AI Week Brings the University Together to Discuss Artificial Intelligence

AI Week Brings the University Together to Discuss Artificial Intelligence

The week of March 23 marked a significant time for the growth of Sam Houston State University’s AI education. Leaders across campus came together and hosted AI Week, five days of workshops and informational sessions for the Bearkat community to learn about the opportunities, and challenges, of utilizing AI in higher education.

“The Academic Affairs AI workgroup was formed in 2023 in response to faculty expressing concerns about students using generative AI and its impact on academic honesty,” Anne Gaillard, SHSU vice provost, said. “The goal of the workgroup, and its events, is to promote conversation and competency regarding the use of AI in the classroom, in research and in everyday work for faculty and students, as well as staff.”

AI Week’s slate of events covered topics from teaching and learning tools to time-saving applications to exploring hesitations regarding AI in the classroom.

Sessions were carefully crafted to address student, staff and faculty perspectives on AI. For students, the sessions demonstrated best practices in relation to academic integrity as well as how to utilize AI in compiling data or information for use in research projects. For faculty and staff, the workshops, panels and training sessions provided the insight and hands-on training needed to effectively use, or monitor the use of, AI in academic research and projects. Many of the discussions included deep dialogue between members of all three groups about how best to chart a path forward for the university in a rapidly changing world.

While encouraging people to make their own decisions on if, where and how they would like to incorporate AI into their work, the week balanced excitement with caution with programming centered on finding a middle ground. On top of this, members of the workgroup who identify as AI skeptics fielded questions through a panel discussion, ensuring participants were abreast of all the challenges presented alongside the opportunities.

“AI literacy is a buzzword these days, but it's important to recognize that it involves more than just faculty working with the latest generative AI tools,” said Ben Mitchell-Yellin, director of the Teaching & Learning Center and associate professor of Philosophy. “It also involves developing background skills and foundational knowledge to properly guide their use and judge the quality of their outputs. And it involves the ability, and willingness, to think critically about how and when use of these tools is worthwhile. It also calls for humility and a willingness to admit what you don't know, so you can learn from others.”

Participants began their weekends with minds abuzz with the plethora of information presented. After completing training sessions on leveraging different AI models across various systems and software: Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini and even an AI design assistant in Blackboard, they also had the practical skills needed to make use of these tools in their daily lives.

Looking forward, the workgroup aims to continue fostering open discussions and offering educational sessions about the use of AI on campus. To the team, maintaining this inquisitive environment establishes SHSU as a leading institution in ethical AI utilization.