Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education at lightning speed, opening doors to entirely new ways of teaching, learning, and engaging students. Imagine creating an adaptive quiz, producing a podcast without a studio, or designing a digital assistant to support instruction in minutes rather than hours. These possibilities are already here, ready to be explored and applied in meaningful ways.
At the same time, the rise of AI has raised challenges, especially around academic honesty and concerns about student misuse. Those issues are real and deserve attention, but they are only part of the story. The true potential emerges when the focus shifts from AI concerns to how AI can transform learning experiences and open new doors for educators and students.
AI offers educators tools to spark curiosity, increase student engagement, and open new pathways for creativity and personalized learning. The question for higher education is not whether AI belongs in teaching and learning, but how it can be leveraged to create more engaging and effective educational experiences. That is the vision behind the AI Exploration Zone (AI EZ) at OLC Accelerate. A space where attendees can move beyond the headlines and into hands-on experimentation, discovering firsthand how these tools can support educators and the learning experience.
What is the AI Exploration Zone?
The AI Exploration Zone is an interactive playground for discovery, designed for hands-on engagement with AI tools such as ChatGPT, SunoAI, FrameVR, and ElevenLabs, just to name a few. Built around the spirit of exploration and play, the AI EZ features interactive stations, each with a theme and a challenge, encouraging attendees to experiment while sparking ideas for practical applications in teaching and learning.
The AI EZ emphasizes the need for critical thinking when working with AI output. Attendees will practice reviewing, questioning, and refining what AI produces. These critical thinking skills are also essential for guiding students toward thoughtful and responsible use. This reflective approach ensures that AI is checked for accuracy, bias, and relevance to help it become a tool that truly supports sound teaching and learning.
Stations in the AI Exploration Zone
- Prompt Lab – Explore the power of creating effective Generative AI prompts for better output.
- Create Your Own AI Teaching Assistant – Attendees create a personalized digital assistant using visual and audio AI tools, designed to enhance and support instruction.
- “No Experience Required” Podcast Booth – Produce a polished educational podcast using AI-powered tools.
- EduJams with Suno – Generate an original educational song to energize the learning environment.
- Test Your Knowledge GPT – Build adaptive learning experiences with Generative AI.
- Immersive Learning Scavenger Hunt – Navigate an immersive environment while uncovering hidden learning treasures.
OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT 5. [Digital image].
How It Works
Each station provides instructions and ideas for using the AI tools. Attendees will create their own free accounts for the applications they want to try. Participants move through the stations at their own pace, selecting the experiences most relevant to their interests. Whether the goal is to better understand how AI can save time, personalize instruction, or spark student engagement, the AI EZ provides opportunities to engage with these fast-evolving AI tools, and no prior AI experience is required.
Why Attend?
The AI Exploration Zone is not a traditional tech showcase; it is a collaborative space where educators can imagine, experiment, and innovate together. A central focus of the AI EZ is cultivating critical thinking about AI output, and attendees will explore how to evaluate, question, and refine what these tools produce. This reflective practice supports responsible use and equips educators to guide students in doing the same. As AI continues to reshape higher education, the AI EZ provides an inspiring, hands-on opportunity to discover how AI can be integrated meaningfully and effectively into professional practice.
By participating, attendees will:
- Gain firsthand experience with tools that can be applied immediately to teaching and learning.
- Build confidence in experimenting with emerging technologies.
- Connect with peers who are also navigating the opportunities and challenges of AI in education.
The AI Exploration Zone is designed to move the conversation beyond academic dishonesty and into how AI can help educators foster engagement, creativity, and success for their students. Attendees are encouraged to arrive curious, ready to experiment, and prepared to join colleagues in reimagining the future of teaching and learning.
Explore the AI Exploration Zone at OLC Accelerate 2025, where educators create and innovate together. Shape the future of higher education, one AI experiment at a time.
Dr. Devena Singleton is the Associate Director of Faculty Development at West Coast University. Her career includes extensive experience in teaching across multiple modalities, designing and delivering professional development, mentoring faculty and academic leaders, and advancing the innovative use of educational technology while serving on university committees. She is the co-author of The AI-Empowered Educator: A Practical Guide to Efficiency, Creativity, and Student Success with Dr. Susan Ullrich. Dr. Singleton is passionate about the journey of continuous learning and enjoys exploring emerging technologies that enhance education.
