About Dr. Gila Kurtz

Dr. Kurtz is the Dean of the Faculty of Instructional Technologies at the Holon Institute of Technology (HIT) in Israel. She has a wealth of experience, having served as the Academic Vice President at a company specializing in e-learning solutions for the corporate sector for several years. Before joining HIT, she developed and managed an ICT and a Learning M.A. program at the College for Academic Studies in Israel. Dr. Kurtz has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Graduate School in the Master of Distance Education and E-learning Program, where she co-developed and co-taught online courses. Dr. Kurtz's other positions were head of interactive television satellite-based unit at the Open University of Israel (OUI) and director of an e-learning center at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. She was also the academic vice president of a company that provided e-learning solutions for the corporate industry. She served as a director and the secretary of The International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction, (IBSTPI) where she was a co-author of a book titled "Online Learner Competencies: Attitudes, Knowledge, and Skills for Successful Learning." For several years Dr. Kurtz was a member of the Steering Committee of the European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN). She serves as a member on the Peer Review Board of The Journal of Educators Online and The European Journal of Open and Distance Learning. For several years, Dr. Kurtz was the Editor-in-Chief of The Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Skills and Lifelong Learning (IJELL). She has been a visiting scholar at several academic institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley's School of Education and at Syracuse University.

About Dr. Eran Gal

Dr. Eran Gal is a digital learning and learning innovation expert with over 25 years of experience applying cross-company technology-based learning solutions.

Dr. Gal heads the graduate program at the Instructional Technologies Faculty, HIT. The program offers students a unique certification track in AI for learning applications in addition to M.A. in Instructional Technologies.

Dr. Gal teaches learning design using AI and learning innovation. He also oversees the research initiatives of the program focusing on empirical research of organizational and technologically enhanced learning.

Since January 2023, Dr. Gal's research and studies have been focused on successful implementation of GenAI services in academic and organizational learning.

AI in Higher Education

Gila Kurtz, Ph.D., and Eran Gal, Ph.D.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the landscape of higher education, offering new opportunities for personalized learning, intelligent tutoring systems, automated assessment, and advanced research methodologies. In this lecture, we will explore how AI-driven technologies enhance teaching and learning experiences, support faculty in instructional design, and empower students with adaptive learning tools. We will also discuss ethical considerations, challenges, and best practices for integrating AI into higher education.

About Dr. Antonella Poce

Antonella Poce is full Professor in Experimental Pedagogy at the department of History, Heritage, Education and Society – University of Roma Tor Vergata, where She teaches Experimental Pedagogy, Educational Research Methodology, Museum Education.

From December 2020 to February 2023, was employed as full professor in the same subject at the Dept. of Education and Humanities, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, where she started and chaired the INTELLECT International Research Centre for Research into Heritage and Museum Education, Well-being and Teaching Technology.

She presently chairs the following joint (TOR VERGATA/UNIROMATRE) post graduate degrees: annual “Empirical Studies in Museum Education ” and biennial post graduate course “Advanced Studies in Heritage Education”.

She coordinates national, international and European projects, and she has chaired international academic committees focused on evaluation and distance learning. Her research concerns innovative teaching practices in higher education at national and international level.

Generative AI and 3D Digital Object-Based Learning

Antonella Poce, Ph.D.

Generative AI and 3D Digital Object-Based Learning is an emerging pedagogical paradigm that harnesses advanced computational methods to create, adapt, and personalize three-dimensional cultural heritage artifacts within educational contexts. This approach builds upon Object-Based Learning (OBL), a methodology designed to foster interactive and immersive engagement with physical or digital artifacts, while cultivating Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking (the 4Cs). By integrating Generative AI­--which is capable of dynamically producing digital objects or reconstructing missing artifact elements-­and 3D printing technologies, educators can offer learners a more tangible and tailored experience with heritage materials.

The ARTISTIC (AI and Robotics for Inclusive Heritage Education Experiences) project exemplifies this convergence of AI, robotics, and virtual reality (VR). Focused on promoting accessibility and inclusivity in Ligurian cultural heritage, it particularly supports individuals with cognitive or physical disabilities, children, and older adults. By incorporating Generative AI into these OBL-driven activities, the educational potential expands further. AI-driven systems can instantly personalize learning pathways, enabling participants to explore 3D-printed artifacts or VR-based reconstructions aligned with their cognitive needs. As part of this session, the objectives, methodologies, activities carried out within the project and preliminary results will be presented.

About Dr. Gila Kurtz

Dr. Kurtz is the Dean of the Faculty of Instructional Technologies at the Holon Institute of Technology (HIT) in Israel. She has a wealth of experience, having served as the Academic Vice President at a company specializing in e-learning solutions for the corporate sector for several years. Before joining HIT, she developed and managed an ICT and a Learning M.A. program at the College for Academic Studies in Israel. Dr. Kurtz has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Graduate School in the Master of Distance Education and E-learning Program, where she co-developed and co-taught online courses. Dr. Kurtz's other positions were head of interactive television satellite-based unit at the Open University of Israel (OUI) and director of an e-learning center at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. She was also the academic vice president of a company that provided e-learning solutions for the corporate industry. She served as a director and the secretary of The International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction, (IBSTPI) where she was a co-author of a book titled "Online Learner Competencies: Attitudes, Knowledge, and Skills for Successful Learning." For several years Dr. Kurtz was a member of the Steering Committee of the European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN). She serves as a member on the Peer Review Board of The Journal of Educators Online and The European Journal of Open and Distance Learning. For several years, Dr. Kurtz was the Editor-in-Chief of The Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Skills and Lifelong Learning (IJELL). She has been a visiting scholar at several academic institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley's School of Education and at Syracuse University.

About Dr. Eran Gal

Dr. Eran Gal is a digital learning and learning innovation expert with over 25 years of experience applying cross-company technology-based learning solutions.

Dr. Gal heads the graduate program at the Instructional Technologies Faculty, HIT. The program offers students a unique certification track in AI for learning applications in addition to M.A. in Instructional Technologies.

Dr. Gal teaches learning design using AI and learning innovation. He also oversees the research initiatives of the program focusing on empirical research of organizational and technologically enhanced learning.

Since January 2023, Dr. Gal's research and studies have been focused on successful implementation of GenAI services in academic and organizational learning.

Hands-on Workshop: How to Create Effective AI Prompts for Learning and Teaching

Gila Kurtz, Ph.D., and Eran Gal, Ph.D.

A hands-on workshop where students learn to craft effective prompts through role-play exercises and real-time AI interactions. Students will practice critical thinking by analyzing AI responses and developing strategies to get more accurate and useful results.