Last year AI was a big theme of ILTA’s EdTech conference. This year we chose a non-AI theme to create a little space and give a little more TLC to those EdTech issues and practices we may be neglecting or overlooking. But of course AI has not gone away and remains a huge issue that we grapple with. In Bigum and Kenway’s famous (1998) paper they describe how educational technology debates may be conducted by Doomsters, Boosters, Critics and Anti-Schoolers. We hope to have all of them at our conference so we can see AI and EdTech through different lenses and perspectives, including an EdTech 2026 workshop this year for example on resisting AI in Education (Conrad, K., Dusseau, M., Reynoldson, M., Tucker, E., & Willis, R. (2026) “Zine making workshop: Building creative communities of resistance”)
We are very excited to partner with Professor Eleni Magina whose team will give an open online workshop on AI in education and showcase outputs of the Erasmus+ INFITE project in the lead up to EdTech 2026.
What: Generative AI in Higher Education: Tools, Practices and Pedagogical Opportunities
Abstract: Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI-powered platforms are rapidly transforming software programming and language education. Drawing on insights from the INFINITE AI Literacy Toolkit, the webinar aims to help educators move beyond experimentation and towards informed, pedagogically grounded uses of AI technologies in education. The session will also address key considerations such as reliability, ethical use, and the importance of developing AI literacy among educators and students.
INFINITE AI project
The INFINITE AI project is led by Professor Eleni Mangina who is a Professor in UCD's School of Computer Science and Vice Principal (International) for the College of Science. She has been a longstanding digital learning champion in Ireland and is internationally known for her work which is guided by an educational philosophy of persistence, courage and compassion underpinned by research integrity and authenticity. Her lab operates in applied Artificial Intelligence (VR/AR; Data Analytics; UAVs; Information Systems) research and development with interdisciplinary applications (e.g. Energy Sector and Educational Systems with XR).
Ken McCarthy of SETU will help introduce this session on behalf of ILTA. Ken is a Vice-President of ILTA and you can see his well known work in this space with Dr Hazel Farrel in their recent Manifesto for Generative AI in Higher Education, associated guest blog series featuring some ILTA members, and an upcoming book. This builds on the GenAI:N:3 project and keep reading to the end of this email to find about an upcoming conference where you can hear Ken and Hazel as keynote speakers.
Change One Thing in Spring
One last reminder that we have our final Spring Lambs ready to leap into pedagogical action in our upcoming Spring webinar series in partnership with the Digital Education Team of TU Dublin continues on
Tuesday, April 21st: 12:30 - 13:30
Dr Angelica Risquez and Dr Michael Wride, University of Limerick:
Using the Portflow ePortfolio tool in the PGCert in Teaching, Learning and Assessment
This presentation reports on the integration of Portflow, a digital portfolio platform, within the University of Limerick’s Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching, Learning and Assessment (TLA). The rationale for adopting an ePortfolio approach centred on four principles: authenticity and integrity, ensuring assessment validity and fairness; learning enhancement, promoting deep reflection and critical thinking; equity and inclusion, allowing participants to demonstrate learning through diverse strengths and modes; and professional relevance, aligning assessment with real academic practice. Portflow was piloted to support the development of a structured teaching portfolio where participants articulated their teaching philosophy, integrated relevant learning theories, and showcased multimedia artefacts that evidenced their pedagogical application. The presentation will share insights including lessons learned, participant feedback, and implications for scaling digital portfolio use in professional development programmes in higher education.
Dr Celeste McNamara, Dublin City University:
Reading and Annotating Together with Perusall
I use the online tool Perusall to ensure students have understood readings in advance of class and encourage collaborative discussion of sources outside of class time. Monitoring their conversations alerts me to areas of confusion, while the conversational element gives students the opportunity to engage asynchronously and overcome anxiety about public speaking.
Michael O Connor of TU Dublin :
Incorporating hints and video tutorials into asynchronous learning quizzes
Many Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) offer tools to create online quizzes for asynchronous learning. These are valuable and practical tools that can be employed to facilitate and foster learning environments for students that may be reluctant to question/probe classroom material in the face to face environment. Where the quiz platform provides a “hint” option, there are opportunities to provide worked examples, model answers, links to video tutorials and or core curriculum material. Providing such quizzes for students and cohorts and allowing multiple access options encourage students to engage, learn and self assess material understanding at their own pace and within their own safe space, while at the same time promoting and encouraging digital skills and VLE interaction.
Jessica Marbe, Munster Technological University
The Living Archive, A GCE resource and playbook
I am developing a kit of 200-300 metaphorical images with an accompanying playbook to support engagement with Global citizenship education to support critical thinking and reflective and embodied learning.
Dr Ciarán O'Carroll of TU Dublin:
A Day in My Life: Building Intercultural Bridges Through Digital Storytelling#
This practice invites students from TU Dublin and An-Najah National University to create short digital artefacts that offer authentic glimpses into their daily lives. Using video or image-based storytelling, students communicate aspects of their personal, academic, and cultural environments for an international peer audience. The activity develops intercultural communication skills, encourages reflective engagement with visual and verbal communication codes, and supports students’ growth as global citizens. The final output is showcased on a shared Substack platform, creating a collaborative digital gallery that strengthens cross-cultural understanding and fosters dialogue between both cohorts.
There is an impressive programme in store for those attending the annual DigitalEd Conference this year in ATU Galway on May 13th or online. The theme of the conference is 'Future-Ready Universities: Sustainable Digital Practices and Pedagogical Uses of AI in Teaching and Learning'.
The conference is coordinated by the ATU Teaching and Learning Centre and to date 200 participants have signed up. Please note places are limited for on-site attendance and unlimited for online attendance. Conference site:
