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2024 Teaching and Learning Symposium

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Digital Strategies and AI
in Teaching & Learning

The UHD Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) is now accepting presentation proposals for the upcoming UHD Teaching and Learning Symposium being held on April 11 and 12. This year’s theme is Digital Strategies and AI in Teaching and Learning, and we are excited to be featuring two keynote speakers, Flower Darby, and Dr. José Antonio Bowen, during the April 12 opening virtual session and afternoon in-person workshop, respectively. You might be familiar with Darby and Bowen from their contributions to ACUE coursework and, in Dr. Bowen’s case, his very well received keynote presentation and workshop at the 2019 UHD Teaching and Learning Symposium. Both speakers are also featured instructors in the new ACUE AI Quick Study Series, which the CTLE will be requesting faculty applications for soon.


Conference Brochure

Click Here to View the 2024 TLS Brochure: bit.ly/tls24book

Session Recordings

Faculty Presentation Recording Links:

Keynote Presentation Recording Links:

Event Schedule

The main event will occur on April 12 in the Girard Street Building Milam/Travis rooms, with additional faculty presentation on April 11. The sessions will be virtual on April 11 and both virtual and in-person on April 12.

Thursday, April 11, 2024 (Virtual via Zoom) 

Standard Presentations:
Interactive presentation with audience engagement throughout or as Q&A ( 30 minutes plus 15 additional minutes for Q&A).

9:00-9:45 am
Session 1 : AI-Resistant Interactive Forums Using Video 
Fernell Jimenez-Pabon 

Interactive Forums are a teaching approach used to enhance student engagement and community in both online and in-person classes. In an iteration of this approach that is AI-resistant, students create PowerPoint presentations with videos on course material based on a rubric, while peers craft open-ended questions for discussion. Students develop a sense of ownership which increases engagement. Through real examples and activities, attendees of this session will experience the method’s effectiveness firsthand. The presentation will include a simulated Interactive Forum session, allowing instructors to understand the process and implement it in their teaching. Attendees will observe how the approach fosters participation, peer learning, and a sense of belonging. They will also explore its potential to replace traditional essays, boosting student engagement through multimedia and collaborative learning. This session offers practical strategies for creating dynamic, inclusive learning environments.

10:00-10:45 am
Session 2 : Bridging the Digital and Intergenerational Divide Between UHD Students and Older Adults: It takes a Village!-Teaching & Learning Outside the Classroom 
Angela Goins & Alexandria Flores (Student)

This presentation showcases a digital literacy project facilitated by UHD’s S.T.A.R. Lab, fostering connections between UHD students and older adults in low-income communities. Funded by an AARP Community Challenge grant, UHD students distributed tablets and provided digital literacy training to over 100 seniors. Through on-site sessions, students shared tech skills while seniors imparted wisdom, nurturing intergenerational bonds. Faculty and student reflections underscore the project’s impact beyond the classroom, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in teaching and learning. Attendees will glean insights into securing community funding, fostering student-led initiatives, and leveraging research for advocacy. This initiative not only addresses digital literacy gaps but also demonstrates the transformative potential of intergenerational collaboration in education.

1:00-1:45 pm
Session 3 : Empowering Research Integrity: Ethical AI Use for Student Research 
Jesús Serrato 

Within an ethical framework, integrating AI into student research has potential, but it will be important to find a balance between personalized learning opportunities and challenges such as academic honesty and access disparity. During this presentation attendees will be equipped with the knowledge to ethically utilize AI tools while fostering discussions on responsible AI use. Attendees will gain insights into AI’s potential to enhance research skills, develop ethical literacy, and acquire practical integration skills. This session will integrate an interactive presentation on AI’s academic impact and ethical considerations, followed by tangible examples of AI use cases and tools. We’ll engage attendees with live polls to gather insights and preferences on AI integration, ensuring both in-person and remote participants can contribute equally. The session will conclude with a focused Q&A, inviting questions from faculty to explore practical applications and address any concerns about implementing AI in their teaching practices.

2:30-3:15 pm
Session 4 : Students and Professors Wrestle with Truth-Seeking in an AI World
Theresa Case 

In this talk, attendees will be encouraged to engage students in exploring the implications of generative AI. Through the lens of a project designed for a Historian’s Craft course, participants will examine both the potential and pitfalls of this technology for truth-seeking endeavors. The presentation will center on a research question addressing the integration of generative AI in historical research, writing, and teaching, fostering discussion rather than seeking definitive answers. Attendees will gain insights into the evolving landscape of AI and its relevance to academia, with a focus on maintaining academic integrity. The audience will be actively involved through surveys, sharing their experiences with AI in the classroom. This collaborative approach aims to facilitate dialogue and promote critical thinking about AI’s role in education.

 

Friday, April 12, 2024 (Girard Street Building Milam/Travis rooms)

8:30 – 9:00 am 
Check In and Light Breakfast

9:00 – 10:00 am
Virtual Keynote Presentation (Attend via Zoom or In-Person)
The Three Es of Teaching With AI:  Ethics, Equity, and Empowerment
Flower Darby

10:15 – 11:45 am
In-Person Quick Talks & ePoster Sessions 

QuickTalks:
Brief "speed dating" style sessions with multiple presenters sharing at once while attendees go from table to table to hear the ones they choose (10 minutes plus 5 minutes for Q&A).

ePosters:
 Brief sessions will be concurrent with the QuickTalks, but include presenting a short slide deck or website on large mobile monitors or touch screens  (10 minutes plus 5 minutes for Q&A)

  • QT1: Growth Mindset in UHD's First-Year Seminars in the Age of AI
     Pauline Blaimont, Sanghamitra Saha, & Tammis Thomas

  • QT2: Integrating Generative AI and digital tools to Augment Student Creativity and Productivity: A Case Study 
    Leena Kumar 

  • QT3: Kritik: A Tool for Professor Effectiveness and Economy
    Dietrich von Biedenfeld & Alexis von Biedenfeld

  • QT4: Using ArcGIS Story Maps to Explore Afro-Latino Heritage and Culture 
    Raquel Chiquillo 

  • eP1: Copilot Navigates the Flipped Classroom
    Xyanthine Parillon

  • eP2: Harnessing the Power of Gradescope for Dynamic Rubrics
    Katherine Shoemaker

QT1: Growth Mindset in UHD’s First-Year Seminars in the Age of AI
Pauline Blaimont, Sanghamitra Saha, & Tammis Thomas
Numerous studies have shown that cultivating a growth mindset is incredibly important for student success, particularly in the wake of declining resilience post-pandemic. Exploring the contrast between growth and fixed mindsets, attendees will discover strategies employed in first-year seminar courses to reinforce a growth mindset. By emphasizing effort over outcomes and embracing challenges, students are empowered to realize their potential. The session will provide insights into integrating growth mindset principles into various courses, offering tangible activity ideas via a provided OneDrive folder. Attendees, including faculty teaching first-year seminars and other courses, will benefit from practical approaches to fostering resilience and growth mindset in students. The presentation aims to equip participants with actionable strategies to promote a culture of perseverance and adaptability in the classroom, ultimately enhancing student learning outcomes.
QT2: Integrating Generative AI and digital tools to Augment Student Creativity and Productivity: A Case Study
Leena Kumar
This presentation will center on the examination of digital tools’ utilization in two distinct Political Science courses. Firstly, findings from a survey among Political Science students will be shared, illuminating their current knowledge and usage of these tools, alongside their desired understanding. Secondly, two case studies will be presented: one from POLS 4305, where students utilized digital tools, including generative AI, to enhance creativity and productivity in a project addressing challenges faced by refugee children; and another from POLS 2305, predominantly employing ChatGPT to distinguish between real and fake news stories within the realm of US Government. Lastly, reflections on lessons learned and key feedback from students will be discussed, exploring how this feedback can inform future course enhancements and improve student learning outcomes.
QT3: Kritik: A Tool for Professor Effectiveness and Economy
Dietrich von Biedenfeld & Alexis von Biedenfeld
Kritik is a digital tool that offers instructors a platform to administer Calibration Activities. These activities, like Norming Sessions, establish grading benchmarks to align students’ evaluations with instructors’ standards. Instructors can tailor assignments based on course specifics or choose from existing options within the system. Students anonymously evaluate peers and provide feedback on received evaluations. Instructors can then analyze this data to inform grading processes. Discussions during this session will i nclude product demonstrations, showcasing its AI functionalities in both design and integration within course curricula. Participants will gain insights into the tool’s capabilities and pedagogical applications, with an interactive activity providing real-time demonstrations of its effectiveness and time-saving features. 7
QT4: Using ArcGIS Story Maps to Explore Afro-Latino Heritage and Culture
Raquel Chiquillo
In this presentation, the focus will be on the utilization of ArcGIS software to create digital Story Maps documenting Afro-Latino heritage in Spanish 3324, an online course titled Neighbors and Trading Partners: People, Culture and Trade in Spanish-America. Utilizing the Library of Congress’ digital collections, students will be required to incorporate three different forms of multimedia into their final Story Map. The project, which constitutes 20% of the total grade, fosters collaboration as students work in groups to curate content and construct Story Maps. This initiative not only enhances students’ digital literacy but also contributes to the Story Map deliverable for the Connecting Communities Digital Initiative Grant from the Library of Congress. ArcGIS Story Maps facilitate interactive and visually appealing presentations, aligning with pedagogical goals of engagement and critical thinking. Participants will be introduced to the basics of Story Map creation and the Library of Congress Digital Collections. They will actively contribute to a hands-on demonstration, experiencing the creation process firsthand.
eP1: Copilot Navigates the Flipped Classroom
Xyanthine Parillon
Microsoft’s Copilot generative AI was utilized for pre-class preparation and post-class engagement, aligning with the flipped classroom approach. In Human Anatomy lab, students interacted with Copilot to receive quick feedback on dissection processes before in-class activities. In Human Physiology lecture, students utilized Copilot to conceptualize prototypes for treating vascular conditions and generated images using DALL-E. A significant portion of students successfully engaged with Copilot, although responses varied marginally. Copilot provided digital images based on prompts, enabling students to analyze and reflect on project modifications. Attendees will learn to access and utilize Copilot, formulate prompts for student engagement, and develop post-reflection activities for immediate use in courses. Session activities include audience engagement in accessing Copilot, executing prompts, and selecting review questions to enhance student understanding.
eP2: Harnessing the Power of Gradescope for Dynamic Rubrics
Katherine Shoemaker
The digital tool, Gradescope, can be leveraged to enhance feedback practices. Feedback is a powerful tool for assessing student progress, with speed and specificity being paramount for effective learning outcomes. Gradescope facilitates extended, clear feedback through dynamic rubrics, replacing manual, time-consuming grading methods with an intuitive interface. Attendees will explore Gradescope’s features, including dynamic rubrics, and witness how it streamlines grading, allowing more time for quality feedback. The session will feature demonstrations of Gradescope’s functionalities, showcasing example rubric reports and simulated grading scenarios to engage participants in hands-on learning experiences.

12:00 – 12:45 pm
Lunch and Featured Presentation
Creating Accessible Spaces
Eszter Trufan & Elene Bouhoutsos-Brown

Establishing accessible learning environments is critically important, particularly when implementing digital learning strategies in flipped classes and lab c ourses. Despite advancements in closed captioning and auto-translation tools, achieving full accessibility remains a challenge, especially in technical subjects. On our YouTube channel in 2022, only 30.2% of s tudents watched videos with auto-generated subtitles, but after corrections, this rose to 78.0%. This improvement not only benefits hearing-impaired students but also non-native English speakers and those unfamiliar with technical terminology. Participants will explore methods for enhancing digital accessibility, engage in a case study examining accommodations in lab courses, and evaluate the accessibility of their own learning spaces. Through reflective activities and technology tools, attendees will identify barriers to accessibility and develop strategies to improve the learning experience for all students. The session concludes with additional strategies for enhancing accessibility in educational settings.

1:00 – 3:30 pm
Keynote Workshop (Please bring a laptop)
Teaching and Thinking with A.I.
José Antonio Bowen

Keynote Speakers

Flower Darby

Virtual Keynote Speaker

Flower Darby

Virtual Keynote Presentation
The Three Es of Teaching With AI:  Ethics, Equity, and Empowerment

 

Dr. Bowen

In-Person Keynote Speaker

Dr. José Antonio Bowen

In-Person Keynote Presentation
Teaching and Thinking with A.I. *
* Please Bring a Laptop to this Presentation