Series begins April 13 on integrating AI, LLM for academic engagement, learning

PWL instructors, staff, and students are encouraged to attend a series of campus-wide discussions during April that will explore how generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLM) might foster student engagement and learning.

The Office of the Provost’s Innovation Hub, Innovative Learning, and the Purdue Teaching Academy are collaborating to bring three Zoom sessions during which participants will explore topics related to AI/LLM and learning outcomes and objectives, assessment, and ideation.

These sessions are designed to be generative. Participants are encouraged to bring their questions and ideas. Each session will have an introduction followed by facilitated conversations in breakout rooms, but there will be no formal presentations. Discussions will be facilitated by members of the Purdue Teaching Academy who have experience innovating and responding to changing technologies.

Following are the session days and topics that will be used to focus discussions. All times are Eastern. Register for each Zoom session by clicking on the title. Those who register will be emailed resources prepared by Innovative Learning before and after each session, as well as links to recordings of the introductions. Breakouts will not be recorded, but notes will be taken and resources made available to any who wish to view them.

AI Effects on Learning Outcomes and Objectives
Thurs., April 13, noon-1:15 p.m.
Traditionally, learning outcomes and objectives describe what students are expected to do, know, and value at the end of a course or activity. But the epistemological assumptions that underlie our current learning outcomes may be challenged by the promise of AI and LMMs to escalate human productivity. How does AI disrupt your learning outcomes? Are elements of your current learning objectives achievable by AI/LMM? How can we adapt our learning outcomes and objectives? Does AI-literacy become a pedagogical concern similar to critical thinking and problem-solving?

AI Considerations in Assessments
Tues., April 18, 8:45-10 a.m.
The learning assessment process can be enhanced by leveraging advancements in technology; however, many forms of assessments might have to be redefined to be suited to AI tools. In this workshop, we will discuss some of the new assessment methods that are emerging as educators integrate this technology into their teaching practices. Are you using AI and LLMs to help student learning in the classroom now? How do students make their learning visible in your courses? What scaffolding is necessary for students to accurately demonstrate that learning, and does AI/LMM change anything about that scaffolding?

Creative Uses of AI
Wed., April 26, 3:45-5 p.m.
In the third workshop session, we will discuss how creative uses of LLMs and other computer-generated output software might allow instructors and students to engage differently in the learning process. Some of these strategies involve automation of elements of the writing process, generating multiple examples for evaluation, and even crafting case studies or problem sets for instructors to analyze and explain during their teaching. How and in what innovative ways have you used AI tools in your course to support and assess student learning? What are some challenges you faced while incorporating AI tools and how did you navigate or how could you navigate the challenges? 

Organizers strongly encourage registration and participation in the sessions by any PWL instructor, staff, or student who wants their voice to be heard in the exploration of AI and LLM into courses.

“Publicly available software like ChatGPT, Dall-E, and Codex have spurred discussion on the effective use of AI in higher education to the point that it’s hard to keep up with ideas, predictions, and concerns,” explained Ed Berger, associate vice provost for learning innovation and director of the Innovation Hub. “Our goal with these three sessions is to frame these conversations as PWL educators whose primary concern is our students’ learning.

“We want to support the PWL academic community in building knowledge together and developing resources to help instructional faculty and staff to make better use of AI and integrate these tools within course design to foster student engagement and learning.”

Organizers of the sessions also point to other, related resources on campus, including:
-The Teaching and Learning Community of Practice (TLCoP) website provides recordings of all three spring semester sessions on AI.
-The Teaching@Purdue professional development series created by Innovative Learning includes a content area specific to Artificial Intelligence in Education. The Sharepoint site may be accessed by signing into this link with your PWL email and password.
-Technology (including AI) and social justice considerations will be addressed by Lindsay Weinberg, clinical assistant professor and director of the John Martinson Honors College Teach Justice Lab, during an At Home in Honors conversation on Wed., April 12, noon-1 p.m. at JMHC.

Questions related to the April sessions on integrating AI to foster academic engagement and learning may be directed to David Nelson (davenelson@purdue.edu).

For questions and support at your campus, contact:
Purdue Global: Direct teaching-related questions to askctl@purdueglobal.edu. Technical support questions should be directed to TechSupport@purdueglobal.edu or 866-522-7747 (toll-free).
Purdue Fort Wayne: Teaching-related questions should be directed to PFW’s Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) at celt@pfw.edu, 260-481-6354, or CELT’s website for resources and to request one on one consultations. Technical support questions should be directed to PFW’s IT Services Help Desk helpdesk@pfw.edu or 260-481-6030.
Purdue Northwest: Direct teaching-related questions to the Center for Faculty Excellence at cfe@pnw.edu, 219-989-8328, or CFE’s website. Instructional technology support questions should be directed to The Office of Instructional Technology by email oit@pnw.edu or OIT’s website or through their Zoom Consultation Link.