We enjoyed presentations by two DOLCE speakers on Friday, October 2, 2026.
Susan Abplanalp, from the Department of Design, presented on “Students Design; AI Helps to Present.”
This talk explores ways to integrate AI into student design assignments while maintaining academic integrity and pedagogical goals. Professor Abplanalp will discuss establishing clear roles for AI in the student design and development process, setting explicit guidelines for appropriate and inappropriate AI use, and reinforcing why design thinking remains the foundation of meaningful student work. Professor Abplanalp’s approach echoes the theme of our recent Summer Institute on Teaching and Technology: Authentic Teaching in a Tool-Rich World.
Debbie Fetter, from the Nutrition Department, presented on “Beyond Polling: Using Mentimeter to Increase Engagement and Belonging.”
Promoting engagement and fostering meaningful interactions in large-enrollment courses can be challenging, particularly as instructors navigate increasing class sizes, diverse learner needs, and evolving student expectations around participation. Interactive classroom response systems, such as Mentimeter, provide opportunities to create dynamic, inclusive, and student-centered learning environments.
This talk will explore practical and pedagogically grounded strategies for integrating Mentimeter as a formative assessment tool to enhance participation and critical thinking, all while creating community. Participants will leave this talk with adaptable ideas and concrete examples for incorporating Mentimeter into their own courses in ways that support interaction, feedback, and inclusive learning experiences.
Access the Zoom chat from the event. (UC Davis login required.)
