NEXT 2026 – Designing for Authenticity: Assessment, AI, and the Future of Learning

Reimagine. Assess. Advance.

March 6, 2026

The University of Akron invites you to the 9th annual NEXT (New Explorations in Teaching) conference, where we turn our focus toward one of the most pressing challenges and opportunities in education: assessment in the age of artificial intelligence.

This year’s theme, “Designing for Authenticity: Assessment, AI, and the Future of Learning,” explores how we can meaningfully evaluate learning when generative tools are ubiquitous and knowledge is instantly accessible. This year’s conference will showcase innovative assessment strategies that prioritize critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and real-world relevance—without losing sight of integrity.

Join educators, technologists, instructional designers, researchers, and thought leaders on March 6, 2026, as we redefine what it means to assess learning in an AI-empowered world.

Call for Proposals open July 1, 2025

Suggested Theme Tracks:

1. Authentic Assessment in an AI World
   • Designing performance-based tasks, portfolios, and simulations
   • Project-based learning and real-world problem solving
   • Evaluating creativity, reflection, and process over product
2. Assessment Integrity and Ethics
   • Academic honesty in a ChatGPT world
   • Redesigning policies for AI use and misuse
   • Detecting AI-generated content and guiding student use
3. AI Tools for Assessment and Feedback
   • Leveraging AI for personalized formative feedback
   • Automating rubrics, grading, and progress tracking
   • Enhancing feedback loops without losing the human touch
4. Accessible Assessment Practices
   • Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in AI-driven assessment
   • Multimodal expression: allowing students to show what they know in different ways
5. Faculty Development and Institutional Strategy
   • Supporting educators in redesigning courses and assessments
   • Leading through change: building a culture of trust and innovation
   • Aligning AI-enhanced assessment with accreditation and learning outcomes
6. Student Perspectives on AI and Learning
   • Understanding how students are using AI tools to learn
   • Co-creating ethical guidelines with students
   • Student-led innovations in demonstrating mastery

Register Today!

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