The Future of Learning is Human
Keynote, IOTEIR, Bridgewater State University · Massachusetts, United States
Associate Professor · University of Calgary
Soroush Sabbaghan
GenAI Educational Leader in Residence, Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning
I help schools, universities and public institutions use generative AI in ways that keep human judgment, learning and equity at the centre.
Navigating Generative AI in Higher Education, Edward Elgar, 2025
Canadian Urban Libraries Council · University of Regina · Calgary Public Library · ATESL
SMARTIE · CaseCraft · SARA
SSHRC · Mitacs · University of Calgary · Parex Innovation Fellowship · Universität Hamburg · Université Paris Cité
The book
Navigating Generative AI in Higher Education
Ethical, Theoretical and Practical Perspectives · Edward Elgar Publishing, 2025
An edited volume bringing together international perspectives on generative AI in teaching, research, assessment, academic practice and institutional policy.
Speaking
Keynotes and workshops on generative AI in education
For conferences, whole-school PD days, district leadership retreats, libraries and public institutions. Sessions are tailored to the audience and grounded in classroom realities.
Language With a Good Heart in a World of Fluent Machines
Keynote, CALICO 2026, Miami University · Ohio, United States
AI as a Thinking Partner: Exploring How AI Can Support Gifted Students
Westmount Charter School · Calgary, Alberta
Sanctuaries of Truth: Architecting the Three Futures of AI
Keynote, AI Futures Event, Canadian Urban Libraries Council
Ethics and Morality in the Era of Shadow and Agentic AI
UCalgary–Minerva Learning Forum
Beyond Tools: What It Means to Be AI-Literate in Society
One Library Event, University of Regina
Short and long bios, headshots, topic descriptions and past hosts, ready for programmes and introductions.
Open the speaker kit →Tools
AI applications built for educators
Each one keeps the educator’s judgment in the loop. More are developed and hosted at Honey Bee Logic.
For instructors and course designers
SMARTIE
Strategic Module Assistant for Rubrics, Tasks and Inclusive Education. Builds more accessible, intentionally designed courses, rubrics and learning tasks.
smartie.dev →For educators who teach with cases
CaseCraft
Creates rich, realistic educational case studies for teaching, discussion and assessment.
casecraft.dev →For graduate students and researchers
SARA
A scholarly research assistant for academic search, synthesis, citation retrieval and research-informed writing.
Available on request.
Research
Selected publications
Peer-reviewed work on GenAI-mediated learning, research practice, ethics, student agency and human-centred design. Research areas →
Redefining academic integrity: Navigating the emergence of collaborative intelligence in higher education
Book chapter · A research agenda for artificial intelligence and academic integrity. Edward …
Navigating the ethical frontier: Graduate students’ experiences with generative AI-mediated scholarship
With Sarah Elaine Eaton · International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education
Examining Canadian Undergraduates’ Perspectives with Using GenAI for Learning
With Ann-Kathrin Grenz and Michele Jacobsen · Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology
Applying interview-research methods using generative AI technology: An action research study with graduate students in mock research teams
With Barbara Brown · The Canadian Journal of Action Research
Exploring the synergy of human and AI-driven approaches in thematic analysis for qualitative educational research
Sole author · Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching
The role of generative AI-powered personas in developing graduate interviewing skills
With Barbara Brown · International Journal on Innovations in Online Education
About
Where AI access becomes human agency
I am an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary and the GenAI Educational Leader in Residence at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. My work asks how generative AI can be designed, taught and governed so that it strengthens, rather than weakens, human responsibility, learning and care.
Across research, teaching, public speaking and the design of AI tools, I help educators in K–12 schools, universities and public institutions move beyond questions of efficiency toward deeper questions of judgment, accountability, equity and professional agency.
“The question is not whether AI can make education faster. The question is whether it can help us become more intentional about what education is for.”
In the news
Latest talks, interviews and coverage
Recorded keynotes, podcasts, public writing and news stories on generative AI in education.
Language with a Good Heart in a World of Fluent Machines
Keynote for the CALICO 2026 conference on language learning, care and fluent machines.
Watch →
Episode 46: Soroush Sabbaghan
Every time you engage with these systems, you gain something—but you also lose something.” “Human agency is your capability ...
Listen →Examining, episode 97: Soroush Sabbaghan
In this episode, Erik and Kris Interview Soroush Sabbaghan an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary's Weklund School of Education ...
Listen →Booking and collaboration
Invite me to speak
Keynotes, school and district PD days, workshops, panels, research collaboration and institutional consultation on generative AI in education.