2026: A Classroom Odyssey: Using AI To Transform Experential Learning

How AI can support experiential learning without replacing the thinking, practice, and reflection that make learning meaningful? Matthew Schonewille and I discuss why instructors should understand AI and begin with the purpose and learning outcomes of each activity. Matthew urges educators to critically evaluate AI’s polished-sounding output and use it to organize and repurpose existing materials, create tailored case studies, generate questions that test understanding, and build more responsive simulations.

Rather than relying on policing alone, we consider setting clear guardrails and using live discussion to assess what students have learned. We also discuss rethinking presentations by emphasizing students’ verbal understanding, not just their visual aids. Matthew shares two frameworks for thoughtful AI use: 4W—what we gain, lose, stop practicing, and access—and SPARK: simplicity, precision, adaptability, reinforcement, and knowledge. My takeaway is to know why I use AI and apply it deliberately to strengthen teaching while keeping meaningful learning at the very center.

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