University of North Florida Professional and Lifelong Learning
How is technology changing the classroom experience? Technology is changing so rapidly that educators have a difficult time keeping up while students leap ahead. Many students are coming into college with little AI literacy training and few clear policies. It’s up to educators and leaders to guide students by providing opportunities for responsible AI use and preparing them to be good citizens, employees, and people. Not all of those require the use of AI, so we have to be strategic about where and how we deploy it.
What challenges are educators currently facing post-pandemic? Students who spent a sizable portion of their learning experience online struggle to adapt to in-person environments and they often possess certain deficits that are only being exacerbated by the infiltration of AI. Keeping students engaged, motivated, and on track is increasingly difficult when it’s hard to know the best way to reach them and connect.
How do you support student engagement and well-being? We care about the whole person and our programs reflect that emphasis. PLL offers everything from microcredentials in specific skill sets to enrichment courses in sewing to youth camps focused on innovation. We aim to help cultivate well-being across the lifespan of a learner. You’re never done learning or exploring.
What role does equity play in your educational approach? We work hard to ensure that our offerings are accessible to learners at every stage of life, and that includes providing flexibility for workers, folks raising families, and those who are enjoying retirement.
How are you preparing students for a rapidly changing world? We are laser focused on the latest trends in employment and are nimble enough to pivot when we need to change our offerings or add new ones. The time-to-launch a new educational program is far shorter than a traditional credit-bearing academic program, so responsiveness to a dynamic job market is one of our strong suits.
Can you share an initiative that has made a real impact? Our AI for Work and Life certificate reached over 48,000 learners from 150 countries and 21 Fortune 500 companies, increasing AI literacy around the world and positioning PLL as a global brand.
What’s your vision for the future of education? As our name suggests, it’s lifelong. It’s vital that we engage our learners at every point along their journey, from their teen years to serving as an entry point or last mile in their college education to providing avenues for rapid upskilling to offering meaningful intellectual and experiential opportunities in their later years. Crucially, we need to be able to document our path and give people easy ways to come back into the educational fold when they need to or want to. The future of higher education is not about equipping people with a college degree; it’s about being a trusted partner throughout the life of a learner.
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