Join us for January Preweek virtual workshops to jumpstart the Provost’s AI Learning Excellence Grant. Workshops focus on foundational AI skill development and exposure to AI tools for different learning outcomes.
All faculty and staff are welcome to attend. Registration for all workshops closes on Monday, January 6th at noon.
Sessions may be accessed through a single Zoom link (see CfT December First Friday email or your registration form receipt). Please email vrussel3@umw.edu if you have difficulty joining any sessions.
Click the triangle next to each date to see available sessions and descriptions:
Tuesday, January 7th
10:00 – 11:00 AM: To AI or Not to AI?: It’s a Real Question
How do we decide where and when to use AI in class assignments and activities? In this session, we’ll examine how current AI tools can maximize specific kinds of learning goals and where the tools fall short. Participants will begin to draft personal decision-making frameworks for AI use and discussion with students. #CriticalThinking
Wednesday, January 8th
10:00 – 10:50 AM: Welcome to the AI Thunderdome
Join Digital Learning Support and Digital Knowledge Center staff as we use different Generative AI platforms and compare their abilities. We’ll explore multiple approaches to your questions like how to create assignments, do research, approach daily work, or help build courses. We will compare the results we get from the different platforms and repeat the process with new questions. #DigitalFluency
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: AI Tools for Academic Research
In this session, UMW librarians will demo several different AI tools that promise to assist with academic research (https://library.umw.edu/SimpsonAI). We will review what the tools can do, what their limitations are, and what you should know about how you and your students can use them. Attendees will have an opportunity to experiment with these tools and share their experiences with the group. It may be a good idea to create a free account with tools Consensus (https://consensus.app) and/or Elicit (https://elicit.com/) before the session. #CriticalThinking
2:00 – 3:00 PM: WI and AI–Working Through the Contradictions
In writing intensive courses (or any course which assigns writing), it can seem counter-intuitive to allow any use of AI; while you’re not alone in wanting to keep AI out of the writing classroom, the reality is our students are using it. So how do reconcile what seem to be competing interests? This session will provide some practical ideas for how to incorporate AI into your writing assignments in ways that don’t compromise the integrity of teaching writing as well as how to help students think critically about what AI can and, more importantly, can’t do for them. We will also touch on how to assess writing assignments that utilized AI. #Communication
Thursday, January 9th
10:00 – 11:00 AM: AI Prompting 101-Getting the Most from AI Tools
In this session, you will learn best practices for crafting precise and effective AI prompts. We will discuss iterative prompting, the value of context, and how to avoid common pitfalls. Participants will have time to practice and refine their prompting skills. Resources to support student skill development in AI prompting will also be shared. #DigitalFluency
Small Group Brainstorming
Gather with a small group of colleagues for open-ended brainstorming and discussion about AI issues relative to your classes facilitated by the Center for Teaching. Sessions will be limited to 10 faculty. Reserve your spot early! #TeamworkCollaboration
Session #1: 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Session #2: 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Session #3: 4:00 – 5:00 PM
Friday, January 10th
Individual Consultations
Schedule a 1:1 appointment with the Center for Teaching to discuss your individual class assignment. Consultations are a great way to work through and synthesize ideas shared during the week. Individual consultations are virtual and are scheduled through the CfT online appointment scheduler. #TeamworkCollaboration