Casper College to host seminar on artificial intelligence
As industries either embrace or battle AI technology, Casper College is taking on the topic at this year’s Social and Behavioral Sciences Seminar on Wednesday, Sept. 20. The theme of the event is “AI: A Fork in the Road, Navigating Turns in the Tech.” All seminar events are free and open to the public
The keynote speaker is The Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of “Adaptable,” A.J. Juliani. He serves as faculty for the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and is the former director of learning and innovation for Centennial School District. Juliani is also an award-winning blogger, speaker, and author of multiple other books, including the bestsellers “Empower,” “Launch,” and “The PBL Playbook.”
At 11 a.m., Juliani will speak on “How to Supercharge Your Learning and Creativity with Artificial Intelligence.” According to Bri Weigel, seminar director and communications instructor, Juliani’s talk will show how artificial intelligence can provide a new avenue for creative work and learning and how this process can empower anyone to do remarkable work right now. His bio states, “The audience will hear stories and examples of real students and people using AI tools to create apps, websites, startups, and companies.”
Juliani will speak again at 6 p.m. on “Meaningful and Relevant: How to Engage Learners in an Era of Distraction.” In his bio, Juliani wrote: “If we want to teach the whole child, we’ll have to do so in ways that tap into their interests and needs. In this talk, we’ll look at new research from the last three years and practical strategies to support a meaningful and relevant focus like never before.” This presentation is intended for educators and not the general public.
The day will begin at 8:55 a.m. with a welcome followed at 9 a.m. with a talk titled “AI Idols: Digital Immigrants Navigating an Unholy Land” by political science instructors Nathan Blank and Daniel Gallegos. The two will examine questions surrounding AI, including “Does AI spell doom for our republic?” “What threats does it pose to our national politics and constitution?” and “In our hyper-polarized society, how can these threats be turned into opportunities?”
At 9:30, Heather Lloyd, criminal justice instructor, and Amanda Nelson, paralegal instructor, will present “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: Questions of Legal Liability for AI-Generated Content.” “The American legal system seeks to hold wrongdoers accountable when their actions cause harm to others.,” said Lloyd. “But who is legally responsible for the “conduct” of artificial intelligence?” asked Nelson.
Kristina Pham, psychology instructor, will present a talk titled “Did You Say Please and Thank You to Alexa?” at 10 a.m. Pham will discuss the field of humane education, which draws connections between human rights, animal protection, and environmental sustainability. “Humane education seeks to create solutionaries who identify inhumane, unsustainable, and unjust systems and then develop healthy and equitable solutions for people, animals, and the environment,” said Pham.
At 10:30, John Ordiway, psychology instructor, and Weigel will look at “Let’s Hack Back: A Personal Algorithm for Success.” “The fields of psychology and communication often overlap because how we feel and behave is often influenced by the buffet of information we choose to consume, as well as the messages we are force-fed,” said Weigel. “Even in a world flooded with constant messaging, we have the ability to hack our own brains and stay focused on the priorities of the moment,” said Ordiway, adding, “In doing so, we can connect more meaningfully in our digital world.”
Following the 11 a.m. keynote, the seminar will break for lunch at noon and return at 1 p.m. for “Living Room Conversations,” featuring guided discussions on specific topics that facilitate the connection between people despite their differences in age, politics, gender and/or nationality. “By listening to one another, people can identify areas of common ground and shared understanding no matter the subject. The end result is revitalized civil discourse across America,” Weigel said.
The Casper College Forensics team will host a debate at 5:15 on the seminar’s theme, “AI: A Fork in the Road. Navigating Turns in Tech.” The 6 p.m. keynote will follow the debate presentation.
All presentations and the debate will take place in the Wheeler Concert Hall in the Music Building. “Living Room Conversations,” however, will take place in the T-Bird Nest located on the third floor of the Casper College Student Union/University of Wyoming Casper building, all located on the Casper College campus.
The Casper College School of Social and Behavioral Science and Casper College sponsors the 2023 Social and Behavioral Sciences Seminar and Constitution Day. For more information, contact Weigel at brianne.weigel@caspercollege.edu.