Pre-Conference AI Workshop

Redesigning Courses and Programs in the Age of AI

When AI can do the work, learning must go deeper. Join us alongside Dr. Luke Hobson to explore how to redesign courses and programs that use AI thoughtfully without losing what matters most.

Facilitators

Our facilitated conversation will be led by:

Robyn Hammontree
VP of Academic Partnerships, D2L

Robyn Hammontree
VP of Academic Partnerships, D2L Robyn Hammontree is Vice President of Academic Partnerships at D2L and a 2026 Nieman Fellowship Affiliate at Harvard University. In her role at D2L, she partners with universities to turn digital learning priorities into executable plans that improve program quality. Prior to joining D2L, Robyn held senior roles at Noodle, where she supported institutions through complex work, and spent eight years at The University of Alabama in online learning, contributing directly to online program development and the operational practices that support quality at scale. She has worked across K12, Higher Education and Corporate Learning throughout her career, and brings that lens to her work today.
Dr. Luke Hobson
Assistant Director of Instructional Design at MIT xPRO and Lecturer at the University of Miami

Dr. Luke Hobson
Assistant Director of Instructional Design at MIT xPRO and Lecturer at the University of Miami Dr. Luke Hobson is the Senior Instructional Designer and Program Manager at MIT xPRO and a Lecturer in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of Miami’s School of Education and Human Development. He’s also the author of the book What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an Instructional Designer, the host of the Dr. Luke Hobson Podcast and YouTube Channel, and the Founder of Instructional Design Institute. Dr. Hobson was named as one of the top learning influencers in 2022 and top e-learning experts in 2023.
Dr. Emma Zone
Senior Director of Academic Affairs, D2L

Dr. Emma Zone
Senior Director of Academic Affairs, D2L Dr. Emma Zone is the Senior Director of Academic Affairs at D2L. Dr. Zone has nearly 25 years of experience teaching, leading, and driving change within and across organizations. In her role, she supports the thought leadership strategy and all functions of Academic Affairs. Previously holding senior leadership roles in higher education and edtech, her work has centered on helping organizations redefine their learning strategies across modalities, with a passion for faculty engagement and access. Dr. Zone has teaching and curriculum development experience spanning the K-12, community college, and university levels. Dr. Zone has been long committed to shepherding teaching and learning innovation, including leading large-scale institutional initiatives and courseware implementations. Dr. Zone served as the chair of the executive committee for the Courseware in Context framework, and she continues to share in the national conversation on the intersection of educational technology, optimizing teaching and learning, and institutional success. Dr. Zone holds an EdD in Educational Leadership from Argosy University, master’s degrees from DePaul University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.

Workshop Overview

This pre-conference workshop is designed for leaders and learning professionals rethinking learning and development in the age of AI. Participants will engage with the central challenge of our moment: AI can now do many things we have traditionally asked students to do, yet the learning science tells us that doing those very things is essential for deep learning. Our work as educators is not to choose between these truths—it’s to design learning experiences that honor both.

What You’ll Explore

The session moves through two complementary lenses: How we redesign courses and programs with AI in mind (responding thoughtfully to a changed landscape), and how we use AI as a creative partner in the design process itself.

Workshop Format

Throughout the day, participants will alternate between facilitated content and structured small-group conversation, ensuring ample time to explore how these ideas apply to their specific institutional contexts.

Platforms and Tools

Participants will come from a range of learning management system platforms and institutional types. The strategies presented are platform-agnostic and grounded in evidence-based learning science, with demonstrations of how D2L Lumi can operationalize these approaches within D2L Brightspace.

Pick Your Pass

What’s Included	Full Conference Pass (Pre-Con AI Workshop + Main Conference)	Pre-Con AI Workshop Only
Pre-Conference AI Workshop	✔	✔
Learning Exchange Showcase	✔	✔
Mainstage Keynote by D2L CEO John Baker	✔	✔
Evening Social Event	✔	✔
2-Day Main Conference Program	✔	✗
Mainstage D2L Solutions Spotlight	✔	✗
Mainstage Guest Keynote	✔	✗
Exhibit, Lab & Lounge Access	✔	✗
# of Event Program Days	3-Day Pass (July 8-10)	1-Day Pass (July 8)
Early Bird Registration Rate (Expires April 30)	$875 US	$399 US
Standard Registration Rate (Starts May 1)	$975 US	$499 US

Fusion Full Conference Pass includes access to attend the entire Pre-Conference AI Workshop, along with full access to the Main Conference program that follows.

Register Now

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Apply evidence-based learning science principles to course redesign decisions in the AI era.
Design assessment strategies that promote deeper learning and leverage AI productively.
Implement concrete strategies for incorporating AI into courses in ways that increase—rather than replace—student cognitive engagement.
Use AI tools as collaborative partners in course and program design workflows.
Understand how AI literacies development connects pedagogy, operations and governance across institutions.

Date

Jul 8, 2026
8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Duration

1 Day

Location

Phoenix, AZ Phoenix Convention Center