Your Trusty GenAI Sidekick: Timesaving Tips for Busy Faculty

In this first episode of a two-part series, Angela leads a panel discussion on the role generative AI can play in helping faculty complete their many tasks and responsibilities. Panel experts discuss ways generative AI can be used to create and modify course materials, refine individualized feedback to students, and save time with common, but time-consuming tasks, such as writing emails and letters of recommendation. Our guests also discuss concerns both faculty and students share about the ethical implications of using AI in teaching and learning. We are so grateful to our guests for their participation and brilliant insights! Find the episode transcript and summary here. Justin Shaffer, PhD, is the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and a Teaching Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering and in Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. Dr. Shaffer is the author of the forthcoming book High Structure Course Design which gives practical hands-on advice for creating STEM courses that engage students in and out of the classroom and improve student outcomes. Dr. Shaffer is an award-winning educator who has taught 8500+ students since 2012 in the areas of chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, biology, and anatomy and physiology and has published 25+ peer-reviewed journal articles and teaching materials on the efficacy of high structure courses, active learning, and related topics. Dr. Shaffer is the founder of Recombinant Education where he provides STEM program characterization and professional development to faculty and administrators in the areas of course and curriculum design, evidence-based teaching practices, and discipline-based education research.  Lilian Mina is Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives at the Graduate School in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She’s also Associate Professor of English and the  Director of Freshman English program. She researches and publishes on digital writing ad teachers’ use of digital technologies in teaching writing. She leads AI-related initiatives at UAB. WIth colleagues at the English Department, she created different integration models of GenAI technologies in all English courses. She also led a university-wide committee that created guidelines on the use of AI technologies in graduate research projects. She leads professional development on using AI in teaching writing, mentoring graduate students in the age of AI, and ethical and responsible use of AI detection tools.  Dr. Heidi Watson-Held is an Instructional Designer in the eLearning Design Innovation Group in the Smeal College of Business at The Pennsylvania State University. Heidi has worked for the Pennsylvania State University for 25 years in program design, development, and delivery in a variety of capacities. She completed a D.Ed. in Administration and Leadership – Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2012. She received my M.Ed. in Adult Education from Pennsylvania State University in 2004.  Heidi has been teaching for Purdue University in their Learning Design & Technology program in the department of Curriculum and Instruction since 2016. Heidi enjoys teaching and learning with AI, designing courses, creating video shorts, and working on assessments. When she is not working for Purdue or Penn State, she is involved in gardening, painting, taking care of family, or writing stories. Andrew Bell, PhD, is a technology consultant in the Teaching and Scholarship Hub where he consults with University of Richmond faculty on effective integration of digital tools into their teaching and scholarship. Andrew is also an instructor in the FYS (First-Year Seminars) program, Robins School of Business, and Psychology department where he teaches courses in neuroscience and data analysis.