What happens when instructional design and learning technology leaders from across the country gather in Gainesville? A lot of walking, a little Gator spirit, and some very big conversations about the future of teaching and learning.

UFIT's Center for Instructional Technology and Training recently hosted the Fall 2026 Learning Technology Consortium (LTC) meeting, bringing together colleagues from institutions including Duke, Georgia, Miami, NYU, Penn State, Pitt, Wake Forest, Central Florida, and Maryland. While every LTC meeting offers an opportunity to share ideas, this year’s agenda highlighted a topic that continues to shape higher education: artificial intelligence.

The meeting began with a campus tour that showcased several spaces redefining the student experience, including the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering's Center for Experiential Learning, the CSE Active Learning Center, the Gator Esports Center, and the Astraeus Space Institute. These stops offered a glimpse into how physical learning environments, technology, and innovative programming can work together to support engagement and discovery.

The conversations focused on institutional collaboration and emerging technology. Participants explored UF’s NaviGator AI platform, learned about the university’s approach to AI-enabled teaching and learning, and discussed how institutions are navigating opportunities and challenges related to generative AI. This sparked discussions around the importance of retooling assessment, highlighting how instructional designers, learning technologists, and teaching center professionals can partner to help faculty rethink assessment strategies in an AI-influenced educational landscape.

Of course, some of the most valuable conversations happen when institutions compare notes. School updates and collaborative problem-solving sessions provided opportunities to learn from one another’s successes and challenges. Whether the topic was accessibility, tool evaluation, faculty development, learning analytics, or academic integrity, participants left with practical ideas they can adapt to their own campuses.

As instructional designers, we know that innovation rarely happens in isolation. Events like the Learning Technology Consortium remind us that our greatest resource is often our professional community. By sharing experiences, asking questions, and exploring new possibilities together, we strengthen our ability to support teaching and learning at our institutions.

If you're interested in learning more about the topics discussed during the consortium, explore upcoming professional development opportunities through CITT and the Center for Teaching Excellence. Consider which conversations around AI, assessment, or educational technology might be most relevant to your own practice and take one small step toward exploring them this semester.

Image Credit: UFIT CITT Staff

Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Professional Development, Teaching