Human Connections in a Digital World

Designing learning activities that develop students' self-awareness, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills can be particularly challenging in online asynchronous environments. Blackboard Ultra's AI tools, including Socratic reasoning and persona role play assignments, provide online instructors with avenues for developing students' critical thinking and interpersonal skills. In this demonstration, two AI assignments are shared that were developed for a coaching and talent development course. In the first AI assignment, students are asked to share their “facilitative coaching philosophy” with an AI persona who uses a Socratic questioning method to surface students’ underlying assumptions and motivations for coaching. The second AI assignment is a role play activity where each student interacts in the role of “facilitative coach” with an AI-persona “client” to help the client become aware of, and commit to self-generated SMART coaching goals. Learnings from student and instructor feedback regarding what worked well, and opportunities for assignment adjustments, are shared.