Beyond the Plagiarism Panic: Rethinking Learning and Leadership in the Age of AI
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
8am PT | 10am CT | 11am ET | 4pm GMT | 5pm CET
AI is already reshaping the classroom — and for many in higher education, it raises tough questions. Do we ban it? Treat it as cheating? Ignore it and hope it goes away? This session takes a different approach. Instead of defaulting to plagiarism panic, colleges and universities have a chance to lead by rethinking how AI fits into teaching, learning, and assessment. We’ll look at how two institutions are embracing AI as a tool for student creativity, critical thinking, and career readiness while still upholding academic integrity. Join us as we explore how to design practical, forward-thinking classroom strategies that integrate AI without losing what matters most in higher ed.
FOR EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS
Adobe Express + Firefly Series
Discover how higher education leaders and faculty can use new creative and generative AI technologies to reimagine assessments, boost student engagement, build career readiness, and more. See Adobe Express and Firefly generative AI in action, and get inspired as faculty and students share their innovative lesson plans, assignments, and class projects.
Plus, check out our Adobe Digital Literacy Cafe Series on real-world approaches to integrating generative AI across the curriculum.
Upcoming events
Connecting AI Literacy, Learning Outcomes, and Career Readiness
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
8am PT | 10am CT | 11am ET | 4pm GMT | 5pm CET
AI is already reshaping the classroom — and for many in higher education, it raises tough questions. Do we ban it? Treat it as cheating? Ignore it and hope it goes away? This session takes a different approach. Instead of defaulting to plagiarism panic, colleges and universities have a chance to lead by rethinking how AI fits into teaching, learning, and assessment. We’ll look at how two institutions are embracing AI as a tool for student creativity, critical thinking, and career readiness while still upholding academic integrity. Join us as we explore how to design practical, forward-thinking classroom strategies that integrate AI without losing what matters most in higher ed.
We’ll dive into:
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How to use AI to boost student engagement, faculty innovation, and institutional distinction
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Ways to support faculty in building assignments that are authentic, accountable, and intellectually challenging — not easily gamed by AI
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Approaches that empower students to explain, critique, and stand behind their AI-assisted work (just like they’ll need to in the workforce)
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Policy and guidance frameworks that support ethical AI use — from idea development to research support — without going full automation
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Tactics to preserve and promote critical thinking when it’s tempting to let AI take the wheel
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Dr. Shawn Schulenberg
Professor of Political Science at Marshall University, Chair of the Faculty Senate and Co-Chair of the Presidential AI Task Force.
Dr. Jodie Penrod
Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Marshall University.
Dr. Justin Hodgson
Associate Professor of Digital Rhetoric & Director Digital Gardener Initiative, Indiana University.
On-demand catalog
Nobody knows what the next three-to-five years are going to look like, but skills such as creative thinking, resilience, and digital agility are poised to rise in significance by 2027 — becoming critical indicators of student success.
Join us to discover how you can help your students develop these essential skills. Professor Justin Hodgson of Indiana University showcased how integrating digital creativity into the classroom can increase student engagement and facilitate dynamic learning experiences. By combining low-stakes activities and high-impact practices that center on digital creativity, you can empower your students to develop the skills and knowledge employers need today and in the future.
In this session, Professor Hodgson was joined by a former student who’s navigated the transition from undergrad to industry professional by using creativity and visual communication in the most unexpected ways.
Dr. Justin Hodgson
Associate Professor of Digital Rhetoric & Director Digital Gardener Initiative, Indiana University.
Building student's career-readiness and success with digital badges and credentials
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
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To help students succeed in a competitive job market, higher education leaders need to equip students with sought-after skills and ways to showcase them to employers.
Professor Justin Hodgson of Indiana University demonstrated how projects with integrated digital badges can help students articulate their learning and their career-ready skills, supplementing traditional degrees. By combining micro-credentialing with creative digital coursework, educators can help students stand out and land their dream jobs.
Our speakers shared:
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How digital badging programs provide a quick mechanism for students to cultivate real-world career skills
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How digital badging enhances student projects and offers success measures outside of traditional grades
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How badges and credentials can help hiring managers identify that students have both practical skills and growth mindsets
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How self-paced Adobe Express and Firefly badging and credentialing programs align with academic goals and workforce-ready skillsets to help students stand out
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Holly Johnson
Associate Director of Digital Learning Experience Innovation and Outreach & Adobe Creative Campus Thought Leader, University of Utah.
Dr. Brian Johnsrud
Global Head of Education Thought Leadership and Student Success, Adobe.
Dr. Justin Hodgson
Associate Professor of Digital Rhetoric & Director Digital Gardener Initiative, Indiana University.
Driving student engagement with Adobe Express and Adobe Firefly generative AI
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
After years in learning environments that couldn't accommodate creative, unstructured, exploratory, or even hands-on learning experiences, many of today's college students arrive on campus with a hyper-focus on checklists and grades.
In this session, Indiana University's Professor Justin Hodgson shared how educators can build more meaningful learning experiences — even failure-friendly experiences — that focus on the joy of discovery and integrating digital fluency into the classroom.
Our speakers shared:
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How to shift rote coursework to approaches like “ungrading” that prioritize conversations and the development of skills including creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration
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How to drive engagement with creative projects that challenge students to show what they know
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How students can use Adobe Express and Firefly to craft media they’ll be proud to share while becoming critical, ethical, and agile users of AI
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Dr. Justin Hodgson
Associate Professor of Digital Rhetoric & Director Digital Gardener Initiative, Indiana University.
Reimagining assessments to supercharge learning with Adobe Express and Adobe Firefly Generative AI
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
In this session, our speakers taught innovative ways to assess your students’ work and comprehension more effectively than ever.
From "specs grading" to "ungrading," rubrics to reflection, Professor Justin Hodgson and undergraduate Mia Freeman (Neuroscience ’25) shared successful multi-modal approaches utilized at Indiana University, in which students across disciplines showcase their research, ideas, and insights in the form of creative digital media.
Our speakers shared:
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How to get students to engage more deeply with their learning and think beyond checking boxes to get a grade
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How students can use Adobe Express with Firefly generative AI features to easily and ethically bring their ideas to life in web pages, videos, infographics, and more
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Reflective learning strategies that inspire students to articulate the key values of their work for diverse audiences
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Examples of real student projects and challenges around using them to assess learning
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Assessment strategies for evaluating innovative digital projects from a new perspective
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Dr. Justin Hodgson
Associate Professor of Digital Rhetoric & Director Digital Gardener Initiative, Indiana University.
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In the digital age, visual communication and creative skills have become fundamental, enabling students to express themselves, engage with others, and make an impact. From videos and podcasts to blog posts and social media, the avenues for creative expression are endless. However, many students may feel daunted by the prospect of developing new content, unsure of where to start or how to refine their skills.
Our speakers shared:
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The Power of Student Voice: Learned how empowering students to visually communicate fostered a sense of ownership and agency, amplifying their voices on diverse topics.
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Practical Tips and Techniques: Explored practical tips, techniques, and best practices for communicating across various mediums, including video production, podcasting, blogging, and social media.
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Engaging Learning Experiences: Discovered innovative approaches to integrate visual communication into the curriculum, creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences that fostered creativity, collaboration, and digital fluency (powered by Adobe Express + Firefly).
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Supporting Student Creativity with generative AI: Explored strategies for supporting and nurturing student creativity with generative AI tools, including mentorship, peer collaboration, and feedback mechanisms that encouraged experimentation and growth.
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In today's dynamic world, creativity is not just a luxury reserved for a select few. It’s a necessity for innovation, problem-solving, and personal fulfillment for all students. In this webinar, we explored how creativity played a critical role in student success while they were in school and when they launched and grew their careers, regardless of their field of study and degree.
Our speakers shared:
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Unlocking Potential Through Accessibility: Emphasizing the importance of breaking down barriers to student creativity.
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Fostering Inclusivity and Diversity: Central to democratizing creativity was fostering inclusivity and celebrating diversity within student populations.
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Technology as an Enabler: Using Adobe Express + Firefly as a powerful enabler in democratizing creativity.
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The Role of Leadership and Advocacy: How academic and institutional leadership played a critical role in driving the democratization of creativity.
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The event also included live demonstrations and an interactive Q&A to address questions and share best practices.
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Enabling student success in higher education with Adobe Express + Firefly
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
There has never been a more critical time to transform education, and Adobe has long been on a mission to help institutions ensure that students succeed.
This on-demand webinar focuses on Adobe Express + Firefly, powerful tools to enhance creativity across all disciplines in education. In this session, we delved into practical applications, tips, and tricks that empowered everyone on campus to successfully create dynamic and engaging content.
Our speakers shared:
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An overview of Adobe Express and its application in educational settings.
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An introduction to how students could create amazing images with generative AI features powered by Adobe Firefly.
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Live demonstrations showing how to effortlessly create meaningful content and assets.
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An interactive Q&A to address questions and share best practices.
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Adobe Express + Firefly Blog
Let’s talk about how Adobe can help your graduates succeed.
Drive career readiness with higher education plans that support your entire campus.
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Adobe Express is the all-in-one, quick-and-easy content creation app designed to help students of all disciplines stand out in class, on campus, and in their careers —and it’s included with all Adobe Creative Cloud plans.
