NACTA 2026 Webinar Series: Don't Miss Session 1 on March 25!

NACTA is excited to once again offer its Webinar Series in 2026! The first session, Teaching with AI in Agriculture: Myths, Tools, Ethics, and Hands-On Strategies, is set for 12:00 PM EDT / 11:00 AM CDT Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Teaching with AI in Agriculture: Myths, Tools, Ethics, and Hands-On Strategies

Presented by: Katelyn Nelson, DeElla Wiley, and Mazin Salim Mohammed Palakuniyil, of the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning at Auburn University

12:00 PM EDT / 11:00 AM CDT
Wednesday, March 25, 2026

AI tools are increasingly becoming part of the higher education landscape, but many faculty are still exploring how to use AI effectively, ethically, and in ways that support student learning without overwhelming them. This webinar invites NACTA educators into a practical conversation about AI tools relevant to teaching in agriculture, environmental sciences, life sciences, and applied STEM fields. The session will move from demystifying AI to practical demonstrations and shared discussion, followed by consideration of ethical and privacy questions. Participants will leave with greater confidence in approaching AI thoughtfully and strategically in their teaching.

Designed takeaway: How to integrate emerging AI technologies into learning while maintaining academic integrity, transparency, and student skill development. Attendees will be able to: differentiate fact from myth about AI and Generative AI in higher education; Identify primary AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, discipline-specific tools) and understand their strengths/limitations; use practical prompting strategies for lesson planning, activity creation, syllabus development, assessment support, etc.; guide students in responsible use of AI, including transparency, citation, and academic integrity; recognize key privacy, data, and ethical concerns relevant to both instructors and students, especially important in agriculture-related fields with sensitive datasets and develop or revise a classroom AI policy aligned with teaching practices. Consequently, participants can gain improved teaching efficiency, enhanced experiential learning supporting student creativity, communication, and problem-solving while building responsible AI citizens within agricultural professions.

• Sessions 2 and 3: Beyond the Trip: Pairing Research with Experiential Learning Abroad
  Session 2 - April 8, 2026, Session 3 - May 13, 2026
• Session 4: Game-Based Experiential Learning for Agriculture: Practical Strategies You Can Use Tomorrow
  May 14, 2026