Summer Learning Series: Learning, Growing, and Connecting Empowering Digital Citizens in an Immersive Era: Integrating Digital Fluencies and Technology Tools (AI and XR)
During the summer of 2025, I had the opportunity to join colleagues from across the country at the 2025 Teaching Professor Conference in Washington, D.C., from June 5 to 8, 2025. The event brought together full-time and part-time college faculty, as well as continuing education instructors and higher education staff, under one ambitious theme: “Dismantling Barriers to Effective Teaching and Learning.”
The higher education landscape is undergoing rapid evolution. New technologies, shifting student demographics, and growing demands for equity are reshaping how we teach. This year’s Teaching Professor Conference leaned into that reality and challenged us to think differently about how to meet college students where they are. One of my favorite sessions, and the one that has stayed with me most, was Empowering Digital Citizens in an Immersive Era: Integrating Digital Fluencies and Technology Tools (AI and XR) into Higher Education.
The facilitators encouraged us to move past the idea of “using technology” and instead to teach digital fluency. By teaching digital fluency, we help students critically navigate, evaluate, and create with digital tools. The presenter broke it down into three key layers:
Generation: Helping students create content (text, presentations, images, video, audio) rather than consume it passively.
Collaboration & Feedback: Encouraging peer review, looking for strengths and weaknesses, and sharing constructive feedback.
Ethical Use: Teaching students to validate sources, cite AI-generated work, and understand the boundaries of technology use.
One idea that resonated with me was requiring students to document how they used AI tools in their assignments in an appendix that explains why they chose the tool, how they used it, and what they learned. This keeps AI use transparent and purposeful while reinforcing academic honesty. All things considered, artificial intelligence is here to stay, and astute students sometimes know more about it than their instructors. AI will be used by students, so instructors must keep up with the trend and think of ways to incorporate AI into the learning so that students learn to use it responsibly.
Another powerful takeaway was the shift from seeing AI as a shortcut to viewing it as a thought partner. The presenters walked us through “AI” prompting. Essentially, she demonstrated strategies for “talking” to AI to achieve meaningful results. Talking includes giving clear directions, refining queries, and asking AI to analyze, not just answer. The presenter contrasted this with a simple Google search, which is limited to keyword retrieval, while AI can analyze data, generate visuals like charts and tables, summarize complex material, and even help with study tools such as quizzes, flashcards, and mock tests.
We also discussed the importance of classroom policies around AI. The presenters suggested creating a simple “traffic light” system for AI usage.
Red: AI use prohibited.
Yellow: AI allowed with clear boundaries and instructor approval.
Green: AI use is taught, encouraged, and expected.
This clarity protects academic integrity while giving students confidence about when and how they can responsibly use AI.
The session also dove into Extended Reality (XR) as a powerful tool for immersive, multisensory learning. XR can transform abstract concepts into tangible experiences. It is fantastic for exploring everything from virtual field trips and science simulations to interactive “walking tours” of cities or historical landmarks.
The key, however, is intentional integration. The presenters warned that XR should not be used for novelty alone. Instead, it works best when tied to clear learning goals and paired with strategies such as:
Teaching one rule or skill at a time to avoid overwhelming students.
Giving learners time to explore independently, then guiding reflection.
Reinforcing with multiple exposures: XR is more effective when students revisit content rather than experiencing it once.
When used well, XR leads to better retention of complex ideas and allows students to make personal connections to the material.
I left the session with several concrete strategies to try in my teaching:
Create a “Chat Study Buddy.” Many AI tools allow you to upload syllabi, readings, and lecture notes to build a customized tutor that can quiz students, explain complex ideas, and check understanding, but without simply giving away answers.
Model Transparent Tech Use. I plan to show students how I use AI to brainstorm, organize content, and fact-check, while emphasizing the need to verify sources.
Scaffold Immersive Learning. Rather than throwing students into a fully immersive experience, I’ll start with short XR activities, build rules and expectations, and expand over time.
Faculty everywhere are wrestling with how to keep students engaged, support diverse learners, and prepare them for a world shaped by digital tools. Sessions like Empowering Digital Citizens in an Immersive Era remind us that technology isn’t a barrier if we use it with purpose; it’s an opportunity to dismantle barriers to access, understanding, and equity.
This post is part of my Summer Learning Series, where I’m sharing key takeaways from the professional learning experiences that shaped my thinking this summer. I encourage you to follow along and check out the other posts as I continue reflecting on what I’ve learned—and how it will impact my work moving forward.
🟡 Stay tuned for my thoughts on the 2025 Conference on Racial and Social Justice
