AI-Enhanced Course Development: Promises, Challenges, and Emerging Insights

Wednesday September 16 | 12p-1p | 1400 18th Ave S A2009

AI can compress course development from months to weeks, but it also introduces its own set of challenges. Join us this Wednesday as Timothy Darrah Assistant Professor of the Practice in the College of Connected Computing shares findings from real course builds. Through side-by-side examples of AI-generated assets and transcript excerpts, he will examine what worked, where the process failed, and what these cases reveal about the capabilities and limitations of AI-supported course development. 

The presentation will conclude with emerging best practices and guidance for those considering similar approaches. Join us for the conversation. Pizza and drinks provided.

LIVE Ignite Tech Development Grants

LIVE Ignite Tech Development Grants provide concentrated support from LIVE’s research engineer to bring innovative learning technology ideas to life or help existing tools take bold new steps forward. These grants are designed to support projects that demonstrate clear conceptual value, pragmatic goals, anticipated impact, and feasibility. 

A focus area for the 2026 application cycle is the Vanderbilt's Meta Virtual Reality CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment). Vanderbilt faculty, research scientists, postdocs, and graduate or undergraduate students from any college are eligible to apply

Ignite Proposals now due Wednesday Sept 23, 2026

New: 30-minute Research Engineer Consultations Available

Want help developing your Ignite Grant idea? Curious how the VR CAVE could fit into your project? Book a free 30-minute session with our Research Engineer to explore the possibilities.

2 New Funding Opportunities

2027 Tools Competition

As generative AI becomes increasingly embedded in education and everyday life, the field is shifting from experimentation toward a focus on what works in real learning environments.

The seventh cycle of the 2027 Tools Competition will support research-informed tools and public infrastructure that help learners track progress and identify next steps; strengthen educator practice; make learning more engaging, learner-driven, and connected to real-world contexts; support educational and career transitions; advance shared resources for trustworthy innovation; and embed safety, privacy, and responsible use into design and implementation.

Proposals should demonstrate not only what AI can enable, but how it can be effectively, responsibly, and sustainably implemented.

Join the information session on September 15 to learn more about the competition, funding priorities, and application process.

Humanity AI

Humanity AI has announced a call for funding to support community-led efforts in three issue areas central to Humanity AI’s work. By community-led, we mean those most affected by the technological changes are defining the goals, shaping the approach, and driving the work. 

Within the issue areas below, Humanity AI aims to fund work that adopts one of these three approaches: 1) Shaping how AI is built, governed, and used; 2) Building AI on community terms; and 3) Challenging AI that doesn’t serve communities

Education: Shaping AI around the best interests of students, educators, and communities to develop and expand knowledge, strengthen how people learn, and safeguard against risks to humans. We are particularly interested in work led by students, educators, and the organizations who represent them.

Sept 23

When can AI strengthen human, relational skills?  Insights from testing AI-enabled training for novice therapists

Ryan Louie, College of Connected Computing | Peabody College

Oct 7

Against the Singularity Hypothesis: Why AI May Not Become Superintelligent

David Thorstad, College of Arts & Science

Oct 14

Beyond Emotion Recognition: Expressions as Social Action

Jonathan Gratch, College of Connected Computing

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

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