LTA Learnathon: Gen AI Assessment Challenge
LTA Learnathon
The first Learning, Teaching & Assessment (LTA) LEARNATHON will take place on Wednesday, 6 May 2026 in AG-003 on Blanchardstown campus from 10am to 2pm.
The LTA Learnathon is a new on-campus social and practical learning event for lecturing staff designed to open up helpful conversations about teaching, learning and assessment in a friendly and supportive environment.
It is a hybrid of a hackathon and a practical teaching & learning event where you can participate, share ideas, potentially come up with solutions or just discuss what’s happening in your practice.
The event combines a challenge-based activity (Gen AI Hackathon) with a mini workshop, and opportunities for some individual consultations. The event also provides a space to chat informally with colleagues across TU Dublin about practice.
There is a (gentle) competitive element to the LTA Learnathon, with prizes on offer for the winning team.
GenAI Challenge-Based Hackathon
The first part of the LTA Learnathon is a GenAI Challenge-Based Hackathon taking place from 10:15am to 12pm. Teams of 3-5 lecturers will compete in this hackathon, but you can sign up as an individual if you'd like and you will be allocated to a team.
Teams will investigate the challenges and opportunities related to Gen AI and assessment. Based around TU Dublin students’ questions and comments, LTA will pose a challenge for teams to consider, and will provide some resources on the day to help you to come up with solutions.
The Challenge: Using a Design Thinking approach, we will draw upon students’ questions and comments to identify the ‘pain points’ and you will be tasked with responding to this by coming up with a solution, explaining what it is, how it works and how it addresses the pain points.
The Challenge Format: This is a team event. Small Teams (3-5 lecturers) can be self-selected from your own faculty/school/programme in advance, or we can arrange you into a team on the day. The idea is to work together to come up with possible solutions and to share this with the wider group.
Competition: In the spirit of a hackathon, we will have a fun competitive element to the event. Teams are ‘in competition’ to come up with the best solution. There will be a prize for the winning team on the day.
Participation: To participate, you do not need to prepare anything in advance. Just come along, join in the discussion and get involved in identifying and perhaps creating a solution to the challenge/opportunity set out. The activity will take place over 90 minutes and will be facilitated by the LTA team.
This is a great opportunity to discuss practical aspects of Gen AI and how we can mitigate some of the obstacles while also potentially outlining opportunities for students and staff in an active and enjoyable event. With a prize at the end of it!
Other Activities at the LTA Learnathon
The Power of Questions
A bite-sized practical workshop looking at The Power of Questions: Small Changes, Big Impact.
This interactive workshop explores common questioning habits and introduces practical alternatives that actively engage students. Learn how to design purposeful questions, manage wait time, and create a culture where students are more willing, and able, to contribute.
Sparks 1:1 Clinics
The LTA team offers consultation opportunities for staff to come and discuss aspects of their practice. ‘Sparks’ is based on the idea that by discussing a challenge in your practice or deciding to try something new, you can gain new insights and ideas by talking with someone about it. As part of the Learnathon, the LTA is offering a number of ‘Sparks’ consultation slots for interested lecturing staff to discuss an aspect of teaching, learning or assessment practices. If you are interested in this just let us know when completing the event registration form
Schedule
Venue: Áras Geal, TU Dublin Blanchardstown, Room AG003
Date: Wednesday 6th May, 2026
Times: From 10am to 2pm (inc. coffee on arrival, lunch and Sparks - you are welcome to drop in for any part of the morning that interests you!)
- 10:10– 10:15 Tea/Coffee available
- 10:15 – 12:00 Gen AI Hackathon
- 12:00-12:20 Quick Break and Refreshments
- 12:20-1:00 Bitesized workshop: The Power of Questions
- 1:00 – 1:30 Lunch
- 12:20 – 2:00 Sparks 1:1 clinics
Register to Attend
If you have arranged for other colleagues to be on your team (up to five per team) for the Learnathon, please indicate this in the registration form.
If you wish to book a Sparks consultation with a member of the Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) team, please do so in the registration form.