Wentworth Team Leads National Conversation on AI and Active Learning

Amultidisciplinary team from Wentworth Institute of Technology recently took the lead on the national stage, guiding peers through the complexities of AI integration at the AAC&U 2026 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

The workshop, titled "From Anxiety to Innovation: A Collaborative Framework for AI-Enhanced Active Learning Design," featured Executive Vice President and Provost Sophia Maggelakis, Dean of Sciences and Humanities Thaddeus Guldbrandsen, Assistant Professor of Economics Aroni Kabita Porna, and Professor of Digital History Ella Howard.

Drawing from Wentworth's cross-divisional AI initiatives, the team presented a four-part framework designed to align institutional expectations with classroom experimentation:

• Institutional Support: Building the foundation for campus-wide adoption
• Program Coherence: Ensuring AI use aligns across different departments
• Faculty Design: Empowering educators to experiment within their specific disciplines
• Student Feedback: Using real-world results to refine and improve the learning process

The session offered a practical structure for the responsible, discipline-grounded use of generative AI in teaching. Participants engaged in guided activities to explore how these tools can enhance "active learning"-such as building richer case studies or freeing up class time for high-level debate, analysis, and decision-making.

The workshop's success further positions Wentworth as a national leader in AI integration, demonstrating how the university is successfully navigating the shift from AI apprehension to pedagogical innovation.