Campus Technology Insider

In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Editor in Chief Rhea Kelly sits down with John Baker, CEO of D2L, to discuss the current state of the ed tech industry and the impact of AI on education. The conversation delves into how AI is being integrated into educational platforms to enhance both teaching and student experiences, the importance of responsible AI usage, and D2L's approach to AI innovation. Key topics also include faculty training, risk mitigation, and the future goals of AI in edtech.  00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:27 Personal Anecdotes and Learning Joy 01:10 AI's Role in Education 02:48 Innovations in Learning Platforms 06:48 Responsible AI Integration 11:55 Future Goals and Industry Trends 18:47 Advice for Higher Education Institutions 23:08 Conclusion and Farewell Music: Mixkit Duration: 24 minutes Transcript (coming soon)

In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, host Rhea Kelly presents a keynote talk by Julia Freeland Fisher, the Director of Education Research at the Clayton Christensen Institute. Julia discusses the impacts of AI on social ties and the concept of social capital in education. She explores how AI can both challenge and enhance personal connections among students and educators. The presentation covers trends in AI companions, the rise of chatbots for college and career guidance, and offers recommendations for ensuring technology fosters rather than replaces human interactions in education. 00:00 Introduction to the Campus Technology Insider Podcast 00:20 Keynote Speaker Introduction: Julia Freeland Fisher 01:02 The Importance of Human Connection in the Age of AI 01:46 Defining Social Capital and Its Impact 07:31 The Role of AI in Education and Career Guidance 09:29 AI Companions: Disruption or Opportunity? 17:27 Research Findings on AI and Student Support 28:09 Balancing AI and Human Connection in Education 37:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Resource links: Tech Tactics in Education: Overcoming Roadblocks to Innovation Music: Mixkit Duration: 41 minutes Transcript

In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, host Rhea Kelly speaks with Dr. Anthony Lee, president and CEO of Westcliff University, about the transformative role of AI in higher education. Dr. Lee shares insights on integrating AI into the curriculum, the development of in-house tools like Socratic Metric to enhance student engagement and combat plagiarism, and more. Discover the strategies Westcliff University employs to remain at the cutting edge of technology and prepare students for a future influenced by AI innovations. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:35 Dr. Anthony Lee's Background and University Priorities 02:02 Westcliff University's Approach to AI 03:27 AI in Education and Faculty Adoption 04:17 Linking AI to Workforce Readiness 06:05 Socratic Metric: In-House AI Tool 12:52 Challenges and Training for AI Tools 17:10 Broader AI Applications at Westcliff 20:03 Future of AI in Higher Education 22:10 Conclusion and Podcast Outro Music: Mixkit Duration: 23 minutes Transcript

In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Rhea Kelly is joined by Stephanie Reeves from WGU Labs to discuss a comprehensive survey on Western Governors University students' views on AI. They explore students' engagement with AI tools, equity gaps, comfort with AI applications, and the importance of transparency. Key findings include a gender gap in AI confidence, differing comfort levels with AI uses, and the rapid adoption of AI technologies. The episode concludes with practical recommendations for institutions to better integrate AI in support of student learning experiences. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:33 Survey Overview and Goals 02:48 Key Findings: Gender Gap in AI Confidence 05:21 Student Comfort Levels with AI Applications 09:39 AI Chatbots and Student Support 12:33 Importance of Transparency in AI 14:14 Surprising Findings and Rapid AI Adoption 16:34 Future Surveys and Recommendations 20:48 Conclusion and Podcast Outro Resource links: Students are AI Optimists, but Women are at Risk of Being Left Behind Music: Mixkit Duration: 21 minutes Transcript

In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rhea Kelly speaks with Scott Taylor, associate VP for Student Experience at Georgia Southern University. They discuss the use of AI and technology in improving student engagement and success. Scott shares insights on rethinking student support through mobile-based academic improvement plans, which drastically improved engagement rates. He also delves into the evolution of their AI-powered virtual assistant, GUS Bot, which has now become integral in providing 24/7 assistance to students. They highlight the importance of data integration and security in AI implementation, and Scott offers a glimpse into future AI capabilities that could revolutionize student support and success. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:31 Scott Taylor's Role and Initial Challenges 02:01 Adopting Technology for Student Engagement 02:59 AI and Proactive Student Support 04:22 Student Comfort with AI and Gus Bot 05:44 Implementing and Integrating AI Tools 07:34 Data Cleanup and Accuracy 12:09 Encouraging Student Engagement with AI 13:45 Mental Health Support and Workflow Planning 18:52 Ongoing AI Development and Future Prospects 27:30 Conclusion and Podcast Sign-off Music: Mixkit Duration: 28 minutes Transcript

In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Editor in Chief Rhea Kelly presents the keynote speech delivered by David Weil, Vice President and CIO for IT and Analytics at Ithaca College, during the May 2025 Tech Tactics in Education Conference. Weil explores the evolving landscape of leadership in the age of AI, sharing six key lessons from Ithaca College's journey. He discusses the significance of moments in leadership, the importance of play and exploration, the value of questioning, personal connections, setting direction, and maintaining focus on core values. By sharing firsthand experiences and insightful anecdotes, Weil emphasizes that effective leadership, especially in an era driven by AI, remains fundamentally about leading people. 00:00 Introduction to AI and Leadership 00:56 Moments of Leadership 02:34 The AI Revolution: ChatGPT's Impact 03:48 Six Lessons of Leadership in the Age of AI 06:26 Lesson 1: The Power of Play and Exploration 08:25 Lesson 2: The Importance of Questions 17:20 Lesson 3: Creating Opportunities to Connect 19:42 Lesson 4: Setting Direction 23:47 Lesson 5: The Power of Pilots 33:55 Lesson 6: Focusing on Our Why 36:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Resource links: Tech Tactics in Education AI at Ithaca College The Weirdness and Brilliance of ChatGPT 7 Questions College Leaders Should Ask About AI Music: Mixkit Duration: 38 minutes Transcript

In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Rhea Kelly, editor-in-chief of Campus Technology, discusses the crucial topic of AI readiness in higher education with Kathe Pelletier, senior director of community programs at Educause. They delve into Educause's updated AI Readiness Assessment tool, its components, and how it aids institutions in strategizing and planning for AI integration on campuses. Learn about the importance of conversation, context-specific strategies, and action planning to navigate AI implementation effectively. This episode also highlights key insights from the second annual Educause AI Landscape Study and its role in shaping the assessment tool. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:29 Overview of AI Readiness Assessment 01:10 Key Components of the Assessment 02:34 Action Planning and Resources 03:41 Insights from the AI Landscape Study 06:28 Institutional AI Strategy and Readiness 09:35 Stakeholder Involvement in AI Readiness 12:48 Assessment Sections Breakdown 18:32 Post-Assessment Steps and Action Plans 24:15 Conclusion and Podcast Sign-Off Resource links: Educause Higher Education Generative AI Readiness Assessment 2025 Educause AI Landscape Study Music: Mixkit Duration: 25 minutes Transcript

In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rhea Kelly speaks with Jay James, senior cybersecurity operations lead at Auburn University, and Corey Lee, CTO for Security at Microsoft. They discuss the critical shortage of cybersecurity talent in higher education and explore how Auburn University's Security Operations Center (SOC) is utilizing student workers to bridge this gap. The conversation dives into the unique setup of their SOC, the impact of AI tools like Security Copilot, and the benefits of recruiting students from diverse academic backgrounds. Highlights include the operational and educational advantages of involving students in cybersecurity, and strategies for other institutions looking to implement similar programs. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:40 The Cybersecurity Talent Shortage in Higher Education 02:54 Auburn's Security Operations Center and Student Involvement 07:22 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity Training 19:53 Student Recruitment and Success Stories 30:28 Advice for Institutions Starting a Student SOC 34:14 Conclusion and Podcast Sign-off Resource links: Auburn University Microsoft Security Copilot Music: Mixkit Duration: 35 minutes Transcript

In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider podcast, host Rhea Kelly, editor in chief of Campus Technology, discusses the Educause 2025 AI Landscape Study with Senior Researcher Jenay Robert. They delve into the study's history, methodology, and key findings, including shifts in attitudes towards AI, policy impacts, and the emerging digital divide between larger and smaller institutions. Robert also highlights the importance of effective communication, AI literacy, and community engagement in higher education. Listen as they explore how institutions are adapting to AI's growing presence and the ethical responsibilities involved. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:29 Overview of the Educause AI Landscape Study 02:07 Key Findings and Comparisons 04:07 New Questions and Methodology 08:41 AI Costs and Budgeting 13:46 Perceptions of AI Risks and Benefits 23:00 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 28:48 Conclusion and Farewell Resource links: Educause 2025 AI Landscape Study Educause 2024 AI Landscape Study Educause Shop Talk podcast Educause Library on AI Music: Mixkit Duration: 29 minutes Transcript

What's the state of artificial intelligence in education for 2025? It's all over the place, according to Ryan Lufkin, VP of global academic strategy at Instructure. While innovative adopters are experimenting with ways to help students engage with AI tools, others may be stuck in the idea of AI as an avenue for plagiarism and cheating. And while it's important to build trust in the technology, perhaps it's time for educators and students alike to put the power of AI to work. We talked with Lufkin about building AI literacy, international AI adoption, personalizing the academic experience, and more. Resource links: Instructure InstructureCast podcast EdUp Experience podcast Music: Mixkit Duration: 30 minutes Transcript

At the start of each academic year, a thousand new Bryant University students come to campus brimming with questions about everything from class registration and building locations to dining hall hours and WiFi connectivity. And thanks to the power of generative AI, they can get their answers from Ask Tupper, a next-generation chatbot designed from the ground up at the university. We spoke with Chris Stephenson, managing director of intelligent automation, AI, and digital services at AI solution provider alliantDigital, and Chuck LoCurto, VP for information services and CIO at Bryant, about how Ask Tupper started, what's possible now with AI-powered chatbots, lessons learned from the project, and more. Resource links: Bryant University alliantDigital Music: Mixkit Duration: 36 minutes Transcript

What makes us human? That is the question that kicked off our 2024 Tech Tactics in Education conference this fall, posed by our keynote speaker Eric Rodriguez. As a technology leader and former education regional director at Intel, Eric explored the relationship between technology and empathy in his talk titled "Humanizing Technology: The Path to Future-Ready Education." For this episode of the podcast, we're presenting the recording of his keynote. Resource links: Tech Tactics in Education Music: Mixkit Duration: 43 minutes Transcript

As both instructional designers and adjunct faculty members at Northeast Iowa Community College, Shannon Brenner and Jordan O'Connell have a close-up view of generative AI from both perspectives. Gen AI tools have both transformed the course-building process and changed the game for interacting with students and assessing their coursework. For this episode of the podcast, we talked about generative AI's impact on instructional design and teaching, navigating acceptable use of AI, strategies for helping faculty make the most of AI, and more. Resource links:  Quality Course Design at NICC Music: Mixkit Duration: 31 minutes Transcript

The United States Department of Education recently released a new report called "Designing for Education with Artificial Intelligence: An Essential Guide for Developers." The guide seeks to inform ed tech developers as they create AI products and services for use in education — and help them work toward AI safety, security, and trust. We spoke with Kevin Johnstun, education program specialist in ED's Office of Educational Technology, about the ins and outs of the report and what it means for education institutions. Resource links: Designing for Education with Artificial Intelligence: An Essential Guide for Developers Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations Music: Mixkit Duration: 21 minutes Transcript

Miami Dade College recently announced the launch of a new bachelor's degree in applied artificial intelligence — the first such degree in the state of Florida and one of the first in the country. At the heart of MDC's approach is the conviction that education in artificial intelligence is for everyone — people at all levels need understand how to apply AI in their lives and careers. We spoke with Antonio Delgado, vice president of innovation and technology partnerships at Miami Dade College, about how the degree program was developed, the foundational AI skills that students need to succeed, and creating spaces that bring people together around AI.  Resource links: Miami Dade College Music: Mixkit Duration: 28 minutes Transcript

Touro University has embarked on a system-wide initiative to incorporate artificial intelligence into all of its programs — not only in teaching and learning, but also across research, operations, and policy. The institution has also created a new academic AI position to serve as a dedicated AI leader, facilitate the use of AI across the university, and cultivate AI thinking in students, faculty, and staff. We spoke with Dr. Shlomo Argamon, Touro's recently appointed associate provost for AI, about his role, the importance of AI in higher education, how to prepare students for the new world of AI in the workforce, and whether or not AI opponents could be waiting for their time to attack. Resource links: Touro University Music: Mixkit Duration: 26 minutes Transcript

In January, Arizona State University announced a major partnership with OpenAI to explore the potential of ChatGPT in education. We caught up with ASU CIO Lev Gonick to find out more about that collaboration, how the university is approaching the use of generative AI across campus, and what the key takeaways have been so far. Resource links: Arizona State University Partners with OpenAI to Explore Gen AI Potential in Education ASU Artificial Intelligence Music: Mixkit Duration: 35 minutes Transcript

Recently Educause released its inaugural AI Landscape Study, which polled the higher education community about AI strategic planning and readiness, policies and procedures, impact on the workforce, and the future of AI in higher education. We spoke with report author and Educause Senior Researcher Jenay Robert for a deep dive into some of the thinking behind the study, what the survey findings tell us about institutions' AI journeys, and how "I don't know" might be the theme of the day when it comes to AI. Resource links: Educause AI Landscape Study Educause Innovation Summit National Artificial Intelligence Act of 2020 Educause Workforce Studies Educause Horizon Reports and Horizon Action Plans Music: Mixkit Duration: 29 minutes Transcript

David Wiley is well known as the co-founder and chief academic officer of Lumen Learning and a long-time advocate of open educational resources and access to educational opportunity. But if you follow him on LinkedIn or on his Improving Learning blog, it's clear that he also does a lot of thinking and speaking and writing about generative AI. For this episode of the podcast, we spoke about why generative AI is the logical successor to OER, AI's impact on instructional design, exciting AI developments on the horizon, and why it's too early for universities to write policies for generative AI usage. Resource links: Improving Learning Blog OpenAI Guide to Prompt Engineering How I Won Singapore's GPT-4 Prompt Engineering Competition Arizona State University Partnership with OpenAI   Music: Mixkit Duration: 35 minutes Transcript

Last November, Campus Technology Editor in Chief Rhea Kelly moderated a panel on the state of AI in education at Tech Tactics in Education 2023, a new conference for education IT leaders produced by Campus Technology and its sister publication THE Journal. The conversation ranged from basic definitions, to concerns, limitations, and opportunities, as well as leadership and culture change. In this episode of the podcast, we're sharing a recording of the discussion — it's full of insights for anyone grappling with the impact of AI and generative AI on campus. Resource links: Tech Tactics in Education Music: Mixkit Duration: 40 minutes Transcript