It's not what you think! AI concerns

"Academia really has to look at itself in the mirror and decide what it’s going to be. ...

So how does a writing instructor, or a professor in a writing-intensive course, reduce the likelihood that students will use these AI tools? Faculty members have already come up with several ideas. Flip your teaching so that seminal pieces of work are done in class. Focus more on multimedia assignments or oral presentations. Double down on feedback and revision. Ask students to write about topics of genuine interest to them, in which their voices come through and their opinions are valued."

AI and the Future of Undergraduate Writing

Chronicle of Higher Education

Transform writing assignments in the age of AI: 5 best strategies

While AI will be an inevitability in the classroom in the longterm, faculty need short term solutions for how to assess student's learning in a way that is measurable against their course and module learning objectives.

So what to do in the short term?

Check out "Transform writing assignments in the age of AI: 5 Best Strategies" and start there. There's a great free e-book that provides great in-depth dives into each of the five strategies it promotes.

It wouldn't hurt to reach out to the Instructional Design team at UAH by emailing helpdesk@uah.edu and talking it out through email or setting up a time we can meet with you and discuss in person or on Zoom. 

AI Generated image from Midjourney v5

FREE WEBINAR: AImpactED: The Impact of AI on Higher Education

What is AI? What is it not? How do we approach teaching with AI in mind? How do we prepare our students to live, work, and thrive in a world where AI technologies are proliferating at a rapid pace? Join team members from the Enhanced Teaching & Learning Center to discuss these questions and more in an introductory conversation about AI and its impact on higher education.

Join via Zoom at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 22nd. Email helpdesk@uah.edu for a recording if you can't make it. 

AImpactED webinar Wednesday 3/22 at 3 p.m.

Spring Break: An Ode by a Bot

ME: Write me a humorous ode to spring break as written by a faculty member

CHATGPT:
Oh Spring Break, the time has come,
When students flee, and I am glum.
No more papers, no more tests,
Just sunny beaches, and endless rests.
While they're away, I'll grade their work,
And ponder why I became a clerk.
But don't you worry, I'll find joy,
In reading essays that I'll employ.
No more students to nag and nag,
No more questions that make me sag.
I'll get some peace, and some quiet too,
And maybe catch up on my to-do.
But let's be real, I'll miss those kids,
The ones who always keep me on my wits.
So here's a shoutout, to all my classes,
Have a great break, and don't forget your sun glasses!
And when you return, we'll get right back,
To learning, growing, and staying on track.
But for now, enjoy your time away,
And come back refreshed for a brand new day!

Celebrate Open Education Week with OpenStax (free download!)

It’s here again!

OpenStax is celebrating annual Open Education Week with a free download of a white paper OpenStax OER Guide.

Per OpenStax, “Open education is a community. This whitepaper begins with the basics surrounding open educational resources and then takes readers through an in-depth look at sourcing quality open resources, customizing content to fit student needs, and building in-house review teams.”

There’s a webinar this Thursday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m. CST. Register here (and from the page linked above). You’re also encouraged to sign up for their mailing list to stay abreast of developments and events!

For help creating OER or incorporating OER into your course content, email helpdesk@uah.edu.

AI in Higher Education (WCET)

WCET has also launched a great portal for issues around AI in higher education! This video is must-see!