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We partnered with Nittany AI on multiple occasions to enhance their community engagement efforts and foster innovation through AI. Nittany AI is an initiative that brings together students, faculty, and professionals to explore the practical applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in solving real-world problems.
Across two distinct engagements — a virtual Connection Café and an in-person ideation workshop — our work centered on the same goal: turning big, abstract questions about AI into real human connections and concrete, solution-oriented ideas.
what we did
Designed and facilitated a Virtual Connection Café called “Global Education, AI and the Greater Good”
Hosted a lightning talk by Michelle Weise, author of Long-Life Learning: Preparing for Jobs That Don’t Even Exist Yet
Led an in-person “Nittany AI Challenge Ideation Workshop: Agriculture & Environmental Sustainability”
Organized a “Spam Wall” connection activity that sparked 275 new connections among 100 participants in two hours
Facilitated a custom AI-bingo ideation session that generated concrete AI solutions for sustainability challenges
how we did it
Global Education, AI and the Greater Good
In our first engagement, we organized a virtual Connection Café focused on the future of global education and the role of AI — bringing together students, faculty, companies, and organizations interested in a solution-oriented approach. After a lightning talk by Michelle Weise, author of Long-Life Learning: Preparing for Jobs That Don’t Even Exist Yet, we facilitated an exploration of the field’s key issues with global leaders: personalized education, disenfranchised populations, emotional wellness, education technology solutions, learning analytics, and access to education and technology.
Turning “spam” into 275 connections
For the in-person Agriculture & Environmental Sustainability ideation workshop — which brought together faculty, staff, and local nonprofit leaders with domain knowledge in the field — we opened with the worst kind of connection we all face daily: spam. Then we flipped it, inviting participants to “spam” each other around the meaningful issues they wanted to discuss. Everyone made a spam sheet and took a number, and as connections formed, we tracked them on a massive Spam Wall. In two hours with 100 participants, we sparked 275 new connections.
From connection to concrete AI solutions
Once the room was connected, we transitioned into collaborative ideation. Each participant received an AI bingo sheet illustrating the many ways AI can be applied to solve problems, then partnered up to brainstorm solutions to the challenges the group had surfaced. The workshop’s 100+ attendees left with numerous new connections and concrete ideas for embedding AI into environmental sustainability work.
The outcome
Across both engagements, we helped Nittany AI strengthen its community and advance its mission to leverage AI for solving real-world problems. As a result, we transformed the big questions into meaningful relationships and innovative ideas that continue to drive the initiative forward.
