Facing the Challenge of Generative AI: One Faculty’s Innovative Approach to Teaching Statistics!

Jennifer Cromley is a distinguished faculty member in Educational Psychology. As an instructor for a graduate introductory statistics course, she recognized the rising popularity and challenge of Generative AI in the educational landscape. This prompted her to reevaluate her teaching methods and her students' learning experiences.

To ensure her students truly grasped the subject matter rather than relying on shortcuts from Generative AI, Jennifer started a comprehensive research journey. She delved into the world of Generative AI, attended many AI workshops, and engaged in thoughtful discussions with her colleagues. The result? Jennifer made the bold decision to revamp her course for this fall semester. She dedicated many hours this summer to crafting a curriculum that prioritizes genuine learning over the convenience of Generative AI.

In this brief interview, Jennifer shares her approach to steering away from Generative AI in assessments and her firsthand experiences in teaching this innovative course this fall.

List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students

The Summer 2023 List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students is now available. If your course is missing, check your instructor report against the criteria in the list. At least five students must have completed the relevant item(s) and you must have released your name and course for inclusion on the list if you qualify. For questions or corrections, please email ices@illinois.edu or call 217-244-3846.

Register Now for the Fall 2023 MCOT Cohort

CITL's Master Course in Online Teaching (MCOT) is a deep-dive into online teaching strategies that goes beyond earlier summer teaching institutes. Prior participation in an instructional development series is not required but professional experience with university-level instruction is strongly encouraged. MCOT provides an opportunity for social learning and networking with a supportive interdisciplinary learning community.

The MCOT Canvas Course includes four live Zoom sessions scheduled for Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. beginning October 18th. Certificates will be presented to those who complete all course requirements. Register here to join the fall 2023 cohort.

Join Us for the Art of Teaching Lunchtime Seminar on October 5th

We invite you to our upcoming Art of Teaching Lunchtime Seminar titled "A Small But Meaningful Mindset for Improving Your Teaching" on (10/05) at 12:00 PM. Amy Lynette Clay (French & Italian, College of LAS) will share how she adopted a small but meaningful approach to improve courses in her program while balancing other professional responsibilities. Amy will discuss manageable adjustments like creating reusable rubrics, incorporating self-assessment, engaging meaningfully with feedback, and choosing to supplement rather than to replace existing materials. 

Art of Teaching Lunchtime Seminar happens every first Thursday of the month from September 7 to December 7, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. Mark your calendar and register for this upcoming online seminar.

Generative AI Training and Consultations
Recurring: every Monday and Tuesday, 12pm - 4pm
Location: CITL Innovation Studio, Room 182, Armory Building
Walk-ins and appointments
Host: CITL (provides easy access to the latest versions of key GenAI tools and consultations)

F'23 Faculty Workshop Series on Teaching & Learning, wksp #4: The Art of the Enhanced Lecture (Part I) – Key Components of Structure and Student Engagement
Wednesday, October 4, 11:30am - 1:00pm
Location: Room 182, Armory Building (east side of the building)
Registration Link
Host: Cheelan Bo-Linn (CITL)

Canvas Open Office Hours
Recurring: every Thursday, 11am - 12pm
Zoom
Host: CITL Instructional Support Team

Art of Teaching Lunchtime Seminar Series
Thursday, October 5, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Online
Registration Link
Host: Jordan Leising (CITL)

Beginning Your Teaching Statements & Philosophies
Thursday, October 5, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Room 182, Armory Building (east side of the building)
Registration Link
Host: Kathleen McGowan (CITL Grad Affiliate)

Developing Your Teaching Philosophy for a Faculty Job Search
Monday, October 9, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: Room 182, Armory Building (east side of the building)
Registration Link
Host: Lucas Anderson (CITL)

F'23 Faculty Workshop Series on Teaching & Learning, wksp #5: Learning that Lasts: Strategies for Significant, Enduring Learning
Wednesday, October 11, 11:30am - 1:00pm
Location: Room 182, Armory Building (east side of the building)
Registration Link
Host: Cheelan Bo-Linn (CITL)

Stay tuned for this semester's events! Bookmark the CITL Event Calendar for all upcoming workshops and the Training Services (formerly FAST3) Calendar for additional training opportunities. 

Introducing “Wicked” Design Challenges into Your Course Projects

Design challenges are projects that engage students in authentic (think real-world) scenarios where they attempt to solve complex problems using a human-centered design (HCD) approach. They differ from solution-first projects in that they frame a problem for students to try to solve rather than designing something specific to address specific parameters. A good design challenge is driven by a real, human need; promotes collaboration; and includes divergent pathways that students might take.

By incorporating design challenges into your course projects, you are helping students to move beyond application of learned skills and concepts toward higher-order thinking skills as they analyze and make sense of the human need, ideate and prototype possible responses to that need, and collaborate with others to design a viable solution (which could be a concept, product, idea, etc.) At their core, design challenges give students an opportunity to develop human-centered and experimental mindsets, as they navigate the iterative process of generating meaningful and innovative solutions to “wicked problems.” 

If you want to learn more about how design challenges might work for you, sign up for the Siebel Center for Design’s “Creating HCD Design Challenges” workshop on Oct. 12^th and “Facilitating and Assessing Students’ Performance during HCD Challenges” on Oct. 26^th. To learn more about the types of workshops SCD offers for instructors, check out the SCD website.