Upper Peninsula Teaching & Learning Conference - 2026

The use of artificial intelligence in academia has accelerated, alongside growing concerns that it may contribute to students’ cognitive decline and the erosion of critical thinking and deep learning. Proponents of AI, particularly university administrators, argue that its efficient, effective, and ethical use can enhance teaching and learning while improving students’ employability. When responsibly applied, AI can support the learning of complexity—a domain that is challenging to teach because it involves higher-order thinking, dynamic interactions, and several interconnected parts. Employing AI as a teaching tool and Socratic tutor, rather than as “tell pedagogy,” may foster deeper student understanding of complexity. Drawing on AI-enhanced modeling platforms (SD-A and CoModel.io), this presentation demonstrates how students and faculty can use AI responsibly to understand complex systems and identify best practices for AI-supported teaching on complexity.