Of Syllabi, Spells, and Structured Prompts: AI for Fall Teaching

In this episode of "AI Goes to College," co-hosts Dr. Craig Van Slyke and Dr. Robert E. Crossler discuss the use of generative AI in higher education. They share personal experiences, such as using ChatGPT for Dungeons and Dragons character creation and the importance of verifying AI-generated content. They explore practical applications for faculty, including updating syllabi, creating active learning exercises, and generating exam questions. The hosts emphasize the need for faculty to become AI literate to effectively guide students and improve productivity, suggesting the use of available AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. They also delve into prompting techniques, such as meta-prompting and the balance between open and structured prompts, offering tips for efficient AI usage and encouraging faculty to experiment with AI to enhance their teaching methods.