducation #MediaLiteracy #EdTechInnovation #FutureOfLearning #LTUMN #IamLT #UMNdriven #UMNproud #TheLTExperience #LearningTechnologies #wemakethingshappen

🔍 🚀 Join Us for a Thought-Provoking Discussion on AI in Education! The C&I Tech Committee invites you to an engaging and timely webinar as part of CSET 2025—a global movement in Critical Studies in Education and Technology. This event is designed for C&I faculty, staff, researchers, and instructors, but we welcome anyone passionate about understanding the ethical, social, and political dimensions of EdTech. 🎙️ Featured Speaker: We’ll begin with a compelling presentation by Dr. Selin Akgün, Assistant Professor of Science Education, titled: 👉 “Artificial Intelligence in Education: Addressing Ethical Challenges in K-12 Settings” Dive into small group discussions exploring urgent questions in educational technology: 🔹 What key concerns, tensions, and problems are emerging in EdTech? 🔹 How is digital technology in education contributing to social harms? 🔹 What does the political economy of EdTech look like in our region? 🔹 Amid the challenges, what grounds for hope do we have? 📅 Event Details: 🗓 Date: Tuesday February 18th 4:00 - 5:30 p.m CST 📍 Location: Online – Register now to secure your spot! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eas4tAi4 🌍 About CSET 2025: CSET (Critical Studies of Education and Technology) is a global initiative fostering academic discussions on education and technology. 👥 Organized by: Dr. Bruna Damiana Heinsfeld, Assistant Professor of Learning Technologies C&I Tech Committee 💡 Don’t miss this chance to join a meaningful dialogue on AI and EdTech! Let’s critically examine, challenge, and reimagine the future of technology in education—together. https://lt.umn.edu #AIinEducation #EdTechEthics #CSET2025 #FutureofLearning #CriticalEdTech #LTUMN #UMNdriven #UMNproud #IamLT #JoinTheConversation #wemakethingshappen