Faculty, staff to host workshop on AI writing

In the past few years, the emergence of more sophisticated artificial intelligence text generators has raised practical, pedagogical and ethical questions for writing instruction across the disciplines.

Panel participants will share their thoughts on such questions from their unique positions, providing faculty with ideas for how to discuss, manage, and even integrate AI text generators into the classroom. We’ll be sure to reserve time for questions and discussion.

“Artificial Intelligence Writing: Opportunities and Challenges for College Faculty and Staff” 
Tue. Feb. 7 (4:30-5:45; snacks served); Koenigsberger Learning Center 125 & Wed. 2/8 (12:30-1:45; snacks served); Koenigsberger Learning Center 125; Register
Same workshop offered two different days/times
Led by Shannon Duvall (Computer Science), Amanda Sturgill (Journalism), Paula Rosinski (Writing Across the University), Julia Bleakney (Writing Center), Jen Uno (Associate Professor of Biology and Associate Director of CATL)

Panel participants include:

Shannon Duvall, professor of computer science, will give a technical perspective on the capabilities and limitations of AI, as well as discuss its impact on assignments for writing code. She will give insight on the future of generative AI and how we in academia can adjust to this new, exciting, and scary tool.

Paula Rosinski, director of Writing Across the University, and Julia Bleakney, director of the Writing Center, will share practical steps you can take to design writing assignments so that they are pedagogically effective and either discourage the misuse of AI text generators or utilize them in ways that support students’ writing process, such as with invention strategies. They will also discuss how writing-to-learn and learning to write in a discipline and profession cannot be replicated by text generators.

Amanda Sturgill, associate professor of journalism, says computer-supported writing has already been a reality in journalism for years. With the latest, easy-to-use options, we can teach students to work WITH those tools for the benefit of the audiences they serve. Sturgill will talk about ideas for using those tools to give students skills in writing that they will use as a pro, while still making sure students learn to write.

Jen Uno, associate professor of biology and associate director of CATL, will share examples of how AI text generators can be productively integrated into biology/science classes.