Teaching with AI: Beyond the Buzz & Into the Classroom

Have you experimented with ChatGPT, Google Bard, or DALL-E, also known as generative AI tools, but are feeling overwhelmed by the sheer pace with which these tools are transforming education and society at large? Since AI is rapidly evolving, as educators, it's hard to know where to begin and how or if to utilize Generative AI in our teaching. In this episode, Angela and guests, Emily Rush, Matt Swagler, Kerry O'Grady, and Claudia Martinez discuss how they've used generative AI in their teaching and professional practices and what their student responses have been to the advent of these tools. As early adopters, they also share their advice on how to incorporate AI in classroom activities, assignments, and what they've learned in the process. They also reflect on how AI has forced them to reconsider their teaching and design practices as a whole. The big takeaway: to paraphrase Brent Anders, it doesn't have to be all or nothing with AI. Being intentional about if, how, and when we use it is key! Thank you to all guests for your valuable insights and your impressive leadership in the realm of AI and education! Dr. Emily Rush is an instructional designer for CTEI at Rush, where she assists instructors with course design and faculty development. She also brings to her role prior experience as a university-level instructor in the humanities. Emily is passionate about putting learning science into practice and is a self-described AI enthusiast. Dr. Matthew Swagler is an Assistant Professor of History at Connecticut College, where he also teaches in the Africana Studies, American Studies, and Gender, Sexuality and Intersectionality Studies programs. Matt was previously a faculty member at Williams College and worked at the Baruch College Writing Center.  Dr. Kerry O’Grady is an Associate Professor of Public Relations and Corporate Communications. Kerry has been teaching at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels for 14 years and is currently on the Pre-College teaching support team at Columbia University, as well as a faculty affairs and curriculum consultant at The Rochester Institute of Technology. Threads: @DrOGrady  Claudia G. Martinez, MA, is a faculty member in the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program at Rush University, where she is teaching Professional Writing this summer. Martinez is also an award-winning published writer of several books for young readers. Episode title suggested by Claude.ai Episode transcript