Featured Plenary Speakers
For our 30th event, TCC features six plenary sessions or two sessions each day. These sessions are scheduled so that participants may view a live session during a typical workday in four regions of the world: Asia (JST), Hawaii (HST), North America (EDT) and Europe (EEST).
Regardless of your location, there will be a plenary session that you can join in real-time. These sessions are recorded and available for viewing the following day.
TCC 2025 Plenary Sessions
Explainable AI in Education: Building a Future of Trust [Francisco Bellas]
Description:
AI is increasing its impact in education, currently in digital content generation, but with the potential to enhance learning experiences and personalize instruction to support diverse and evolving student needs.
To ensure teacher oversight and student agency in the learning process, it is required that AI systems in education provide understandable explanations about their decisions and recommendations. This is the main goal of Explainable AI (XAI), a sub-field of AI of paramount relevance in education to foster trustworthiness in AI systems. In this talk, the key concepts of XAI will be explained, as well as their impact on education in ethical and legal terms.
About Your Presenter(s):
Francisco Bellas spent more than 20 years researching AI applied to robotics and teaching related to machine learning and autonomous robotics in higher education. Since 2016, he participated in the development of the educational robot Robobo, which received numerous international awards and recognitions related to STEM education. In addition, Bellas led different educational projects in AI education, mainly for pre-university levels, focusing on developing AI capacity building for teachers and developing Intelligent Tutoring Systems for classroom use. He led the European Digital Education Hub squad on Explainable AI in Education in 2024.
About Your Presenter(s):
Francisco Bellas spent more than 20 years researching AI applied to robotics and teaching related to machine learning and autonomous robotics in higher education. Since 2016, he participated in the development of the educational robot Robobo, which received numerous international awards and recognitions related to STEM education. In addition, Bellas led different educational projects in AI education, mainly for pre-university levels, focusing on developing AI capacity building for teachers and developing Intelligent Tutoring Systems for classroom use. He led the European Digital Education Hub squad on Explainable AI in Education in 2024.
The Quest for Personal and Professional Growth: A Simulation that Blends AI, Virtual Worlds, and Native American Culture [Cynthia Calongne]
Description:
Imagine if we were new students starting a graduate program and we were presented with an integrated framework that illustrates our professional identity and plan for personal growth. Immersive learning in situated spaces supports that goal by providing experiences and interaction with our AI guide as a non-player character (NPC) located in the virtual world simulation. This session illustrates 20 years of work and how we use the tools, technology, and simulation design at Virtual Harmony for immersive learning. The framework blends Native American culture, language, and research to characterize how we define a life worth living.
About Your Presenter(s):
Cynthia teaches doctoral AI classes at CTU and conducts research with Virtual Harmony where they design and test game simulations. In 2010 her team won the $25,000 grand prize for the Mars Expedition Strategy Challenge. She also teaches computer science classes at Parker University in Dallas, Texas.
Prior to teaching, she supported USAF Space Command as a software engineer and systems programmer and supported the NASA Challenger project for the teacher resource program at the US Space Foundation. As Myxen, she helped to design a TV series called Bar Karma, which ran on Current TV for one season under Will Wright, who is known for his designs in The Sims, SimCity, and Spore.
She has extensive experience in the Metaverse as Lyr Lobo. She taught 62 university classes where students met and developed class projects in virtual worlds. In 2007-2009, she mentored 800 thirteen-year-old students during their virtual world classes. In 2017, she received The Thinkerer Award for lifetime achievement in virtual world education from the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education (VWBPE).
About Your Presenter(s):
Cynthia teaches doctoral AI classes at CTU and conducts research with Virtual Harmony where they design and test game simulations. In 2010 her team won the $25,000 grand prize for the Mars Expedition Strategy Challenge. She also teaches computer science classes at Parker University in Dallas, Texas.
Prior to teaching, she supported USAF Space Command as a software engineer and systems programmer and supported the NASA Challenger project for the teacher resource program at the US Space Foundation. As Myxen, she helped to design a TV series called Bar Karma, which ran on Current TV for one season under Will Wright, who is known for his designs in The Sims, SimCity, and Spore.
She has extensive experience in the Metaverse as Lyr Lobo. She taught 62 university classes where students met and developed class projects in virtual worlds. In 2007-2009, she mentored 800 thirteen-year-old students during their virtual world classes. In 2017, she received The Thinkerer Award for lifetime achievement in virtual world education from the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education (VWBPE).
Hip-Hop – A Creative Approach to Teaching English in Korea [Jae-Hyun Im]
Description:
Korean preservice English teachers' use of AI-assisted language apps, digital beat-making platforms, and social media have transformed English language learning. The combination of AI, digital technologies, and the cultural influence of hip-hop integrated into English learning and teaching enhances engagement and brings new life to the students’ learning experiences; everyday spoken language is turned into rap-inspired expressions through apps, designing rhythmic drills with hip-hop beats, and incorporating hip-hop-inspired gestures to interact with young learners.
About Your Presenter(s):
Jae-hyun Im, PhD (Indiana University) is an Assistant Professor, Daegu National University of Education, Korea. His research interests are teacher identity, translanguaging, and pop culture and language education. He has published in the Applied Linguistics Review, System, and Journal of Language, Identity, and Education.
About Your Presenter(s):
Jae-hyun Im, PhD (Indiana University) is an Assistant Professor, Daegu National University of Education, Korea. His research interests are teacher identity, translanguaging, and pop culture and language education. He has published in the Applied Linguistics Review, System, and Journal of Language, Identity, and Education.
Positive Takeaways for Classroom Teachers from a Quantitative Study (Logistic Regression) on Cyberbullying [Edmond Lee]
Description:
Technology has provided undreamed-of abilities and connectivity. We still have to navigate an uncertain world filled with controversy and conflict, problems that technology cannot solve for us. This session reveals the surprising results of a quantitative study that examined risk factors predicting expression of cyberbullying (CB) and cybervictimization (CV) in adolescents. It posits a model to understand CB/CV via autonomic nervous system (ANS) processes through Porge's Polyvagal Theory. Using validated, quantitative instruments in a predictive model resulted in measurable, teachable concepts that teachers can directly implement in their own classrooms.
About Your Presenter(s):
Edmund Lee, PhD, Director of Gear Up Grant for Waipahu, Leilehua, and Farrington schools.
Lee, inspired by his experience as an English, Drama, Media, CTE teacher who used Google classroom, SketchUp, iMovie, etc. in his classroom, successfully completed the University of Hawaii Manoa technology-based Masters program in education. In 2024 he received his LTEC PhD and is concurrently closing out a 7-year GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant that works with the Waipahu, Leilehua, and Hilo school complexes and directing a new 7-year GEAR UP grant that works with Waipahu, Leilehua, and Farrington schools.
About Your Presenter(s):
Edmund Lee, PhD, Director of Gear Up Grant for Waipahu, Leilehua, and Farrington schools.
Lee, inspired by his experience as an English, Drama, Media, CTE teacher who used Google classroom, SketchUp, iMovie, etc. in his classroom, successfully completed the University of Hawaii Manoa technology-based Masters program in education. In 2024 he received his LTEC PhD and is concurrently closing out a 7-year GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant that works with the Waipahu, Leilehua, and Hilo school complexes and directing a new 7-year GEAR UP grant that works with Waipahu, Leilehua, and Farrington schools.
Upping the Game!!! Improve STEM Education to Attract and Engage Learners Using Emerging Technologies [Shamila Janakiraman]
Description:
STEM education can more fully foster the development of critical thinking and scientific skills through the use of emerging technologies like Augmented Reality (AR). AR superimposes virtual elements on real environments which increases the possibilities for use of the course material and its relevance. It can be a great tool for promoting scientific knowledge and skills, critical thinking, attitudinal learning, collaboration, motivation, and above all inclusivity and engagement with STEM topics. As a result, students in STEM programs can see broader applications of the subject matter. One anticipated outcome is that more students will be encouraged to pursue STEM majors and careers.
About Your Presenter(s):
Shamila Janakiraman, Assistant Professor, Learning Design & Technology (LTEC), University of Hawai'i at Manoa, explores the use of emerging technologies in promoting attitudinal and behavioral learning regarding environmental sustainability and other socio-scientific topics, online teaching and learning, and competency-based education. Her research interests include the application of emerging technologies: augmented reality, virtual reality, virtual tours, gamification, and game-based learning in facilitating and sustaining learner interest.
About Your Presenter(s):
Shamila Janakiraman, Assistant Professor, Learning Design & Technology (LTEC), University of Hawai'i at Manoa, explores the use of emerging technologies in promoting attitudinal and behavioral learning regarding environmental sustainability and other socio-scientific topics, online teaching and learning, and competency-based education. Her research interests include the application of emerging technologies: augmented reality, virtual reality, virtual tours, gamification, and game-based learning in facilitating and sustaining learner interest.
Book Sprints and Book Marathons: Co-Creating Open Access Knowledge with Students [Stefanie Panke]
Description:
The creation of five open-access e-books authored collaboratively with students demonstrates the transformative potential of open pedagogy. Each was enriched with interactive elements such as H5P and Genially to foster engagement and enhance learning experiences. Additionally, podcasts and YouTube channels provided dynamic, multimodal extensions of the content.
The successes and challenges of collaborative authorship demonstrate the potential of open pedagogy to foster engagement, promote knowledge sharing, and achieve learning outcomes.
About Your Presenter(s):
Stefanie Panke consults with faculty on their pedagogical ideas and strategies for asynchronous online learning, blended and hybrid learning, and classroom settings. Her research interests include instructional design, open pedagogy, design thinking, and generative artificial intelligence. She also writes for the blog AACE Review. She is also an adjunct professor of teacher education at the Asian University for Women where she teaches design thinking and educational technology courses in a graduate program that is offered in a hybrid format.
About Your Presenter(s):
Stefanie Panke consults with faculty on their pedagogical ideas and strategies for asynchronous online learning, blended and hybrid learning, and classroom settings. Her research interests include instructional design, open pedagogy, design thinking, and generative artificial intelligence. She also writes for the blog AACE Review. She is also an adjunct professor of teacher education at the Asian University for Women where she teaches design thinking and educational technology courses in a graduate program that is offered in a hybrid format.