Forum explores AI in the classroom

UB faculty and staff heard about the latest developments in artificial intelligence at the university during an “AI at UB Forum” on Nov. 21.

The gathering in the Center for the Arts Screening Room was the latest in a series of “AI at UB” forums hosted by the Office of Curriculum, Assessment and Teaching Transformation (CATT) and co-sponsored by UBIT to update faculty and staff on how AI is being implemented across teaching, learning and research, and how it’s transforming instruction within higher education.

The forum kicked off with opening remarks from Graham Hammill, vice provost for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School.

“The university is committed to being a leader in generative AI in teaching and learning,” Hammill said. “As we continue to work in implementing recommendations from the Task Force on Generative AI in Teaching and Learning, I hope faculty will engage with the various opportunities we offer to learn more about and experiment with GAI tools.”

Rachael Hageman Blair, associate director of education in UB’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, and committee chair of the AI Implementation Task Force, then kicked off her keynote presentation, “Learning Together: Uniting Faculty and Students through AI in the Classroom.” In her talk, Blair discussed the different perspectives students and faculty have on generative AI in the classroom, outlining how understanding these perspectives can inform effective AI integration, foster collaboration and enhance learning outcomes.

Following the keynote, four UB Faculty Fellows for AI in the Classroom discussed their funded projects and led a panel conversation about AI in the classroom. The fellows were among researchers who received awards of up to $5,000 last year in the first round of AI seed grant funding from the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs to integrate generative AI into course and curricular redesign. The four fellows, who this year received additional $5,000 grants to support their continued work, and their projects are:

• Nathalia Paiva De Andrade, Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, “Transforming Periodontal and Dental Care Powered by Artificial Intelligence.”
• Barbara Avila-Shah, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, “AI as a Romance Ally.”
• Kevin Cleary, Department of Management Science and Systems, “Visualizing the Guts of Generative Pre-Transforms and Large Language Models.”
• Dominic Sellitto, Department of Management Science and Systems, “Educational AI Support for Everyone.”

The fellows sparked conversations with forum participants about the innovative ways they can apply AI in instruction, offering valuable takeaways for those looking to enhance their teaching with AI. 

After the presentation, attendees gathered for an Explore AI Reception in the Center for the Arts atrium, where they enjoyed light refreshments and networked with AI seed grant awardees to learn more about their projects.

During the reception, CATT staff also launched their Explore AI initiative, offering hands-on opportunities for faculty to engage with leading generative AI tools. CATT staff supported four stations where participants tried out several popular generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, MidJourney, Grammarly and Copilot, and discussed how they might use these tools in their teaching.

As UB advances its strategies for integrating AI into the classroom, CATT remains committed to supporting instructors as they navigate the impact of these technologies on teaching and learning. Understanding current uses of AI is central to this commitment, and instructors are encouraged to complete the generative AI survey available on the CATT website.

CATT plans additional opportunities for faculty in early 2025, including the annual Excellence in Teaching Conference on Jan. 14 featuring keynote speaker Abelardo Pardo, head of the School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, The University of Adelaide. Pardo specializes in learning analytics, personalized active learning and technology-enhanced education.

In addition, a spring AI at UB Forum will showcase the innovative projects of the 2024-25 AI seed grant recipients.