SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Dr. Mary Wiseman, Director of Instructional Innovation & Faculty Investment at Springfield Technical Community College, represented the college on a national stage at SXSW EDU 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Held March 9–12, SXSW EDU is a premier conference and festival that brings together educators, policymakers, industry leaders and innovators from around the world to explore the future of teaching and learning. The four-day event features hundreds of sessions, workshops, networking opportunities and exhibitions designed to spark new ideas and collaboration across the education landscape.
This year, Wiseman played a key role in that conversation, moderating a panel titled “Educating Minds: Critical Thinking for the AI Generation.” The session brought together leading voices in higher education to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping classrooms and how institutions can respond thoughtfully and effectively.
Reflecting on the experience, Wiseman shared several key strategies that emerged from the discussion, insights that are especially relevant as colleges and universities navigate the growing presence of AI in teaching and learning:
- Developing a shared vocabulary for AI literacy so faculty, administrators, and students can engage in meaningful dialogue
- Connecting AI literacy to critical thinking, encouraging students to analyze both AI-generated outputs and the systems behind them
- Elevating student voice in shaping institutional approaches to AI
- Shifting students from passive consumption to active critique of AI-generated content
- Encouraging cross-disciplinary exploration of AI, recognizing its varied impact across fields
- Creating spaces for dialogue and inquiry, where students can collaboratively unpack AI tools and outputs
Wiseman’s leadership as a moderator highlights STCC’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation in higher education. As artificial intelligence continues to transform how knowledge is created and shared, these conversations are essential to ensuring students are prepared not just to use technology, but to think critically about it. While AI may be a rapidly evolving tool, Wiseman says the goal of education remains constant: empowering students to question, analyze and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.
