#  2026 Lightning Round Showcase 

 



## Presentation Details

*“The Weight of the Degree: Rigor, Responsibility, and the Modern Campus”*  
*Presented by the Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning*  
*Friday, September 25, 2026*  
*David Rubenstein Treehouse, Harvard University*



 

##  Topics & Presenters 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM 

In this year’s Lightning Round Showcase, presenters from across Harvard will each have three minutes to spotlight a teaching and learning program, project, or resource. Attendees will gain a broad view of the innovative work shaping teaching and learning across the University—from classroom practice and assessment design to AI, accessibility, and peer coaching. Each lightning talk is designed to offer a concise overview, a concrete example, and a clear takeaway you can adapt or explore further in your own context.

Lightning round presentations will be held on the third floor in Canopy 301. We encourage you to explore the featured topics and presenters below:

- **“AI Literacy Curriculum Modules to Promote Effective AI-aided Learning,”** by Aparna Nathan, Lecturer on Biomedical Informatics, Associate Director, Master of Medical Sciences in Biomedical Informatics (HMS)
- **“Theory, Practice, and the Exam: Bridging the Gap in Applied Courses,”** by Shai Dromi, Associate Senior Lecturer on Sociology (FAS)
- **The Hackathon as a Method of Applied Learning and Assessment** by Maxine Gill, Pedagogy Studio Pre-Doctoral Fellow, Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics (FAS).
- **“High Stakes, Low Risk: Mastering Difficult Conversations with AI Voice Chat,”** by Mengxiang (Alina) Chen (HSDM) and Tien Jiang, Assistant Professor of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology (HSDM)
- **“Practicing What We Teach: Data Shareback as Co-Learning,”** by Stacey King, Director of Field Education and Practice (HSPH)
- **From Remediation to Creation: A Faculty Toolkit for Accessible STEM Content** by Nicholas McNab, Coordinator, Assistive Technology Center (FAS).
- **“SocratiCloud: Enriching Asynchronous Online Lifelong Learning through Synchronous Mini-Class Capstones,”** by Alberto Gomez, Instructional Technologist and User Support (HLS) and Anastasia Tolu, Associate Director, Instructional Technology (HLS)
- **“Peer Coaching: Fostering Learning for Chemistry Students and Course Assistants,”** Wyatt Hurt, Preceptor in Chemistry and Chemical Biology (FAS) and Sirinya Matchacheep, Lecturer on Chemistry and Chemical Biology (FAS)

*\*Please note: This 30-minute session is different from the* [*AI Lightning Round Breakout session at 10:30 AM*](https://hilt.harvard.edu/2026-concurrent-breakout-sessions)*, which will be a one-hour breakout session focused solely on AI innovations happening across Harvard.*



 

##  More Conference Details: 

 



 [ 2026 Conference Agenda arrow\_circle\_right ](https://hilt.harvard.edu/2026-conference-agenda) [ 2026 Conference Breakout Sessions arrow\_circle\_right ](https://hilt.harvard.edu/2026-concurrent-breakout-sessions) [ 2026 Speaker & Facilitator Bios arrow\_circle\_right ](https://hilt.harvard.edu/2026-speaker-facilitator-bios)