Elon AI Pedagogy Challenge FAQ
About the AI Pedagogy Challenge
What are the dates, and who can apply?
The call for proposals for the AI Pedagogy Challenge is open to Elon University faculty from March 1 – April 28, 2025. The top 50 applicants will receive a ChatGPT Edu license immediately upon submitting their full application materials.
Full application materials consist of the following steps: ·
- Use the following forms and submit your application.
- (Optional, but highly recommended) After submission, you will receive a link to enroll in a short AI literacy course on Moodle. This course will help you to use ChatGPT (3-4 hours, self-paced).
- Upon the review of your application, you will receive access to a free ChatGPT Education account if you are one of the top 50 submissions.
Submissions do not require a fully developed project — just a well-thought-out idea demonstrating creativity and impact.
Who can participate in the AI Pedagogy Challenge?
The challenge is open to Elon University faculty. Faculty members from all disciplines are encouraged to submit innovative ideas for integrating AI into their teaching. No prior AI experience is necessary.
What information is needed for the proposal form?
The submission form consists of a few short questions outlining:
- How AI could be used in your teaching
- The expected impact on student engagement and learning outcomes
- The feasibility and practical implementation of your idea
- Assessment of the impact of using AI in classroom
If selected, how long will I have access to the Elon ChatGPT Edu license?
Accounts will be allocated for a limited time, depending on the challenge cycle. You will have access for this semester. You can apply for an extension for the next semester.
How many licenses of ChatGPT Edu can I request?
Each faculty member can request one ChatGPT Edu license for their individual use. The top 50 applicants will receive a license immediately upon full submission. The top 5 participants will receive extra gifts.
How will my proposal be evaluated?
Submissions will be reviewed by a faculty panel based on the following criteria:
- Clarity of AI Pedagogy – Is the AI-based teaching strategy clearly articulated?
- Theoretical & Pedagogical Alignment – Does it align with established teaching frameworks?
- Implementation Feasibility – Is the idea practical for classroom use?
- Impact on Teaching & Learning – How does it enhance student engagement and active learning?
- Innovation & Creativity – Does the idea introduce a novel or unique use of AI?
Submissions will be scored on a 5-point scale. The top five faculty projects will be invited to present at an AI showcase event in early May 2025.
What is expected if my proposal is accepted?
Faculty with approved projects will:
- Receive a free ChatGPT Edu license
- Join a community of educators exploring AI’s role in higher education
- Submit a brief write-up summarizing use cases and outcomes for inclusion in the Elon AI Pedagogy Resource Hub
- Be invited to present at a university-wide AI event
General Access & Training Questions
I have never used ChatGPT Edu. What tutorials and training is the university providing?
Several short training videos are available from various sources, which are great for getting started. Please find the links below:
- Elon University’s ChatGPT training
- Elon AI Pedagogy Challenge Orientation: A one-hour video training to share the process and expectations. Videos will be added.
- OpenAI Training: A one-hour training held by our partner to go over. Videos will be added.
- Resources available on Elon AI Hub website.
Why do we have to submit to a challenge to use ChatGPT Edu?
Elon University has secured a limited number of ChatGPT Edu licenses to support faculty innovation. Requiring proposals allows for data-informed decision-making and evaluation of AI’s impact on teaching and learning.
What training is provided to support AI literacy?
Elon faculty have access to a self-paced AI literacy course on Moodle (3-4 hours). Additional resources include:
- The Elon AI website, which provides the best practices and educational use cases.
- AI workshops and discussions within the Elon AI Faculty Community.
- The Elon AI Workspace in Long 100, where faculty can meet with student AI leaders to get support.
Features of ChatGPT Edu
What is the difference between standard ChatGPT and ChatGPT Edu Accounts?
Elon ChatGPT Edu provides enhanced security, ensuring data privacy and protection beyond standard ChatGPT accounts. Elon data is not used to train OpenAI models, and all custom GPTs are restricted within the university’s AI workspace.
What features are included in ChatGPT Edu?
ChatGPT Edu includes:
- Flagship ChatGPT Model 4.0 – Enhanced response accuracy with up-to-date knowledge (April 2023)
- o1 and o3– The best reasoning models for complex tasks
- DALL-E Image Generator – Create high-quality images from text descriptions
- Advanced Data Analysis – Identify trends, patterns, and key insights
- Vision for Image Analysis – Extract meaningful information from images
- Custom GPTs – Build personalized AI models within the university’s workspace
Can I create a custom GPT?
Yes. Faculty can develop Custom GPTs tailored to their teaching needs. These models are restricted to Elon’s AI workspace and cannot interact with external systems for security reasons.
Privacy Considerations
Can we input FERPA-protected data?
ChatGPT Edu is approved for FERPA-protected data. However, do not input personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or intellectual property data.
What copyright considerations should be considered while using the tool?
Faculty should review Elon’s IT Guidelines for copyright and intellectual property policies. Connect with the IT and other related offices.
Additional Questions
Do I need to be an AI expert to participate?
No. The challenge is designed for faculty at all levels of AI experience. Submissions should focus on innovative teaching ideas, not technical AI expertise.
What do winners receive?
- ChatGPT Edu licenses for approved projects
- Recognition at the AI Showcase Event (top 5 submissions)
- Inclusion in the Elon AI Pedagogy Resource Hub
When is the submission deadline?
Friday, April 28, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST.