Name: AI and the Classroom: Protecting the Student Thinking Process
Start: 2026-07-17T09:50:00-0600
End: 2026-07-17T10:50:00-0600

Welcome to URSA 2026 at Southern Utah University! All sessions will be in buildings on the upper campus (east end). Here’s the Campus Map (PDF) if needed.

WiFi: eduroam or SUU-Conference, password "summertimefun"

PLAN AHEAD - Tentative Future Conference Dates
July 7-9, 2027 - Price, UT
July 17-19, 2028 - Richfield, UT

AI and the Classroom: Protecting the Student Thinking Process

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT

CC Vermillion Cliffs - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Vermillion Cliffs Room (100 Level)

As AI tools become more common in schools, there is a risk that students will offload their critical thinking to technology. This session focuses on how to maintain the productive struggle that is necessary for deep learning. We will explore practical ways to design lessons that require active effort, ensuring students build real skills and understanding rather than just finding quick answers. Participants in this session will gain a clear understanding of how to identify cognitive offloading, helping them recognize when students use technology to bypass critical thinking rather than to support it. By exploring strategies for designing resilient assignments, educators will learn to create lesson plans that prioritize active student effort and are less susceptible to simple AI shortcuts. Ultimately, attendees will walk away with a balanced framework for maintaining productive struggle in the classroom, ensuring that technology remains a tool for insight rather than a replacement for the thinking process.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Not Applicable

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Not Applicable

Speakers

Melanie Valentine

Founder & CEO, Ed Tech Blueprint

Melanie Valentine’s decades-long career spans educational shifts from early personal computing for rural teachers to modern AI integration. Following her work leading technology leaders at the Utah State Board of Education, she leveraged her PhD in math education and MA in Technology... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT
CC Vermillion Cliffs - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Vermillion Cliffs Room (100 Level) 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Educational Technology - including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required., Intermediate - basic core competency; some prerequisite skills required. | Instructional Coaching, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required., Intermediate - basic core competency; some prerequisite skills required.

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Teachers, Library Media Specialists, District / School Administrators, EdTech Coach/Digital Teaching & Learning Specialists, Instructional Coaches
Subject Area Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Leadership, Instructional Coaching

Select ticket

Success you have shared X tickets.

2026 Utah Rural Schools Conference

Melanie Valentine

Attendees (3)

Get help with the event

Success you have shared X tickets.

2026 Utah Rural Schools Conference

Melanie Valentine

Attendees (3)

Sign up or log in to save this to your schedule, view media, leave feedback and see who's attending!

Get help with the event