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Machine Spirits
◆ Machine Spirits · Course · 490-spring-2026

Introduction to Generative AI for Education

Historical, technological, practical, critical, pedagogical, and futurological lenses

Spring 2026 · University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · 7 public materials

This seven-week workshop course treats generative AI as a subject that needs more than a single technical or promotional account. Each week approaches it through a different lens, building toward a practical intervention grounded in both theory and educational practice.

Course overview

The course contests the idea that widespread access to professorial chatbots makes education obsolete. Instead, it asks how historical, technological, practical, critical, pedagogical, and futurological perspectives change what educators and learners should do with generative AI.

Weekly structure

Course format

Weekly workshops combine short lectures, group discussion, close reading, and design-oriented practice. The course materials below preserve the complete weekly notes and reading lists.

Learning objectives

Course materials

Lecture notes and workshop materials from this course.

  1. Introduction to Generative AI for Education
  2. Week 2: Historical Lens - Pathways to AI
  3. How does a Machine Learn?
  4. Week 4: How Do We Talk to Machines?
  5. “The Problem(s) of Alignment”
  6. Cybernetic Societies - How do We Prepare People? And Machines? And People?
  7. Accelerate Now!

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