Linkblog - 2026-09-13
← All weeksBookmarks: Week of Sep 7 - Sep 13, 2026
Taking Out Humans, Part 2: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s August 2026 Report “AI and Education” | Arts Squared
artssquared.wordpress.com
Part 1 of this blog post provides some information about the AI agent “LearnWise” and the University of Alberta senior administration’s failure to consult with the Association of Academic Staff (AASUA) before proceeding to a LearnWise pilot project, along with details about the administration’s circumvention of collegial governance in so doing. Collegial governance (or “shared…
Tags: UAlberta, AI, governance, via:Paul Pival
Taking Out Humans: UAlberta Senior Administration Unilaterally Approves “LearnWise” Pilot Project (A Three-Part Blog Post) | Arts Squared
artssquared.wordpress.com
At what point does a university administration’s willingness to let students use GenAI for their course work — or worse their encouragement that they do so — take away from the quality of student learning and possibly the perceived value of students’ degrees? This is just one amongst a host of questions that faculty members elected to serve…
Tags: UAlberta, AI, governance, LearnWise, via:Paul Pival
Game On: Exploring the AI Arcade at Penn State
er.educause.edu
The AI Arcade at Penn State is where learning and playing collide. It is an experiential learning space that invites faculty, staff, and students to discover, experiment with, and use premium AI tools. The arcade combines access to paid AI tool subscriptions with simple, guided activities so users can move from curious to confident by trying, reflecting, and trying again. There is no expectation to become a power user or integrate these tools into a course project.
Tags: EDUCAUSE, EDUCAUSE Review, AI, Penn State
Business Models for Open and Distance Learning
oasis.col.org
Abstract
This report combines evidence from a literature review as well as contemporary findings from fieldwork to provide insights into how providers in different contexts are addressing the development of appropriate business models for ODL provision. It seeks to support providers new to ODL provision to identify the key issues which need to be considered when starting out with ODL and in identifying an ODL model that will be most appropriate for their context. At the same time, it seeks to provide insights to existing providers currently using predominantly print-based models to identify the issues and costs involved in migration to blended and online forms of provision. There is increasing interest in ODL provision in education sectors where traditionally such provision has been in-person. A business modelling process can be a useful strategy to ensure that such provision is of high quality but also sustainable. As indicated by the fieldwork reported here, in most contexts a multi-year incremental process of development, implementation, reflection and review will be most appropriate.
Tags: Commonwealth of Learning, via:Anne-Marie Scott, online learning
Byte - a visual archive
byte.tsundoku.io
What an amazing visual index of every issue of Byte! Worth it just to see all of the classic Tinney covers.
Tags: Byte Magazine, via:Alan Levine
Amii | AI Workforce Readiness | Module 0 Demo Video
youtube.com
intro video to share with staff and students re: the Module 0 AI Workforce Readiness course
The 101 Plays Itself
the-101-plays-itself.netlify.app
A live Caltrans traffic camera on the US-101 in Studio City, playing itself as music in your browser.
this is what I had in mind when I prototyped an atrium-sized theremin to sonify activity in a learning space. I didn’t have the time or chops to get to this level (and, maybe, the tools have advanced over the last decade…)
Tags: computer vision, sonification, traffic, webcam, via:Jason Kottke
Using Artificial Intelligence at the U of A | University of Alberta
ualberta.ca
The University of Alberta acknowledges the potential Artificial Intelligence (AI) has to enhance learning, teaching, research, administration, and the other work we do at the U of A.
AI tools have the potential to improve efficiency and enrich experiences in teaching, research, student life, and administration. However, these tools should be used with careful evaluation of their risks and alignment with core commitments as outlined in the university’s strategic plans. AI systems often have limitations, including built-in biases and exclusion of certain types of knowledge.
The University of Alberta is committed to the ethical and responsible use of AI. To this end, senior leadership and campus partners have committed to exploring the variety of AI usage and its ramifications for U of A faculty, staff and students.
Upper Bound AI Conference | May 18-21, 2027 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
upperbound.ai
Upper Bound is Canada’s premiere AI conference, hosted each year in May. Who should attend? Business professionals, academics, students, and enthusiasts interested in shaping a positive AI future — for good and for all.
Tags: AI, conference, Alberta, Amii
Mentorship and community shape the Indigenous UNIV 304 experience | News | University of Calgary
news.ucalgary.ca
Instructors and a student share how mentorship and community shaped the Indigenous UNIV 304 experience in this September blog Q&A
Tags: LTDT, indigenous, UCalgary, UToday
The ID Toolbox: free tools for instructional designers
nextgenailearning.com
Free, single-purpose tools for instructional designers. No account, and your files never upload. Estimators, converters and inspectors for the unglamorous half of the job.
The text on the website reads as being verrrry AI-forward, but maybe some useful bits in there?
Tags: instructional design, toolkit, via:Stephen Downes, person:Curt Zilbersher
AI Workforce Readiness — Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute
amii.ca
Amii has launched a national initiative to equip more than 125,000 Canadian students with foundational AI skills each year.
Supported by Google.org, the program invites public Canadian post-secondary institutions to apply for membership in a national consortium. Accepted institutions will receive fully funded access to teaching resources, curriculum packages, and collaboration opportunities—helping prepare students for success in an AI-driven economy.
Tags: AMII, AI, collaboration, online learning