AI-Enhanced Pedagogy: Exploring Generative AI as a Collaborative Partner
Provost Endorsement for Faculty Using Generative AI at Penn State
Endorsement Description
This is part of the broader University Provost Endorsement Program, which supports faculty development across three domains and aligns with promotion and tenure processes. The goal of this endorsement is to help faculty explore opportunities to use generative AI in teaching and learning practices and create pathways to support student use of generative AI in their learning activities within a discipline.
Exemplars from the Fall 2024 Cohort:
More than twenty faculty across the disciplines completed all of the requirements in Fall 2024. Faculty personalized their exploration in order to identify fundamental skills in their own disciplines that are independent of Generative AI. Exemplary insights are below:
- Trisha Travers (ENGL 202D), created a ppt presentation to use in class that points out 3 AI-assisted writing concerns: tone, accuracy, and personalization.
- Shelley Curling (Accounting) created a philosophy video to explain that students’ brains and personal growth have value. By sticking to the Penn State Values throughout the class, students will grow in their confidence as well as their accounting skills so they won’t have imposter syndrome or feel that they haven’t earned their degree when they graduate.
- Andrea Gregg (Mechanical Engineering) explained in a video that while generative AI has an important role to play in teaching and learning in STEM, at least for now, students still need foundational knowledge. For future mechanical engineers, this includes principles of energy, mechanics, materials, and design.
- Qi Dunsworth (CAS100) explained in a video that as more messages are generated by AI, the ability to speak in front of a live audience becomes more important than ever to human–to-human communication.
After completing this endorsement, participants will be able to:
- Identify teaching or learning opportunities granted by generative AI for equity or ethical practices.
- Explore and use at least three Generative AI tools.
- Review and revise a course or teaching approach with Generative AI to support student success.
- Create a video of your instructional philosophy with Generative AI that could be given to your students.
All faculty and staff can enroll
10% Asynchronous and 90% synchronous experiences
Estimated time commitment: 10 – 12 hours
Offered each semester starting Fall 2024
Requires attendance of 7 events
Complete 2 reflection activities and 1 video
Enroll in the Endorsement!
Enrollment for the Fall 2024 – Spring 2025 endorsement closed on September 30, 2024.
Requirements
To complete the endorsement program, participants will have to attend a total of 7 events, including 3 awareness/exploration events, and 4 literacy activities/events. In addition, participants will complete 2 reflection activities and 1 video.
2025 Awareness/Exploration Events (Attend 3)
Name of Event
Offering Unit
Date/Time/Registration Link
Teaching with Technology (TwT): GenAI Summer Splash: Riding the Generative AI Wave for Teaching
TLT
2024: Thursday, July 18 at 10:00-12:00 pm OR Monday, August 5 at 10:00-12:00 pm (Watch Recording)
Teaching in the Age of AI – Introductory Workshop
Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence
2024: Thursday, August 29 at 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Designing Assignments for Learning in the Age of AI
Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence
2024: Thursday, September 5 at 1:30-2:30 p.m
Teaching with Technology (TwT): AI Tools for Teaching and Learning
TLT
2024: Tuesday, September 17 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. OR Wednesday, September 18 at 1:00-2:00 p.m.
2025: Tuesday, February 18 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. OR Wednesday, February 19 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Registration link)
Teaching with Technology (TwT): AI for Educators – Enhancing Classroom Conversations: Using the GenAI Acceptable Use Guide to Set Expectations
Commonwealth Campus Instructional Design
2024: Wednesday, September 25 at 2:00-3:15 p.m. OR Thursday, September 26 at 12:00-1:15 p.m. (Watch Recording)
2025: Thursday, January 30 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. OR Friday, January 31 at 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Research Review: Perspectives of AI: Year 2 Findings
TLT
2024: Wednesday, September 25 at 3:30-5:00 p.m. OR In-Person Option: 004 Shields Bldg (Watch Recording)
Teaching with Technology (TwT): Enhancing Instructional Materials with Gen AI
TLT
2024: Tuesday, October 8 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. OR Wednesday, October 9 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Watch Recording)
Copyright and Generative AI
The Libraries’ Office of Scholarly Communications and Copyright
2024: Tuesday, October 15 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. OR Wednesday, October 16 at 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Teaching with Technology (TwT): Using GenAI in Student Assignments
TLT
2025: Tuesday, January 28 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. OR Wednesday, January 29 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Watch recording)
AI ToolKit Workshop: Navigate, Assimilate, Collaborate, Elevate
Graduate School
2025: Tuesday, February 4 at 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Registration Link)
Invited Speaker: José Antonio Bowen, co-author of Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning
Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence
2025: Tuesday, February 11 at 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. via Zoom (Registration Link)
TLT Symposium
TLT
2025: Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. (Register on TLT Symposium website)
Teaching with Technology (TwT): Using GenAI in Course Design
TLT
2025: Tuesday, April 8 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. OR Wednesday, April 9 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Registration Link)
Invited Speaker: C. Edward Watson, co-author of Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning
TLT
2025: Tuesday, April 15 (View Dreamery Speaker Series Webpage)
2025 Literacy Activities/Events (Attend 4)
Name of Activities/Event
Offering Unit
Date/Time/Registration Link
Semester Prompt Challenge Badge: Complete 6 form submissions and 3 Teams posts based on weekly prompts using Microsoft Copilot to earn a digital badge.
Contact for questions: ccts@psu.edu
Weekly Opportunities: September 23 to November 11 (Sign up here)
Attend 1+ AI Horizons Community Discussion
Dates: TBD
Join the AI Horizons Team for Zoom link and registration
Attend 1+ Cross Campus Teaching Circle – “AI Teaching Circle (Exploring the Basics)”
Commonwealth Campus Instructional Design
Dates: TBD
Register on the Teaching Circle webpage.
Consult with your local Learning Designer or Media Commons about Gen AI opportunities
Recommended time: 60 minutes
Discuss Gen AI with a colleague in your discipline
Recommended time: 60 minutes
Complete the software/courseware approval procedures in order to use an AI Tool of your selection
Complete Reflection Activities and Deliverables
After enrolling in the endorsement, participants will be added to a Canvas course. All of the deliverables will be submitted in the AI-Enhanced Pedagogy Canvas Space.
Reflection Activities
Reflection 1: Markup a Syllabus with generative AI opportunities and submit a before/after comparison.
Reflection 2: Create a reflection post in the AI Horizons Provost Endorsement channel on how your plans were reinforced or changed after 4 community discussions.
Generative AI Philosophy Video
Create 1 video artifact explaining:
- The significance of your class/discipline for learner’s personal growth.
- Your personal philosophy on the use of AI as a tool in your course experience.
- Statement about your use of Generative AI to be transparent.
Endorsement Leaders and Support
The endorsement is coordinated by Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT). TLT is partnering with the University Libraries, the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, World Campus, Academic Integrity, the College of the Liberal Arts, and the Commonwealth Campus instructional design community to offer this unique opporunity for faculty.
Talk with Us
Have a great idea? Get in touch with us! We can help you identify the right technologies to meet your pedagogical needs, or develop something completely new.