2026 CSI Summer Conference: Teach Together

This session introduces a practical, theory-driven process for using AI and 3D printing technologies to design experiential learning activities that promote deeper engagement and authentic application of course concepts.  Participants will explore the development of a simulation-based accounting cycle activity in which students complete the full accounting cycle within a simulated business environment. AI tools were used iteratively to transform a traditional worksheet into a collaborative, performance-based learning experience featuring realistic source documents, embedded formative assessment, and 3D printed inventory components that students must purchase, assemble, and account for. Additional AI applications—including generating artifacts with Claude and producing a student podcast using NotebookLM for discussion in Packback—will also be discussed.  The session concludes with an interactive escape room activity built using the same AI-supported design process for a Business Communications lesson on interpersonal and team communication.

We’ve all seen classrooms that are 'friendly.' Students know each other’s names and the atmosphere is pleasant, but there’s a missing spark: that deeper level of academic engagement. It’s the difference between students simply liking each other and actually learning with each other. In this session, we’re going to use Émile Durkheim’s ideas on community and moral regulation to bridge that gap. We’ll look at how to design a classroom where students don't just feel comfortable, but feel essential. We will dive into three specific ways to make a student feel they truly belong: •    Feeling Known: Is their thinking visible to everyone, or are they just a face in the crowd? •    Feeling Valued: Is their reasoning taken seriously by their peers? •    Feeling Desired: Do they know that the community is actually better because they showed up?

This session will explore how to integrate durable skills, open educational resources, and high-impact practices into lessons. Through shared examples and practical strategies, participants will see how arts instruction can support creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking while making learning more accessible and engaging. Attendees will leave with adaptable ideas for designing student-centered lessons that connect artistic practice with skills students can use beyond the classroom.