How FIU Builds Human Engagement in Online Classes of Any Size (and Keeps It AI-Resilient)

This webinar, hosted by OLC in partnership with Harmonized Learning, featured Michael Wright from FIU Online and Marcus Popetz from Harmonized Learning presenting their approach to building human engagement in online classes of any size while maintaining AI resilience. The presenters demonstrated their “Robots, Robots, Humans, and the Space Between” framework, which includes custom chatbots called the Mirror GPTs (True North, Growth Spark, and WonderFuel) designed to help students discover personal relevance in course content through Socratic dialogue. They also outlined a three-part collaborative cadence involving 3-week sprints with individual assignments, peer reviews, and group discussions to foster engagement and accountability in large online courses. The presenters shared positive student feedback and lessons learned from implementing these strategies over three semesters, emphasizing that the core issue is scale rather than AI itself, and stressed the importance of creating assignments that address students’ need for belonging, relevance, and human connection.