Designing Learning in the AI Era
By Pam Fultz, M.S., APR
April 2026
Academia has long been characterized by a slow, deliberate sharing of knowledge, though the advent of virtual learning altered that perception. With the emergence of artificial intelligence, however, the landscape has shifted further, becoming increasingly high-tech.
AI is now commonplace in both in-person and online classrooms. As universities embrace tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, higher education faces a pivotal moment in which innovation meets new ethical challenges.
For this article, I spoke with Evan Kropp, Ph.D., executive director of the Division of Distance Education at the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida. He offers insight into how AI’s influence is growing in teaching, learning, and student support at institutions of higher education.
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Pam Fultz, M.S., APR
Pam Fultz, M.S., APR, is senior community relations manager of Vi at Bentley Village, a retirement community in Naples, Fla. She also is an adjunct instructor for the University of Florida. She holds a Master of Science degree in corporate and organizational communications from Northeastern University in Boston, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She is past president of PRSA’s Gulf Coast Chapter.
