Atla Annual 2025

Last year we introduced generative AI and what it meant for theological education. As these conversations have continued to evolve it is important for libraries and librarians to begin to think and act more intentionally as it relates to research and learning for both faculty and staff. These concerns are ultimately concerns about pedagogy, design, and tools.

This interactive half-day workshop provides a pedagogical frame for libraries and librarians to equip themselves, faculty, and staff with the underlying skills necessary to critically engage and leverage generative AI tools in the work of theological education.

Particular attention will be paid to concerns about ethics, learning outcomes, and academic integrity, as well as offering a through exploration and application of generative AI tools for research and learning.

The role of the library in cultivating and sustaining the metaliteracy skills of faculty and students will be highlighted alongside guidance for how libraries can demonstrate not only this contribution to the work of theological education, but to the leaders of their institutions as part of their requests for funding, staffing, and other forms of prioritization from the institution.

Learning Outcome

(1) Pedagogical and design frameworks that can be shared with faculty and students. (2) Exposure to and initial training in specific generative AI tools, (3) Guidance on positioning themselves as an essential frontier in the future of learning and work in theological education, and (4) the initial seeds of training that they can offer at their respective institutions.

Audience Engagement

My workshops are always conversational, emphasizing a kind of rolling dialogue with lots of structured room for Q+A and discussion. I find that engagement around these questions are easy to generate and sustain.

This workshop serves as an introduction to restorative justice theory and practice, including the values that undergird and support restorative initiatives. The workshop will include experiential components, small group conversations, as well as presentation/lecture. This ties into the training and process for Atla's Conduct Committee.