Pennsylvania Western University will be piloting Lumi Pro and Creator+ in select courses within its D2L Brightspace learning management system this semester. The initiative will expand opportunities for faculty to explore innovative approaches to course design and student engagement.

Lumi Pro integrates AI into Brightspace, offering faculty support in quiz creation, assignment and discussion prompts, and personalized study assistance for students. Creator+ equips instructors with tools to design dynamic, accessible, and engaging course materials directly within Brightspace.

“We are really excited to be able to offer these innovative tools to several faculty to leverage with their students,” said Jennifer Williams, manager of Learning Technology Services. “I appreciate the support of D2L administrators Sandy Cogley and Jon Kallis and Dr. Jessica Harris, PennWest Global Online instructional designer, for helping faculty incorporate the tools into their courses.”

Dr. Camille Dempsey, director of PennWest’s Center for Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technology, noted that the initiative showcases PennWest’s leadership in educational innovation.

“This pilot reflects PennWest’s commitment to exploring innovative tools that can shape the future of teaching and learning. We’re excited to see how these AI tools can make learning more engaging for students and help faculty bring fresh approaches into their courses,” she said.

Faculty members participating in the pilot include Drs. Camille Dempsey, Alawya Alawami, Pratibha Menon, John Ziegler, Rebecca Maddas, Meghan Ferraro, Stephanie Williams, Tom West, Marilyn K. Harhai, Kristen West, and Lynne Langley.

The pilot builds on PennWest’s growing momentum in AI innovation. Six PennWest faculty and staff teams recently submitted proposals to present on AI at the PASSHE Summit this October to be held at PennWest Clarion. Their work underscores the university’s commitment to advancing equity, innovation, and educational opportunity across Pennsylvania.