September 27, 2026
On September 22, dozens of high school and college educators, technologists, and learning sciences researchers came together to plan the implementation of co-designed teaching methods in response to the emerging use of generative AI in classrooms. The approaches address five problems of practice that were identified based on interviews with K-12 and higher education faculty, surveys of Pitt faculty and students, and extensive review of the literature on generative AI in education.
Hosted by the Learning Sciences and Emergent Technologies (LSET) Hub, the event marked the first convening of the Regional Innovation Network (RIN), bringing together professionals from various backgrounds who offer different perspectives on how AI is reshaping teaching and learning. Participants from the University of Pittsburgh, Carlow University, Duquesne University, the Community College of Allegheny County, and high schools across ten different Pennsylvania school districts were in attendance, representing a wide cross-section of the region’s educational landscape.
Throughout the day, attendees worked in small, mixed-institution groups to refine the strategies for testing in real classrooms this fall. The session was designed not as a one-time convening, but as a launch point for an ongoing research-practice partnership.
The goal of the RIN is to leverage this research-practice partnership to both support instructional practice and to seed learning sciences research on GenAI in secondary and post-secondary learning contexts. This work directly reflects Pitt’s commitment to the Plan for Pitt 2028, the University’s strategic roadmap for advancing research, community engagement, and innovation over the next several years. The effort supports the plan by propelling scholarship in the field of learning sciences, engaging the broader Pittsburgh community through partnerships with local academic institutions, and advancing a digital future for everyone.
Learning Sciences and Emergent Technologies (LSET) Hub Members
- Broadening Engagement in STEM Center (BE-STEM)
- Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Department of English
- Health Sciences IT Education Technology
- Institute for Learning
- Learning Technology at LRDC, Founding Member
- School of Computing and Information, Founding Member
- University Center for Teaching and Learning, Founding Member
- Visit the LSET Hub website for more information.
Written by Amanda Buchman