Generative AI in Education

Generative AI in education, designed for human judgment.

Dr. Soroush Sabbaghan is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary whose work focuses on generative AI in education, AI literacy, responsible AI use, and human-centred educational technology. His research and applied design work support K–12 schools, universities, and educators in using AI in ways that strengthen learning, agency, equity, and professional judgment.

Portrait of Dr. Soroush Sabbaghan

About my work

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 goal is not faster education, but more intentional education.

Generative AI literacy Responsible AI use Human-centred design AI ethics in education Teacher & learner agency Assessment & integrity Inclusive learning design

AI Tools

Applied AI built for educators.

I design and lead the development of generative AI tools that keep human judgment at the centre — supporting inclusive course design, scholarly research, feedback, and professional learning.

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SMARTIE

Inclusive course & module design

Strategic Module Assistant for Rubrics, Tasks, and Inclusive Education — supporting more accessible, inclusive, and intentionally designed courses, rubrics, and learning tasks.

smartie.dev →
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CaseCraft

Educational case studies

Helps educators create rich, realistic case studies for teaching, discussion, and assessment.

casecraft.dev →
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SARA

Scholarly research assistant

Supports academic searching, synthesis, citation retrieval, and research-informed writing for graduate students and researchers.

Available on request.

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The full suite of AI tools

Built & hosted at Honey Bee Logic

My broader collection of generative AI applications for educators and institutions is developed and available through Honey Bee Logic.

Explore the tools at honeybeelogic.com →

Research areas

The questions driving my research.

My scholarship examines how generative AI reshapes learning, scholarship, and assessment — and how educators can use it responsibly without surrendering judgment, originality, or care.

AI literacy & agency

How students and educators develop the literacy and judgment to use generative AI as a learning support rather than a substitute for thinking.

Ethics & academic integrity

Authorship, originality, and integrity in AI-mediated scholarship — and the ethical frontier facing graduate students and researchers.

Human-centred design

Designing AI-powered tools and personas that preserve human responsibility, equity, and care in teaching and learning.

Assessment & feedback

Rethinking assessment, rubrics, and feedback for an era in which generative AI is part of how learners write and research.

Research methods with AI

AI-supported experiential learning — including AI personas for practising research interviews and qualitative methods.

Institutional change

Helping schools, universities, and public institutions adopt generative AI in ways that align with mission, equity, and human-centred values.

Book & Publications

Writing on generative AI in education.

Selected scholarship on GenAI-mediated learning, research practice, ethics, student agency, and human-centred design in educational contexts.

Cover of Navigating Generative AI in Higher Education

Edited book · 2025 · Edward Elgar

Navigating Generative AI in Higher Education

My edited volume, Ethical, Theoretical and Practical Perspectives, published by Edward Elgar Publishing, brings together international perspectives on GenAI in teaching, research, assessment, academic practice, and institutional policy.

View the book →

Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology · 2026

Examining Canadian Undergraduates’ Perspectives with Using GenAI for Learning

With Ann-Kathrin Grenz and Michele Jacobsen, examining how undergraduate students understand and use GenAI as a learning support.

Read article →

International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education · 2025

Navigating the Ethical Frontier: Graduate Students’ Experiences with Generative AI-Mediated Scholarship

With Sarah Elaine Eaton, exploring agency, authorship, originality, and academic integrity in GenAI-assisted graduate scholarship.

Read article →

The Canadian Journal of Action Research · 2025

Applying Interview-Research Methods Using Generative AI Technology

With Barbara Brown, studying GenAI-supported experiential learning for graduate students developing research-interview skills.

Read article →

International Journal on Innovations in Online Education · 2024

The Role of AI-Powered Personas in Developing Graduate Interviewing Skills

With Barbara Brown, analyzing PEARL as a GenAI-powered persona environment for qualitative research training.

Read article →

See all publications →

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.

Talks & Media

Keynotes, workshops, and public engagement.

I speak with universities, schools, public institutions, and professional communities about generative AI, ethics, assessment, digital transformation, and the future of learning.

Jul 2026

The Future of Learning is Human

Keynote, IOTEIR, Bridgewater State University · Massachusetts, United States

Jul 2026

Language With a Good Heart in a World of Fluent Machines

Keynote, CALICO 2026, Miami University · Ohio, United States

May 2026

AI as a Thinking Partner: Exploring How AI Can Support Gifted Students

Westmount Charter School · Calgary, Alberta

Apr 2026

Sanctuaries of Truth: Architecting the Three Futures of AI

Keynote, AI Futures Event, Canadian Urban Libraries Council

Apr 2026

Ethics and Morality in the Era of Shadow and Agentic AI

UCalgary–Minerva Learning Forum

Mar 2026

Beyond Tools: What It Means to Be AI-Literate in Society

One Library Event, University of Regina

All keynotes, workshops and school sessions →   Recorded talks, podcasts and coverage →

Connect & Profiles

Let’s connect.

For speaking, workshops, research collaboration, or institutional consultation, reach out or follow my work across these profiles.