This campfire session brings together Learning Designers (LDs), Learning Experience Designers (LXDs), Educational Technology Specialists, and educators to examine how Generative AI (GenAI), in combination with design thinking, can support the development of visually rich, learner-centered educational experiences. Grounded in key theoretical frameworks, including Visual Literacy Theory (Avgerinou & Pettersson, 2011; 2020), Design Thinking (Dam & Siang, 2020), ADDIE (Branch, 2009), and SAMR (Puentedura, 213), the session positions visual literacy as a core epistemic practice through which learners interpret, construct, and communicate meaning in increasingly AI-mediated environments. Participants will explore how GenAI can inform the design of learning scenarios that are not only engaging and effective, but also critically attuned to the role of visual and multimodal representations in knowledge construction. Emphasis is placed on both the interpretation and production of visuals, as well as on the affordances and limitations of AI-supported design processes. Through collaborative ideation, virtual prototyping, and critical reflection, participants will be encouraged to develop practical, visually grounded learning designs that foster engagement, creativity, and deeper conceptual understanding.
Campfire Session Goals 1. Conceptual Understanding- Recognize visual literacy as an epistemic practice in AI-mediated learning environments
- Understand how GenAI intersects with visual literacy, learning design, and design thinking
2. Critical Awareness- Examine the role of AI-generated visuals in shaping meaning, interpretation, and knowledge construction
- Critically reflect on issues of accuracy, bias, and pedagogical value in AI-supported visual representations
3. Design-Oriented Thinking- Explore how design thinking processes can inform the integration of visual literacy into learning design
- Identify opportunities for using GenAI to support multimodal and visually grounded learning experiences
4. Collaborative Knowledge Building (Campfire Core)- Contribute experiences, examples, and challenges related to using visuals and/or AI in teaching and design
- Engage in dialogue and idea exchange to co-develop approaches for integrating visual literacy in practice
5. Practical Takeaways- Articulate at least one actionable idea or design direction for incorporating visual literacy and GenAI into their own context
