Virginia Tech AI Teaching Symposium

A few important logistical details to note before the event:

• Location: Data and Decision Sciences Building, 727 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24060.

  • The event map will help you find your way to registration check-in and to sessions.

• Parking Directions: Park in the nearby Perry Street Parking Deck or surface parking. A valid university parking permit or ParkMobile payment is required. ParkMobile is only available on the 4th and 5th levels of the Perry Street Parking Deck. If you are using ParkMobile, check signs for the parking zone and make sure you select the correct zone in the app before paying.

• Blacksburg Transit (BT): The Data and Decision Sciences Building is conveniently located beside the BT Transit Center Orange Loop. Ride the BT to the Orange Loop. Walk towards Prices Fork Road to the building entrance.

• Food/Water Policy: Please be mindful that no food or drink is allowed in the classrooms in the Data and Decision Sciences building; only water is permitted. Food and drink are allowed in designated areas.

• Refreshments: Refreshments will be provided throughout the day; please check the website for specific times and locations.

• Jackets: As room temperatures can vary, we recommend bringing a jacket to ensure your comfort during the sessions.

Event Description

Virginia Tech faculty are invited to participate in the 2026 AI Teaching Symposium, a campus-wide event focused on thoughtful, human-centered approaches to teaching in a dynamic AI landscape.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how students learn, write, and research. Across disciplines, faculty are experimenting with new instructional approaches, grappling with new academic integrity questions, and reconsidering the role of human expertise in an AI-enabled world. The 2026 symposium theme, “AI On / AI Off: The Balance of Human-Centered AI,” invites faculty to share their experiences navigating these choices. 

At Virginia Tech, some faculty are “AI on”—fully embracing AI tools in teaching and learning. Others are “AI off”—intentionally limiting AI use to protect specific learning outcomes. And many are still exploring where they stand, or striving to find a balance between “on” and “off” that aligns with their unique contexts and pedagogical goals. This event aims to create a space for thoughtful dialogue across all of these perspectives. Presentations will explore when and why instructors choose to integrate AI into teaching, when and why they choose to restrict it, and how they make intentional decisions that enhance student learning.

The symposium will feature four types of faculty-led presentations:

• Lightning Talk (8-10 minutes): A short presentation highlighting specific teaching practices, assignments, assessments, or policies related to AI. 

• Tech Demo (20 minutes): An overview of an AI tool or workflow that could be used in a teaching and learning context.

• Workshop (45 minutes): A hands-on session that offers practical tips and teaching strategies, then guides participants through the process of applying these in their own teaching. 

• Panel Discussion (45 minutes): A facilitated conversation that explores opportunities, challenges, risks, and tensions surrounding AI in education. Panels should include two or more faculty members, ideally with different perspectives.

The AI Teaching Symposium is organized by Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies, with support from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, University Libraries, and Undergraduate Academic Affairs. Questions may be directed to the symposium planning committee at tlos@vt.edu.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact TLOS by email at tlos@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

The event map will help you find your way to registration check-in and to sessions.