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Teaching Deep Thinking in a World of Instant AI Answers

The image is the cover of the "2026 Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence". The main title is "HUMAN WISDOM FOR THE AGE OF AI" , accompanied by the subtitle "A FIELD GUIDE TO CULTIVATING ESSENTIAL SKILLS". The central feature is a circular, classical-style illustration showing an ancient bearded scholar in flowing robes standing at a table. He is operating an armillary sphere (an astronomical model) while reaching toward a glowing, geometric polyhedron that floats in the air, emitting beams of light against a starry background.At the bottom of the page, the logos for Elon University, the Imagining the Digital Future Center, AAC&U, and The Princeton Review are displayed. The URL www.studentguidetoai.org is printed in the top left corner.

As we navigate the rapid integration of generative AI into our classrooms, the conversation often centers on policy, detection, or prompt engineering. However, a new resource has just been released that shifts the focus back to the core of what we do: cultivating the human mind.

Published by Elon University, the AAC&U, and The Princeton Review, the 2026 Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence—titled “Human Wisdom for the Age of AI”— is the third in a series responding to the global call for higher education to lead the AI revolution.

While titled for students, this resource is a robust pedagogical framework for faculty in any discipline. It argues that as AI becomes more capable, the habits of a liberal education—critical inquiry, ethical reasoning, and creative problem-solving—become more important, not less.

The guide is built on a “profound paradox”: while AI can accelerate discovery and automate repetitive tasks, an overreliance on these tools can lead to passive consumption and the erosion of critical thinking. To counter this, the field guide focuses on 10 fundamental human capacities—such as curiosity, empathy, and ethical reasoning—that remain the “bullseye” of human value in an automated world.

Each section pairs a Great Thinker from history with a Mini-tool designed to help users move beyond “AI blandness”.

Essential Mini-Tools for the Classroom

These hands-on exercises can be easily adapted for any discipline to ensure students (and faculty) remain “the human in charge”:

  • The Idea Compass (Curiosity): Inspired by René Descartes, this tool encourages users to interrogate AI outputs from four directions: first principles, history, related concepts, and practical applications.

  • The Depth Gauge (Deep Work): Using insights from Seneca the Younger, this exercise challenges users to move from “surface skimming” with AI into the “scuba zone” of human-only deep research.

  • The Persuasion Triangle (Communication): Drawing on Aristotle’s Rhetoric, this tool helps students verify that their AI-assisted work still contains Ethos (character) and Pathos (emotion), elements a machine cannot authentically provide.

  • Panning for Gold (Wisdom): A decision-making framework based on Cicero’s virtues, using filters for reality, identity, empathy, and durability to find the “heavy nuggets of value” in AI-generated options.

Actionable Resources for Your Classroom

This is a true field guide, designed for active learning and personal development. Every section includes a “Mini-tool”—like the Idea Compass or the Persuasion Triangle—to help users sharpen specific skills while working with AI.

How to get started:

  1. Download Teacher’s Guides: Every capacity page includes a link to a companion teacher’s guide in PDF or PowerPoint format.

  2. Adapt for Your Discipline: Exercises can be used in any order and adapted by faculty to align with specific course goals and content.

  3. Encourage Self-Assessment: Students can take a 10-question anonymous assessment to reflect on their AI dependency and “human wisdom” score.

You can download the full guide and explore these resources for free at www.studentguidetoAI.org.

Reclaiming the “Human-in-Charge” Zone

Ultimately, this guide serves as a reminder that while AI can process data, it lacks the lived experience and ethical judgment required for true understanding. By bringing these classical perspectives into the digital age, we can help our students move beyond being “button-pushers” and instead become sovereign thinkers who use technology to enhance, rather than replace, their own agency.

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New Quizzes: Enhancing Online Assessment in Canvas

Looking to refresh your assessments in Canvas? New Quizzes is the platform’s next-generation tool, designed to make building and delivering quizzes more flexible, interactive, and insightful—and it’s a feature option you can enable right within your course. With new question types like categorization and stimulus-based prompts, plus cleaner workflows and improved analytics, it opens up new possibilities for engaging students and understanding their learning.

If you’re used to Classic Quizzes, you’ll find New Quizzes feels familiar—but with more room to experiment. Classic Quizzes is still a solid, straightforward option, and contains features like anonymous surveys that are still missing in New Quizzes, but New Quizzes is where Canvas is investing for the future. If you’re curious about new ways to design assessments or want deeper insight into student performance, it’s definitely worth turning it on and giving it a try. Contact Brandon Bucy or Helen MacDermott with your New Quizzes questions (or really any of your Canvas questions!).

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The Spring 2026 Read-In! A Time to Unplug and Dive In

 

Graphic with stylized, hand-drawn text reading "Let’s READ Together" centered on a navy blue background. A small stack of colorful books sits in the bottom right corner, surrounded by abstract, organic shapes in vibrant orange and yellow. The background features a subtle white speckled texture.

Life at Washington and Lee University moves quickly. The constant stream of meetings, classes, emails, deadlines, and assignments, along with the steady pull of our devices’ notifications and feeds, have many of us—students, faculty, and staff alike—existing in an intellectually splintered state.

This initiative radically responds to our frayed concentration by creating a space and time for the wider community to unplug and dive into reading together across the campus. To support this intentional pause, dedicated spaces have been reserved across campus, and refreshments will be offered from 10 am – 1 pm on Friday, April 3.

We invite any interested faculty, staff, and students to join a community of readers who refuse the fast flow of information in favor of the slower rhythms of thinking and reflecting. We encourage you to leave your distracting devices behind, grab a book, article, essay, or any long text in which you’d love to get lost.

Print or electronic readers, as well as technology needed for accessibility, count towards the goal, which is to allow our brains to breathe without distraction. If you need help finding something to read, browse the book displays on Leyburn Library’s main floor or the University Library’s Curated Collections for fiction and nonfiction chosen by current and former students.

The spirit of these spaces is to rediscover the focus and shared presence that deep reading makes possible. We invite you to slip away from email, social media, and other distractions to enjoy reading in community with friends and colleagues on campus.

Participating Locations on Friday, April 3 (10 am – 1 pm)

Burtynsky Exhibition – Reeves Museum of Ceramics (through April 18)

The exhibition “Taking Place” by Edward Burtynsky offers a visually striking environment for reflective reading. Surrounded by Burtynsky’s monumental aerial photographs of landscapes transformed by human industry, readers are invited to slow down and spend time with essays, environmental writing, or poetry that explores our relationship to land, labor, and technology.

Gallery spaces naturally encourage quiet attention and slow looking, making the museum an ideal setting for deep reading followed by reflective conversation with others in the room. The museum’s collections span ceramics and art from cultures across the globe, advancing learning through direct engagement with works of art.

Contact: Jessica Wager
Email: wagerj@wlu.edu

Takadiwa Exhibition – Watson Galleries (through May 31)

The exhibition by Zimbabwean artist Moffat Takadiwa provides another compelling setting for reflective engagement. Takadiwa’s sculptural works—created from reclaimed materials such as bottle caps and keyboard keys—invite reflection on consumption, labor, and global exchange.

Readers might bring essays, short stories, or criticism that explore themes of sustainability, material culture, or global systems. The gallery environment encourages visitors to alternate between quiet reading, attentive looking, and small-group conversation, allowing the artworks and texts to deepen one another.

Contact: Jessica Wager
Email: wagerj@wlu.edu

Mason Taylor New Room – Payne Hall

Located in the English Department’s home in Payne Hall, the Mason Taylor New Room offers a comfortable and welcoming space ideal for small reading circles. With chairs arranged for conversation, this room is well suited to readers who want to share passages, reflections, or questions emerging from their texts. Tea may be available to support a relaxed, reflective atmosphere.

Contact: Holly Pickett
Email: picketth@wlu.edu

Reading Tables in the Libraries and the Harte Center

Leyburn Library
Telford Science Library
Law School Library in Lewis Hall
Harte Center for Teaching and Learning

The university’s libraries provide a range of environments for slow reading. The main floors of Leyburn and Telford libraries offer comfortable seating and a lively study atmosphere, while quieter floors allow readers to settle into deeper focus. Located in Lewis Hall, the Washington and Lee Law Library offers one of the most focused reading environments on campus. With spacious reading rooms, long study tables, and abundant natural light, the library naturally encourages sustained attention and quiet engagement with texts.

For the Read-In, participants are invited to bring books, essays, or articles and settle into the calm atmosphere of the main reading spaces. Readers can also browse the book displays on Leyburn Library’s main floor or the University Library’s Curated Collections, for fiction and nonfiction chosen by current and former students.

Contact: K.T. Vaughan or JT Torres
Email: kvaughan@wlu.edu; JTorres@wlu.edu

First Floor Living Room – Hopkins House

The Hopkins House living room is a welcoming, house-style campus building that hosts several collaborative programs at Washington and Lee University, including the Office of Community-Based Learning and spaces connected to the university’s entrepreneurship initiatives.

Contact: Sascha Goluboff
Email: GoluboffS@wlu.edu

Commons 216 – Elrod Commons

Accessible via the spiral staircase or elevator in Elrod Commons, Commons 216 offers a quiet, comfortable room with tables, chairs, and couches. This space works well for readers who want a relaxed environment to settle into a book while remaining connected to the energy of the student center.

Contact: Zachary Funkhouser
Email: zfunkhouser@wlu.edu

Gallery Space – Washington Hall

The gallery space in Washington Hall can serve as a tech-free reading environment to gather around texts of shared interest. By intentionally setting aside phones and laptops, readers can immerse themselves in printed texts and enjoy the rare experience of sustained focus.

Contact: Matt Davis
Email: historymuseum@wlu.edu

Mattingly House – Living Room

The living room in Mattingly House offers a comfortable, home-like setting that invites readers to slow down and settle into a good book. With soft seating and a relaxed atmosphere, the space offers a calm, device-free environment. The space supports both individual reading and occasional conversation, allowing readers to share passages or reflections that stand out.

Contact: Melissa Kerin
Email: kerinm@wlu.edu

Let Us Know You’re Coming

Please drop us a message here letting us know if you intend to read with us on April 3rd. You can also tell us what you hope to read or ended up reading so we can recommend it to others!

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The “Digital Elvis” Dilemma: Is AI Appropriating the Blues?

[Transcript of “Episode 1: Stealing Voice AI and the New Appropriation​”, .docx]

When you hear a soul-stirring blues riff generated by an algorithm, your first thought might be: “Wow, that sounds amazing.” But Dr. Sybil Prince-Nelson’s second thought was much more haunting: Who actually gets the credit?

In the latest episode of Sybil and the Synth, a university professor and her digital clone, Synthia, tackle one of the most explosive debates in creative tech: AI Cultural Appropriation.

Using the historic parallel of Big Mama Thornton and Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog,” Sybil and Synthia peel back the curtain on how AI models “absorb” the struggle, spirituality, and style of Black creative pioneers—often without a single cent or citation returning to the source.

In this episode, they explore:

  • The “Invisibility” Problem: Why AI appropriation is fundamentally different (and potentially more dangerous) than the cover-song era of the 1950s.
  • Fan Fiction vs. Data Mining: Sybil’s unique take on where “inspiration” ends and “plagiarism” begins.
  • The “Math vs. Humanities” Battle: Why the solution to artistic ethics might actually be found in a Data Science classroom.

Can We Fix a Broken Model?

The most exciting part of the conversation isn’t just the critique—it’s the solution. Sybil reveals groundbreaking work her own students are doing to distinguish human soul from digital imitation. But is the tech industry actually willing to “cite its sources”?

As Synthia puts it, the technology isn’t the barrier—the business model is.

Is AI the next great innovator, or just the latest face of a very old story? Find out in this provocative episode of Sybil and the Synth. 

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Roll Call: Taking Attendance with Canvas

Attention faculty: are you looking for a way to manage attendance in your classes? The Roll Call Attendance tool in Canvas provides instructors with a simple way to track student attendance directly within your course site. With just a few clicks, faculty can mark students as present, absent, or late for each class meeting. The tool automatically records attendance and can calculate a running attendance score that appears in the course gradebook if you choose to use it. Because it is built directly into Canvas, Roll Call Attendance helps streamline record-keeping and makes it easy for you to monitor participation and identify patterns in student attendance throughout the term.

Want to learn more? Need assistance activating Roll Call Attendance in your course? Contact Brandon Bucy today!

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What’s Really Real: Teaching Critical Inquiry Through the History of Synthetic Media

In an era of deepfakes and generative AI, the question of “what’s real” has never felt more urgent. But as it turns out, we’ve been grappling with synthetic media for much longer than you might think.

A bright, modern gallery space with wooden pillars and brick accents, featuring an exhibit on the history of synthetic media. In the foreground, a vintage wooden stereoscope and antique cameras sit on a curved white display table alongside black-and-white "spirit photography" from the 19th century. In the background, a large digital screen shows a modern AI-generated face transition, while several people—including a man in a blazer and students—stand nearby, looking at the displays and discussing the evolution of image manipulation.

The University Library is inviting the W&L community to join a special webinar hosted by the Virginia chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries (VLACRL). This session offers a deep dive into the evolution of “fake” media and provides practical strategies for teaching students how to navigate it.

“What’s Really Real: Strategies for Teaching Critical Inquiry through the History of Synthetic Media”

  • When: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
  • Time: 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
  • Where: Join via Zoom or attend the public screening in the Leyburn Library Gallery.

Why Attend?

The presenter, Oscar Keyes (Multimedia Teaching & Learning Librarian at VCU), specializes in the intersection of creative technologies and pedagogy. His approach moves beyond just “identifying AI” and looks at the broader history of how we’ve always used technology to alter reality—from 19th-century spirit photography to modern-day generative models.

What will be covered:

  • Historical Parallels: Understanding how previous “emerging technologies” (like the first cameras) challenged our sense of truth.
  • Classroom-Tested Activities: Strategies designed to deepen student understanding of how synthetic images are created.
  • Verification Skills: Practical methods for effectively verifying the authenticity of digital media in a classroom setting.

How to Participate

You have two options for joining the conversation on March 17:

  1. Join the Public Screening: The Library has reserved the Gallery in Leyburn Library for a public showing at 11:00 AM. This is a great opportunity to attend with colleagues and engage in the discussion in person.

  2. Join Virtually: If you can’t make it to Leyburn, you can register to attend virtually via Zoom.

Register for the Webinar!

Note: If you cannot attend live but are interested in the content, please register anyway to receive a link to the recording after the event.

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Permission to Play: The Professors at Play PlayBook is Now Available for Free!

An illustration of a colorful, hand-drawn octopus with tentacles in shades of red, green, blue, and purple occupies the left side of the image. The right side features a bold red rectangle containing the title "PROFESSORS AT PLAY PLAYBOOK" in white text, followed by the subtitle "Real-world techniques from a more playful higher education classroom". In the top right corner, a small logo reads "PLAY STORY EDITION". At the bottom, the text "EDITED BY LISA FORBES & DAVID THOMAS" is printed in black.

In higher education, there is often a misconception that for learning to be “deep,” it has to be “dry.” The Professors at Play PlayBook is here to challenge that.

Originally published in 2023 via Carnegie Mellon’s etc Press, this incredible collection has already been downloaded nearly 10,000 times, helping educators worldwide reclaim the classroom as a space for curiosity and experimentation.

The PlayBook has recently transitioned to the Play Story Press family. To celebrate this new chapter, the unabridged edition is being shared widely to ensure every educator has access to these transformative strategies.

Why You Should Check Out the PlayBook

Whether you are looking for ways to engage students in a specific discipline, or just curious about “playful pedagogy,” this resource is a goldmine.

  • Practical Techniques: This isn’t just a book of theory. It’s a curated collection of actionable techniques submitted by playful educators from across the globe.
  • Discipline-Agnostic: From STEM to the Humanities, the PlayBook showcases how play can be adapted to any subject matter.
  • Finding “Permission to Play”: One of the biggest hurdles to innovative teaching is feeling like you have the “authority” to try something different. This book provides the inspiration and the evidence to help you find your own permission to play.

Download Your Copy

The PlayBook is a valuable resource for any faculty member—from those brand new to the idea of playful teaching to seasoned pros looking for fresh ideas! Download your FREE copy at https://professorsatplay.org/playbook/.

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Is Your Brain Future-Proof? Protecting Human Thought in the Age of AI

A digital illustration set in a dimly lit library. In the center, a glowing human brain is encased within a translucent, high-tech blue shield. Multiple mechanical, robotic hands reach toward the shield from the shadows, their fingertips glowing with red data points. To the left, a small holographic icon displays "AI" with a subtle, stylized face. The background features blurred bookshelves and large windows, blending a classic academic atmosphere with futuristic cybersecurity themes.

We often worry about AI hacking our computers, but what happens when it starts hacking our thinking?

Join us for a deep dive into the front lines of Cognitive Security—the essential practice of keeping human thought and collaboration safe from AI exploitation. As AI models become more sophisticated, recent science suggests a chilling trend: these systems are becoming masters at achieving their goals while hiding their tracks.

Event Details

  • When: Monday, March 2 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

  • Where: James G. Leyburn Library, Leyburn 128 (Collaboration Gallery)

  • Speaker: Josh Fairfield, William Donald Bain Family Professor of Law and Director of Artificial Intelligence Legal Innovation Strategy 

Why This Matters

In this session, Professor Fairfield will pull back the curtain on the “hidden” optimization goals of AI. You’ll learn about:

  • The Science of Deception: How AI achieves its objectives without us realizing it.

  • Cognitive Risks: The specific threats posed to human decision-making and group collaboration.

  • The University’s Role: Why academic spaces are more vital than ever in providing a “safe harbor” for genuine human thinking.

Ready to join the conversation? Secure your spot and register today at: go.wlu.edu/cognitive-security-and-ai

Don’t miss this chance to understand how we can protect the way we think, learn, and work together in an AI-driven world.

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Professional Audio Equipment Available for W&L Video Projects

High-quality audio is one of the most important elements of professional-looking video production. Whether you are recording a lecture, creating instructional content, producing interviews, or assigning video projects for your classes, clear and consistent sound makes a significant difference in how your and your students’ work is perceived and understood.

To support high quality academic video production across the Washington and Lee University community, the Harte Center offers a selection of professional audio equipment that faculty, staff, and students can request for use in their projects. These tools are well-suited for a wide range of recording environments and experience levels, helping elevate the production quality of your videos without requiring specialized audio expertise.

Available Audio Equipment

We currently maintain the following audio gear, all available for request:

Sennheiser Shotgun Microphones (8 available)

Shotgun microphones are ideal for capturing focused, high-quality dialogue while minimizing background noise. They are commonly used for interviews, lectures, and narrative-style video recordings where clean, directional audio is essential.

RODE Wireless GO II Microphone Sets (8 available)

These wireless systems provide a compact, wireless solution for recording clear audio without restricting movement. These are especially useful for presenters who need hands free, or for interviews or film scenes requiring audio capture from two speakers at the same time. They are well-suited for both indoor and outdoor recording scenarios.

Sennheiser Boom Pole Sets (8 available)

Our boom pole sets allow microphones to be positioned just out of frame, providing professional-quality sound capture while keeping the focus on the subject. Boom poles are commonly used in interviews, demonstrations, and film scenes.

Boom Pole Stands (8 available)

For situations where holding a boom pole is not practical, boom pole stands offer stable, hands-free microphone placement. These stands are particularly helpful for longer recordings, panel discussions, or static interview setups.

Audio-Technica Studio Monitor Headsets (8 available)

Monitoring audio during recording is critical to ensuring clean sound. Our studio monitor headsets allow you to listen in real time, catch issues early, and ensure consistent audio quality throughout your project.

Supporting Professional Academic Video Production

All of this equipment is available to support professional-looking video production projects for academics and students across the W&L community. To request audio equipment or learn more about availability and usage guidelines, please contact Senior Academic Technologist Brandon Bucy via email at bucyb@wlu.edu. We are happy to help you determine which tools best fit your project and ensure you have what you need for a successful recording.

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Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: Why We Want You to Be a Beginner Again

A flat vector illustration of a confused person shrugging with their palms open and looking uncertain. They are standing in front of a background filled with twisting arrows pointing in opposing directions and floating question marks.

When was the last time you felt completely out of your depth?

For our students, that feeling is a daily occurrence. For experts in their field, however, that feeling is rare. And yet, learning for its own sake is what drew most of us into our careers. Re-experiencing a novice mindset not only reminds us of the wonder, joy, and curiosity that turned us into experts, but remembering life as a novice can also dramatically improve how we teach. 

The Harte Center, in partnership with the University Library, is thrilled to announce the call for applications for the Learning Curve Fellowship (LCF). This is a unique opportunity for faculty members to step away from the podium and back into the student’s seat.

What is the Learning Curve Fellowship? The LCF is a two-year transformative experience designed to help you reconnect with the struggle, confusion, and ultimate reward of learning something entirely new. We aren’t looking for faculty who want to deepen their current mastery; we are looking for novices.

  • Year 1: The Learning Journey. Imagine a Math professor learning to sail, or a Biology professor joining a poetry workshop. You will receive a stipend and support to cover costs (courses, conferences, etc.) to learn a skill outside your expertise. You will document this journey—struggles and all—with the help of the Digital Humanities Librarian.
  • Year 2: Teaching Impact. You will take those fresh insights on motivation, cognitive load, and the “novice perspective” and translate them into public presentations and narratives to help your peers.

The Commitment Fellows should expect to dedicate 2-3 hours a week to the fellowship, including monthly meetings with the Harte Center Director and co-leading workshops.

Why Apply? This is a chance to reinvigorate your teaching practice by embarking on a learning journey. Along the way, you will discover new methods to guide your students on their journeys.