Office of IDEAS
Technology, Inclusion, and Pedagogy (TIP) Conference
TIP 2026: Learning, Creating, and Ethically Engaging with Artificial Intelligence
Friday, May 8, 2026 | In-Person at California State University, Fresno
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries and classrooms alike. The Central Valley’s educators and researchers are uniquely positioned to guide this transformation toward equity, creativity, and community impact.
The TIP Conference brings educators together to explore the role of AI literacy in teaching, learning, and innovation. Aligned with Bloom’s taxonomy, it emphasizes moving from understanding AI to applying and creating with it. Through inclusive, scaffolded learning, participants learn to transform students from passive users into ethical innovators, shaping an AI-ready, equitable future through collaboration and shared educational insight.
Drawing on the framework developed by Ng et al. (2021), TIP 2026 highlights four key dimensions of AI literacy:
- Know & Understand AI – Building foundational knowledge of AI systems and concepts across grade levels and disciplines.
- Use & Apply AI – Incorporating AI tools, reasoning, and data-driven approaches into teaching and learning
- Evaluate & Create AI – Fostering higher-order thinking to analyze, design, and innovate with AI
- AI Ethics – Embedding human-centered values (e.g., fairness, accountability, transparency, and inclusivity) into AI education and practice.
Questions about the conference? Contact the Office of IDEAS.
Conference Keynote
"Against AI Doomerism in Higher Ed"
Dr. Zach Justus, California State University, Chico
Zach Justus, Ph.D, is the Director of Faculty Development and a Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at California State University, Chico. His work can be found in Argumentation and Advocacy, Communication Teacher and other outlets. Zach was fascinated by the intersection of teaching/learning and Generative Artificial Intelligence right away. He has collaborated to produce Inside Higher Ed articles, several webinars, an ongoing blog series, a podcast, and a series of conference and keynote presentations.
Conference Schedule (subject to revision)
Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room
Participants begin the day with an opportunity to meet colleagues participating in the conference.
Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room
Welcome: Dr. Xuanning Fu, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Zach Justus, Chico State - "Against AI Doomerism in Higher Ed"
Ellipse Gallery
AI is Not the Author: When-and When Not-to Use AI in Writing (45min)
Ernesto Reyes, Fresno City College
University Library 2206
Panel: Evaluating AI Output & Bias
From AI Consumption to Critical Evaluation (20m)
Anahit Hovhannisyan, Fresno State
AI-Generated Gender Disparity Data Study (20m)
Ulrike Müller, Fresno State
Ellipse Gallery
Student Development of a Class AI Policy (45min)
Kristi Closser, Fresno State
University Library 2206
The Personal Essay, AI, and Risks to Individual Identity (45min)
Jesse Scaccia, Fresno State
Lunch will be served at the Ellipse Gallery. There will be an optional session featuring keynote speaker Dr. Zach Justus.
Ellipse Gallery
AI as a "Practice Dummy": Ethical Simulation (45m)
Jason Crow, Fresno State
Sadie Ortiz, Fresno State
University Library 2206
Panel: Structured Ethical Integration
Field-tested Approaches to Prepare Students for the Ethical Use of AI (20m)
Joe Ross, Fresno State
From Hand-Drawn Curves to AI-Generated Graphs: Ethical AI Integration in Healthcare
Economics (20m)
Tanisha Garcia, Fresno State
Ellipse Gallery
Panel: AI and Instructor Application
Polishing Your Pages: Canvas Formatting with HTML and AI (20m)
Amanda Taintor, Reedley College
Learn to Cheat with AI (20m)
Christian Wandeler, Fresno State
University Library 2206
Panel: Scaffolded Classroom Integration Models
Workbooks That Work (20m)
John McMillen, Fresno State
Structured AI in Construction Management (20m)
Vivien Luo, Fresno State
University Library 2134
Panel: Literacy and AI
Back to Blue Books? Survival, Surveillance, and Sacrifice in the AI Classroom (20m)
Nkenna Onwuzuruoha, Fresno State
Active Learning AI Literacy Activities for Any Course (20m)
Sarah McDaniel, Fresno State
University Library 2206
Panel: From AI Student Users to Ethical AI Creators
From AI Users to Ethical AI Creators: Teaching Students to Design, Deploy, and Reflect
on Real-World AI Systems (20m)
Hovannes Kulhandjian, Fresno State
From AI Awareness to AI Action: Designing Ethical and Inclusive Learning Experiences (20m)
Kimberly Coy, Fresno State
Ellipse Gallery
Closing remarks and AL$ showcase presentations
Beverages and light appetizers will be provided.