| Presentation Proposal - NACADA Annual Conference |
| Presentation Info and Handouts |
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Code=290
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Conference Year:
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2026
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Session #:
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P09(PRE-3)
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Title:
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Advisors as Programmers: Using AI to Build Your Own Advising Tools |
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Lead Presenter:
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Joshua Hine |
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Date:
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October 04, 2026 Time: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm |
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Room:
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Deep Deuce, Omni |
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Abstract:
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Advisors often have a vision of what tools would make their work easier, but those tools either don't exist or cost too much. AI changes that. Using simple, conversational prompts, advisors can now build practical, functional tools without any coding experience. This approach, sometimes called 'vibe coding,' puts the power of tool development directly in the hands of the people who understand advising best.
This pre-conference workshop includes three phases. In the first, presenters will demonstrate a working advising tool built entirely by an advisor using AI to generate the code. The second phase invites participants into guided, small-group brainstorming to identify problems at their home institutions to address by building a tool of their own. The third and largest phase is a hands-on opportunity to create that tool, where participants will use a free or paid AI platform of their choice to build their own advising app. Participants will need their own laptop for the hands-on portion of the workshop.
The workshop closes with structured sharing and a facilitated discussion on the ethical use and limitations of tools participants develop using AI. Participants will leave with a working prototype ready to bring back to their institution and share with colleagues. No prior technical knowledge is required.
Learning Outcomes
1. A working prototype of an AI advising tool built during the session, ready to share with colleagues or refine further.
2. A practical understanding of vibe coding, how it works, and what kinds of advising tools it can realistically produce.
3. Hands-on experience with at least one AI platform for tool development, including strategies for writing effective prompts.
4. A framework for identifying advising problems that are good candidates for custom tool development. |
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Handouts
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Note: Handouts (if offered for this session) are accessible via the conference app. |
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