Learning Innovation Seminar

Examining Learning in the Age of AI

Wednesday January 21 | 1400 18th Ave S Rm A2009

A special extended session with visiting guests 12:00-1:30p

Chin-Chung Tsai: What is Learning? The role of conceptions of learning in technology- enhanced learning environments

Dr. Chin-Chung Tsai is the Chair of the School of Learning Informatics at National Taiwan Normal University. His research interests focus on technology-enhanced learning, science education and digital pedagogy. Tsai's talk,  will first review a series of studies from his research team regarding students’ conceptions of learning for different subject matters and various types of technology- enhanced instructional activities.  The interplay among conceptions of learning, approaches to learning and learning outcomes for certain technology- supported environments will also be discussed.

Chen-Chung Liu: How GenAI pedagogical agents operationalize cognitive apprenticeship in constructivist science learning?

Dr. Chen-Chung Liu is a Professor for Science and Technology for Learning at National Central University in Taiwan. He researches technology-enhanced learning focusing particularly on collaborative-learning, computer-supported education and designing socio-technical environments for learning. Dr. Liu’s talk will provide insight on his vision for GenAI pedagogical agents that help students build scientific understanding in authentic or simulated inquiry environments. By analyzing student–agent interactions, the research team illustrates how cognitive apprenticeship is enacted and identifies design insights for developing next-generation agents that better scaffold science learning. 

Jiun-Yu (Jerry) Wu: AI for Human-Centered Learning

Dr. Jiun-Yu Wu is a Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Southern Methodist University, specializing in Learning Analytics. His research is at the intersection of Learning Science and Data Science, including Machine Learning (ML), Generative AI (GenAI), Multilevel Modeling, and Network Analysis. Dr. Wu's talk will introduce the foundational concepts of AI in Education, focusing on its role in enhancing both analytics and classroom practices. It emphasizes the importance of collecting both structured and unstructured multimodal learning data to better understand how students interact with AI. By leveraging AI-driven multimodal learning analytics and theory-informed generative AI, we aim to support more adaptive human learning and Human-AI symbiotic learning. 

We look forward to seeing you Wednesday for this special session. Pizza and drinks provided.

LIVE Learning Tool on the Path to Scalable Impact

Intelligent Texts for Enhanced Lifelong Learning (iTELL)

iTELL (Intelligent Texts for Lifelong Learning) augments traditional texts with AI-based scaffolding to support active reading. Learners can highlight passages, request explanations or elaborations, respond to embedded comprehension prompts, and articulate their own interpretations. Drawing on these interactions, the system provides targeted feedback and guides learners back to sections that merit closer attention. 

At a broader level, aggregated interaction data can surface patterns in learning progress, identify common areas of difficulty, and inform instructional design and professional development decisions. Led by Scott Crossley and his team, iTELL’s development has been supported by a Vanderbilt Catalyst Grant and a Chancellor’s Launch Grant. 

Following success in the regional I-Corps program co-hosted by LIVE and the Wond’ry, the team was selected for the National Science Foundation’s National I-Corps program, with additional financial support from Chevron to accelerate iTELL’s continued development and market launch. Together, these efforts place iTELL on a path toward scalable impact, enabling research-grounded reading support to reach learners and organizations at scale.

This Week in Nashville

AI Tennessee Summit Jan 28 & 29

Hosted at the Country Music Hall of Fame

The AI Tennessee Summit will tackle key questions around policy, workforce development, ethics, and economic opportunity—bringing together experts to drive meaningful innovation in our state.

Hosted by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in collaboration with the Tennessee AI Advisory Council, SCORE, Vanderbilt University, the University of Memphis, the Oak Ridge National Lab, and the Tennessee Board of Regents, the Summit will bring together leaders from government, industry, and academia to explore how Tennessee can position itself at the forefront of the nation’s AI race.

Attendance at the summit is free and open to the public. To learn more, click below.

Upcoming LIVE Talks

February 4

Amplify & MAJK: Homegrown Tools for Supporting & Learning

Allen Karns, Vanderbilt Generative AI Center

February 11

Mental Models at the Intersection of Learning and Human-Robot Interaction

Joseph Michaelis, University of Illinois Chicago

February 18

AI in Legal Practice and Learning

Mark Williams, Vanderbilt Law and VAILL

Explore the Spring 2026 LIVE Learning Innovation Seminar Series at the link below

Stay in Touch

You can find the latest information about the LIVE Learning Innovation Incubator and our Learning Innovation Series on our website. Got this announcement forwarded to you? Sign-up for our mailing list to receive invitations to our events and find out about our latest initiatives.