Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2026
Keywords
AI Workshop Series, Applied AI, Responsible AI, Large Language Models, Student Engagement, Workshop Evaluation
Disciplines
Computer Sciences | Education | Educational Technology
Abstract
The AI Workshop and Speaker Series was organized by the Student Advisory Council of the Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston with the guidance of Distinguished Professor of Computer Science Wei Ding to create a practical and student-centered AI learning space. The Spring 2026 series included workshops on LinkedIn Optimization, Data Mining, GitHub, Prompt Engineering, Machine Learning of Structured Data, and Applied LLMs with Responsible AI Use in Research, while the broader speaker series introduced students to AI career development, generative AI and LLMs for cybersecurity, transportation security, political sciences, and AI in biomedicine. This report documents the goals, outcomes, successes, participant reflections, and future improvement areas of the series. Across the semester, students built practical AI skills, explored responsible AI use, connected AI tools to academic and professional goals, and expanded their networks through workshops and speaker sessions. Participant feedback showed strong interest in hands-on learning, real-world examples, and future programming on AI-assisted coding, data analytics, research, and advanced AI applications. Overall, the series strengthened interdisciplinary AI learning, increased student engagement, and supported the growth of an AI learning community at UMass Boston.
Community Engaged/Serving
Part of the UMass Boston Community-Engaged Teaching, Research, and Service Series. //scholarworks.umb.edu/engage
Recommended Citation
Blike, Gregory; Brown, Hannah (Nyingi); Nguyen, Dora (Dawn); Nguyen, Rami Huu; Igharo, Ajanee; Calderon, Frayni; Saha, Moumita; and Zheng, Chengjie, "Spring AI 2026 Workshop and Speaker Series Report" (2026). Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications. 43.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/ai_pubs/43
Rights
© 2026 Student Advisory Council (SAC)
Comments
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