CTL Newsletter

This image, created by DALL-E, uses a combination of robotic elements and geometric shapes to symbolize the growing role of AI in higher education.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed various sectors, including education. At Georgia College & State University (GCSU), a group of faculty members, known as the AI Champions, are at the forefront of integrating AI into the academic landscape. We had the opportunity to interview several of these champions, including Dr. Emily Pucker (Assistant Professor, Department of English), Dr. Ward Risvold (Assistant Professor, Department of Information Systems and Computer Science; Director, AI Lab), Dr. Bailey McAlister (Lecturer, Department of English), Dr. Roberto Leon (Assistant Professor, Department of English), Dr. Joy Bracewell (Assistant Professor, Department of English; Director, Writing Center), and Dr. Cynthia Alby (Professor, Department of Teacher Education). In this first article of our series, they shared their unique motivations and experiences with AI, offering a glimpse into the current state and future of AI in higher education at GCSU.

Sparks of Interest

Each faculty member had unique motivations for exploring AI. They shared their diverse experiences with AI, ranging from research applications to classroom integration. Dr. Leon's interest was piqued by considering the introduction of technologies throughout history and their effect on global perspectives about writing and communication. He saw AI as a chance to consider “what is important to writing and [how the field] will evolve.” His experience with AI began with curiosity, influenced by the philosophical themes in the children's film "Ron's Gone Wrong." He advocated for embracing AI's imperfections and saw its real merit in its ability to surprise, teach, and help us grow. He emphasized the importance of understanding AI's role in writing and communication and called for nuanced discussions about AI in education beyond plagiarism. Dr. Leon has experimented with AI, using it for tasks like slide design, and encouraged a balanced view of AI as a tool that can complement human creativity.

Dr. Bracewell has a vested interest in the effect of AI on writing, given her role as Director of the Writing Center. She wanted to better understand the tools students will be using to write. Her exploration of AI focused on its impact on writing and composition. Her interest was sparked by discussions among educators and experts, specifically conversations with colleagues at GCSU. As Director of the Writing Center at GCSU, she was keen to understand how AI tools can aid in the writing process and change teaching and learning writing skills in the future. Dr. Bracewell planned to use AI in her classes to raise awareness and learn what helps or hinders students. She emphasized higher-order concerns in writing over grammar and punctuation, which AI handles easily. She saw AI as a transformative tool that requires critical engagement and understanding of its limitations, aiming to incorporate her findings into the Writing Center's work.

Dr. Alby, on the other hand, was intrigued by the ethical implications of AI, particularly in ensuring fair and unbiased applications in education. Her exploration and advocacy for AI in higher education highlight the growing importance of understanding and integrating technology to enhance educational experiences. She focused on how AI can offer personalized learning paths, automate administrative tasks, and provide insights into student performance. Dr. Alby emphasized the need for active engagement with AI, addressing fears and concerns, and maintaining ethical standards and human oversight. Her optimistic outlook on AI’s potential is a call to action for educators to thoughtfully and innovatively integrate new technologies into their teaching.

Dr. Pucker shared her desire to join a group to learn about AI, reflecting a general apprehension, not uncommon among instructors, but expressed her desire to learn and discover the possibilities of using AI as a writing tool. She discussed the use of AI tools like ChatGPT in educational settings, acknowledging both potential benefits and drawbacks.

Dr. Risvold, a plain language advocate, has been abreast of AI developments for quite some time, largely due to his connections in the industry. He was an early adopter of ChatGPT and other large language models and has created specialized AI bots for tasks such as grant writing and plain language writing in business. He emphasized the importance of prompt engineering for effective AI interactions and used various large language models to enhance his teaching and administrative tasks. Dr. Risvold also mentioned the importance of teaching students how to use AI ethically.

Dr. McAlister's journey with AI began with her fascination with social media and its impact on creativity and communication. Her interest deepened as she learned more about generative AI for text and visuals. She integrated ChatGPT into her teaching, inspired by colleagues like Dr. Risvold. AI quickly became a central element in her classroom and personal life, enriching lesson planning, brainstorming sessions, and even her exploration of the culinary arts. Dr. McAlister aimed to make learning more engaging, creative, and enjoyable and has seen students' perceptions of AI shift from skepticism to viewing it as a tool that could help bridge gaps in understanding and inspire new ways of thinking.

Conclusion

As we move forward, it is crucial to continue these conversations, sharing knowledge and strategies to maximize the positive impact of AI in education. Faculty members at GCSU are leading the way, demonstrating how AI can be harnessed to create a more engaging, inclusive, and effective educational environment. We look forward to sharing the second installment of this interview in our next newsletter.

Liberal Arts Skills in the Professions and Personal Well-being We enjoyed hearing from guest speaker, Dr. Nina Namaste of Elon University, during several sessions on April 29, as part of the Liberal Arts Skills in the Professions and Personal Well-being series. We continue to explore ways to bring intentionality to how we communicate the importance of the work we do and the impact it has on our well-being. Skills, such as critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, all are necessary for success in various aspects of our lives. As students continue to learn ways to incorporate liberal arts skills for their careers, daily lives and personal well-being, Dr. Namaste shared steps that we can take and the means to be more intentional in the communication of those skills.

Digital Bootcamp Completers! Digital Bootcamp is a 10-hour certificated course series designed to provide a framework of resources and support to facilitate online teaching at Georgia College & State University. The learning framework presented is based on Quality Matters (QM) principles, allowing learners to apply the concepts to an actual course using our current learning management system, GeorgiaVIEW/D2L. This all-inclusive course also encompasses our Brightspace Essentials or Advanced Training Course for Instructions, and one of our QM offerings (Designing Your Online Course (DYOC), Improving Your Online Course (IYOC), or Applying for the QM Rubric (APPQMR) course), so completing this course is an extraordinary accomplishment.

Also, throughout this course, learners are presented with several assignment artifacts, participate in discussions, and engage in interactive assignments.

Upon completing this course series, participants will have built a fully developed online course vetted through the Center for Teaching and Learning.

Course completers:

• Dr. Christine Mutiti

• Dr. Jacob McAlpin

• Dr. Kushan Wijewardena

• Mrs. Lamonica Sanford

• Dr. Shahram Talei

• Dr. Sujani Kariyawasam Gamage

To learn more about how to enroll in the Digital Bootcamp course series in preparation for teaching online, please contact the Center for Teaching and Learning at ctl@gcsu.edu or 478-445-1253.

Celebrating the Completion of the First Brightspace Essentials Training Course! We are delighted to announce that the first cohort of instructors has completed the "Brightspace Essentials Training Course." This milestone marks a significant step in enhancing our instructional capabilities and enriching the learning experience for our students.

List of Completers:

• Dr. Adel Almasarwah

• Ms. Alaynna Webb

• Dr. Amelia Malcom

• Dr. Amy Johnson

• Dr. Amy Sumpter

• Dr. Bryan Marshall

• Dr. Cat Fowler

• Dr. Chad Whittle

• Dr. Chika Unigwe

• Ms. Desaree Murden

• Dr. Emily Pucker

• Dr. Glynnis Haley

• Ms. Haley James

• Ms. Helen Dupree

• Dr. Jamie Downing

• Dr. Jennifer Flory

• Dr. Joann Spalding

• Ms. Kathryn Livingston

• Ms. Lori Hamilton

• Dr. Mike Martino

• Dr. Mike Newton

• Dr. Miriam Jordan

• Mr. Nathanael Williams

• Dr. Roberto Leon

• Mr. Ryan Jones

• Mr. Ryan Palmore

• Dr. Stephanie Jett

They will receive a certificate and badge for their efforts and are now eligible to move on to complete our advanced certificated training, "Brightspace Advanced Training Course for Instructors," beginning this Fall '24 semester.

These dedicated educators have gained crucial skills to improve their teaching in a digital learning environment. Congratulations to all our completers! We look forward to seeing the positive impact of their newly acquired expertise in our academic community.

Thank-a-Teacher @ GCSU: Spring '24 Acknowledgements We are thrilled to announce that student acknowledgments for Thank-a-Teacher@GCSU for the Spring '24 semester are now available on our website. View the complete list of recipients at https://www.gcsu.edu/thank-a-teacher-center-for-teaching-and-learning. Join us in congratulating our dedicated instructors, who have made a significant impact on our students this semester!

Upcoming Workshop Programming - Summer 2024 Comedy Series CTL is pleased to offer a workshop topic each week for six weeks this summer. A Summer 2024 Professional Development completion certificate is offered for those attending six comedy shows or five comedy shows and any online offering from SSEI/ACUE, OLC, Quality Matters, or USG. All CTL comedy shows will be offered twice in the same week and virtually through videoconferencing. Registrants will be sent a link before the workshop takes place. Register for any of the remaining summer workshops below!

• Canva (12 noon on June 26)
• Getting Students to Complete the Reading Through the Power of Perusall!: Ways to Improve Reading Assignments in Your Classroom (2 p.m. on July 10; repeated at 10 a.m. on July 11)

Jaclyn Queen, CTL's Instructional Designer, Graduates with Her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction Congratulations to CTL's Instructional Designer, Jaclyn Queen, now Dr. Queen, on her graduation! Jaclyn's dissertation is titled 'A Qualitative Study Investigating the Onboarding Experience in Higher Education and the Effect it has on Employee Retention, Satisfaction, and Success'. Her research was chaired by Dr. Jamie Workman, in Leadership, Technology, & Workforce Development at Valdosta State University. We are incredibly proud of Jaclyn's hard work.

Dr. Catherine Fowler

This column in the CTL newsletter is devoted to celebrating faculty success over the past academic year. This month, we are pleased to feature Dr. Catherine Fowler, Assistant Professor of Nursing.

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What is your role here at Georgia College & State University?

I am currently an Assistant Professor of Nursing in the College of Health Sciences. I have didactic, course coordination responsibilities, and clinical responsibilities. I teach leadership and community population care, and I mentor Doctor of Nursing Practice students. I also plan and implement our nursing leadership seminar every semester. Attendance at the seminars for undergraduate students is mandatory. I am also involved in service, research, and community projects.

What award did you receive this year?

The Georgia Association for Nursing Education’s (GANE) Innovation in Teaching Award recognizes faculty who implement pedagogy and course practices that are unique, innovative, or groundbreaking.

What does receiving this award mean to you?

This award is very meaningful to me because GANE recognizes the importance of my work with disaster preparedness and providing the students with Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) training, as well as sophisticated training in Alabama at FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness. This combined training is unique. Nurses are often the first responders in disaster situations. I am helping to prepare our nurses and adding to the corps of GA volunteers at Serve GA who would complement local emergency preparedness teams.

What advice would you give to other faculty who might be interested in applying for a similar award?

My advice is to search a lot and constantly identify innovative ideas and teaching pedagogy. I seek to use evidence-based teaching, and try to explain my methods to students, and how it will benefit them. Join key teaching organizations. Attend functions and webinars to search for ideas. Follow the organization’s award types and the criteria for submission of your portfolio and follow the submission rubric exactly as written.

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We would like to use this space in the newsletter to share stories about faculty success. Do you have an accomplishment that you would like to have featured in our newsletter? If so, please reach out to us at ctl@gcsu.edu.

Happy Summer! We hope you are having a good start to the summer and have been able to enjoy a little R&R. For us in IT, summer marks a very busy time of year as we race to complete projects before the start of Fall semester! Here are some highlights of what we've been doing, including our plans for the summer:

• We have several personnel updates to share:
• Ashley Waddell assumed the role of Business Data Analyst on May 1. As you may know, Ashley was our Senior Web Developer before moving over into this role.
• Layton Dixon joined the IT tech crew on May 28. Layton is coming from the Wilkinson County School District.
• We are in the final stages of interviewing for the Database Administrator position and hope to have a new hire in place over the summer.
• The Senior Web Developer position is currently posted.
• Disconnecting for the summer? We encourage you to at least check your email from time to time to make sure your password doesn't expire and to check for any suspicious behavior. This will help you avoid issues when you come back in the Fall!
• DID YOU KNOW? IT handled 11,450 total tickets and service requests over the academic year!
• Please note that the Mypassword tool will be discontinued on Friday, May 31, 2024. The Microsoft Self-Service Password reset feature is available to all GCSU faculty, staff, and students.
• There is a change to DUO coming in July! DUO will now have an additional layer of security. When you initiate a DUO Push, your phone app will display a 3-digit code that you will need to enter to gain access to the requested system. This enhancement is geared to protect against people automatically approving pushes that they did not initiate (which happens more than you would think).
• Are you a Canva fan? Did you know that all faculty, staff, and students have access to a product called Adobe Express that has most of the same functionality of Canva without having to pay for a separate license? Just go to www.adobe.com and log in using your GCSU credentials. From the waffle grid icon on the top right, select "Adobe Express" and create away!
• In addition to our routine summer refresh projects, here is an overview of the main projects we have going on over the summer:
• Upgrading our campus core routers and some additional network switches to provide a more stable and robust networking environment.
• Adding/replacing wireless access points in non-residential areas on West Campus.
• AV upgrades in 7 classrooms in Kilpatrick.
• Enhancing the wireless network on Front Campus and replacing wireless access points in Parks, Chappell, and Mayfair.
• Computer replacements for Arts and Sciences 143 and 351, as well as Ennis 020.
• Preparation for new faculty and staff arriving in the Fall.

- Susan Kerr, CIO

Email: ctl@gcsu.edu
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