UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State University Libraries’ Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) and Penn State IT will host “Learning Tools for Teaching: Explore, Engage, Elevate” on Nov. 2-6 on the University Park campus to help University faculty and staff explore educational technologies that enhance teaching and learning.
This hybrid-option event is designed for faculty and staff University-wide who want to deepen their knowledge of Penn State-supported tools, gain hands-on experience and discover new strategies to support student engagement, improve learning experiences and strengthen student outcomes.
In-person attendance at TLT’s Dreamery space, ground floor Shields Building, is encouraged. A virtual option will be available for those located across the commonwealth.
Each day will spotlight a Penn State enterprise learning tool platform with company representatives providing an overview of key features and demonstrating how the tools can be applied in teaching and learning contexts. Participants also will have opportunities to explore the tools in action and consider practical ways to integrate them into their courses.
Event schedule and featured platforms
Monday, Nov. 2 – AI Studio
- Schedule to be announced
Tuesday, Nov. 3 – Empowering Teaching, Learning and Research with Google Gemini
- 10–11 a.m.: Overview of Gemini for Education and Gemini Notebook as secure institutional tools
- 11 a.m.–noon.: Pedagogical & Curriculum Applications: Practical use cases for course prep, assignment design, advanced prompting and teaching workflows
- Noon–1 p.m.: Lunch (provided)
- 1 -3 p.m.: Real-Life Applications and Demos, AI Educator Series, and Office Hours
Wednesday, Nov. 4 – Adobe
- 9–10:15 a.m.: Getting Started with Adobe Express at Penn State
- 10:30–11:45 a.m.: Beyond the Basics: Exploring Advanced Features
- 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Lunch (provided)
- 12:30–1:15 p.m.: Getting Involved With Adobe
Thursday, Nov. 5 – Microsoft Copilot
- 9–9:15 a.m.: Welcome: The AI Spectrum and Copilot Value Overview
- 9:15–10:15 a.m.: Hands-on Lab: Copilot Chat, Notebooks, and the Study and Learn Agents
- 10:30–11:15 a.m.: Office Productivity with Microsoft 365 Copilot
- 11:15–noon: Lunch (provided)
- Noon–1:30 p.m.: Build Your First Agent: Copilot Chat Agent Builder
- 1:45–2:30 p.m.: Automating Agents with Copilot Studio
Friday, Nov. 6 – Open Virtual Office Hours
- 10 a.m.–noon: Participants can drop in virtually to ask questions related to content presented during Learning Tools for Teaching Week. Attendees also may use this time to continue developing artifacts with support from Penn State professionals.
For more information regarding the complete event schedule, visit the Learning Tools for Teaching website.
This event reflects Penn State’s ongoing commitment to supporting innovative, technology-enhanced teaching practices to create meaningful learning experiences for students. It also provides faculty and staff with opportunities to connect, experiment and expand their teaching toolkit.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend any or all sessions that align with their interests. For more information and to register, visit the Learning Tools for Teaching website.