Newsletter February 6, 2025
cte.utah.edu

Even though AI affected our worlds long before the introduction of ChatGPT in late 2022, it is only in the last 2ish years that most instructors have had to really think about it impacting our teaching practices. There are articles abound online about how to use generative AI tools to facilitate our work as instructors – content generation, grading, lesson planning, etc. A more critical question is how do we use it to help our students learn?

A 2024 article from Educause discussed this very issue – emphasizing the importance of integrating AI into learning-centered teaching. Importantly, the article stresses that instead of avoiding or banning AI, faculty need to embrace it and use in the kinds of activities that help foster deep learning: fostering dialogue, engaging in authentic instruction, and providing individualized mentorship. For example, how can you encourage students to use AI to improve their writing instead of doing it for them? How can you teach them to turn AI into their own personal tutor? How can groups of students interact with and learn from AI and each other in brainstorming new ideas?

Instead of trying to put a fence around generative AI use by your students, teach them about the AI (give them our student handbook on AI!) and encourage them to use it responsibly. Encourage them to talk about the different ways they use it and think about how they could use it to maximize their learning. Make sure that students understand the importance of using secure AI tools that are supported by the university. Being clear with students about the definition and consequences of academic misconduct, the responsible use of AI tools, and how to avoid problems can help reduce cheating (Miles et al., 2022). On our Teaching with AI page, we offer resources like a sample Academic Misconduct syllabus statement that specifically mentions AI, as well as resources for course and assessment design.

To learn more about using AI to promote learning, and how to avoid and address issues of academic misconduct with AI, join our workshop next week: AI and Academic Misconduct, Feb 12 at 10am via zoom.

Information Security Office

The University of Utah’s instance of Microsoft Copilot remains the only commercial artificial intelligence (AI) platform sanctioned for institutional use at the university. Other AI tools, such as Apple Intelligence, ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Google Gemini, have not been approved and expose the university and its data to IT security risks.

For more information, visit the AI at the U website or this IT Knowledge Base article (login required).

For more information about the work on and with AI at the U, visit ai.utah.edu. In addition, consider attending events sponsored by the One-U RAI Initiative.

Douglass Day commemorates the date that Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass celebrated his birthday by inviting communities to gather to transcribe documents in Black United States History.  

This year, the celebration is on Friday, February 14, 2025, from 10:00 am-4:00 pm in the Mac Classroom 1110 at the Marriott Library. Community members can drop in at any time to help us transcribe documents. Participants are welcome to work independently or in small groups. They may bring a laptop, but computers are also available in the library classroom. Throughout the day, participants may enjoy hot and cold beverages and Makaya Caterers will provide lunch from 12:00-2:00 pm.

Professors are encouraged to offer their students extra credit for attending Douglass Day. Students could take a selfie of themselves at the event and write a few sentences about their experience. 

Please contact Jaimie Crumley with any questions or concerns.  

Community Based Participatory Research Workshop Series

The Spring 2025 CEL Workshop Series will be on Community Based Participatory Research and will be led by Dr. Ana Antunes, who has recently published the book All In: Community Engaged Scholarship for Social Change

Workshop 2: Youth Participatory Action Research

Interested in conducting Youth Participatory Action Research? Dr. Ana Antunes will guide workshop participants through the basics utilizing examples from her own work with youth in Salt Lake City.

Friday, February 21; 11:45-12:45; virtual

Zoom Registration

Workshop 3: Youth Voices: Research by Youth for Youth

Hear from local youth conducting research about the research process, what they learned, and their hopes for the future of community based research.

Friday, March 28; 11:30-1:00pm; GC 4490

Register for lunch

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is excited to announce the Education Series for Spring 2025.  The OUR Education Series includes topics of interest for undergraduate student researchers and their faculty mentors. These events are open to all and are designed specifically with undergraduate students in mind.  Faculty are welcome to incorporate these events into their classes and/or encourage their students to participate.  

University Teaching Grant applications due March 7