Schedule
Please use your full name and institutional email when registering. We will share registration data with event organizers to facilitate follow-up after the Forum.
Overview
Innovation and engagement through the convergence of arts and sciences
Tue, 13 February, 10:00–11:00 Paris time (see local time)
Nada Alshammari (UAE); facilitated by Asma Al-Kanan (AUK)
Integrating the Digital Liberal Arts in the class: Course design, tools and takeaways
Tuesday, 13 February, 12:00–14:00 Paris time (see local time)
Jyldyz Bekbalaeva (AUCA), Alessandra Grego (JCU), Daniyar Karabaev (AUCA), Russell Williams (AUP) & Mai Zaki (AUS); facilitated by Kate Roy (FUS)
Course-integrated Wikipedia editing projects: 4 reasons to do it, 3 ways to get support, and many compelling examples
Thursday, 15 February, 15:00–16:30 Paris time (see local time)
Andrés Vera (Wiki Education); facilitated by Maha Bali (AUC) & Jeff Gima (AUP / AMICAL)
Generative AI & writing: Concerns, challenges, opportunities, benefits, and practical integration in writing courses and courses with a writing component
Monday, 19 February, 11:00–12:30 Paris time (see local time)
Facilitated by Jasmina Najjar (AUS)
Critical AI Literacies with the AI Pedagogy Project: Concrete ideas for educators and others who want to meet this moment creatively and critically
Wednesday, 21 February, 15:00–16:15 Paris time (see local time)
Facilitated by Sarah Newman (Harvard’s metaLAB) & Maha Bali (AUC)
Session descriptions
Innovation and engagement through the convergence of arts and sciences
Date & time: Tuesday, 13 February, 10:00–11:00 Paris time (see local time)
Nada AlShammari – an educator, connector, Muslim, global soul, filmmaker, entrepreneur and Space4Women Mentor – will give a talk on the transformative power of converging arts and sciences to engage individuals and connect them with their passions.
Nada began her career as an environmentalist, writer and photojournalist before transitioning into her current role as Division Chair of Applied Media with the Higher Colleges of Technology’s Sharjah Campuses in the United Arab Emirates. She is a partner in the Dubai-based Aerospace Company, “Orbital Space” and is the founder of MAPP, a Kuwait-based social enterprise aiming to integrate arts and sciences for civic education.
This session will be recorded.
Facilitator: Asma Al-Kanan (University Librarian at the American University of Kuwait, and chair of AMICAL’s Leadership & Assessment Committee).
Integrating the Digital Liberal Arts in the class: Course design, tools and takeaways
Date: Tuesday, 13 February, 12:00–14:00 Paris time (see local time)
This session is designed to explore the transformative potential of integrating digital tools and methodologies into liberal arts education. From enhancing digital literacy to practicing critical thinking skills, digital methods require students to analyze and interpret data critically, while empowering them to explore new ways of presenting information, creating digital artifacts, and contributing to the evolving landscape of digital scholarship.
In the first half of the session, five AMICAL colleagues will each briefly discuss how they integrated digital methods and tools into one of their courses. They will also share good practices and concrete takeaways relating to course design, including syllabus, assignments, rubrics, etc. The second half will be an open discussion, where attendees can contribute ideas and questions to maximize their benefit from the session and leave with a good foundation to start their own journey in course-integrated Digital Liberal Arts.
The following colleagues will be presenting:
- Jyldyz Bekbalaeva (Library Director at American University of Central Asia) – “Introduction to Digital Humanities”
- Alessandra Grego (Associate Professor at John Cabot University) – “Literature and Digital Humanities: Creating the Frankenstein Project”
- Daniyar Karabaev (Assistant Professor at the American University of Central Asia)
- Russell Williams (Associate Professor, Director of the Learning Commons & Director of Faculty Development at the American University of Paris) – “Digital Poetics”
- Mai Zaki (Associate Professor of Linguistics at the American University of Sharjah) – “Introduction to Arabic Digital Humanities”
This session will be recorded.
Facilitator: Kate Roy (Coordinator of Digital Pedagogy Initiatives & the Writing and Learning Center, Adjunct Professor at Franklin University Switzerland, and chair of AMICAL’s Digital Liberal Arts Programs Committee).
Course-integrated Wikipedia editing projects
4 reasons to do it, 3 ways to get support, and many compelling examples
Date & time: Thursday, 15 February, 15:00–16:30 Paris time (see local time)
Replacing traditional student research projects and writing assignments with a Wikipedia editing project combines open pedagogy with information and digital literacy, motivating students by connecting their research with real-world impact. AMICAL institutions, meanwhile, are well placed to have students work on improving Wikipedia content from underrepresented cultures and regions. Join us to learn about integrating – and getting support for – a Wikipedia assignment in your teaching and to workshop ideas with colleagues. This session will have two parts:
- Part 1: Andrés Vera (Equity Outreach Coordinator for Wiki Education) will talk about the “why” and “how” of integrating a Wikipedia project into course design, as well as the extensive support that Wiki Education provides to instructors and students for eligible projects. Note: Wiki Education can not support institutions without US accreditation. Sources of support for institutions without US accreditation and projects editing Wikipedias in languages other than English will also be explained.
- Part 2: Breakout in groups: participants will work with peers on shared challenges like workshopping ideas for Wikipedia projects, promoting Wikipedia projects among colleagues, using Wikipedia projects to teach information literacy, etc.
This session will use breakout rooms. Only presentations in the main room will be recorded.
Facilitators: Maha Bali (Professor of Practice at the American University in Cairo) & Jeff Gima (AMICAL Director and librarian at the American University of Paris).
Generative AI & writing: Concerns, challenges, opportunities, benefits, and practical integration in writing courses and courses with a writing component
Date & time: Monday, 19 February, 11:00–12:30 Paris time (see local time)
Join us for an interactive session where together we’ll explore generative AI’s concerns, challenges, opportunities, and benefits and more importantly brainstorm practical ways to integrate AI in writing courses and courses with a writing component. It’s an opportunity to share your experiences and knowledge and to discover expert guidance. Come with questions and leave with applicable ideas.
This session will use breakout rooms. The discussion in the main room may be recorded.
Facilitator: Jasmina Najjar (Senior Instructor at the American University of Sharjah).
Critical AI Literacies with the AI Pedagogy Project: Concrete ideas for educators and others who want to meet this moment creatively and critically
Date & time: Wednesday, 21 February, 15:00–16:15 Paris time (see local time)
Come join some of the leaders of Harvard’s AI Pedagogy Project for an interactive session that helps develop critical AI literacies. We will do this by exploring some resources from the AI Pedagogy site, including a tutorial and engaging with some curated assignments. We will also discuss challenges librarians and educators are facing, and workshop ideas for the year to come. This will be a lively session for wherever you are in your journey with AI.
This session will use breakout rooms. No part of the session will be recorded.
Facilitators: Sarah Newman (Director of Art & Education at Harvard’s metaLAB) & Maha Bali (Professor of Practice at the American University in Cairo)