1 of 19

Leveraging AI to Bridge the College Readiness Gap

Dr. Lisa Brennan,

DNP, MBA, RN, FNP-BC, CNE

Dr. Mandy Sheriff,

DNP, MSN, RN, CNE

2 of 19

Today’s Objectives and Disclosures

Identify AI tools that can support personalized learning and instructional efficiency.
Design multimodal learning supports using AI for students with varied readiness levels.
Apply a framework for integrating AI into their own teaching practice across disciplines.

We have nothing to disclose

GOAL: Shift from content deliverers to facilitators of learning

3 of 19

WHO ARE WE? WHY ARE WE THE “EXPERTS”?

4 of 19

How do you feel about AI?

5 of 19

What does the data say?

6 of 19

ACT College Readiness by Subject 2019

7 of 19

ACT College Readiness Trends (2015–2025)

Composite scores declined from 21.0 (2015) to 19.4 (2024–2025).

% meeting all four benchmarks dropped from ~28% to ~21%.

Implication: Increased readiness gap and need for intervention.

Source: ACT Condition of College & Career Readiness Reports (2015–2025).

8 of 19

Milwaukee College Degree Completion Rates

Wisconsin Policy Forum (2022)

9 of 19

Overview of Readiness Challenges

FACTOR	IMPACT ON READINESS
COVID-19 Disruptions	Reduced curriculum quality, lower confidence, mental health challenges
High School Preparation	60% of graduates not fully prepared for college-level work
Student Expectations	Greater flexibility, personalized learning paths, academic support
Faculty Burden	Need to develop individualized strategies alongside traditional content
UWM Students	Nearly 40% are first-generation students at UWM

(Namkung et al., 2022, Butrymowicz, 2017, and Xu et al., 2021)

�---��Students entering college exhibit widely varying levels of readiness for rigorous academic programs, particularly in nursing education where success requires mastery of complex concepts and preparation for licensure exams like the NCLEX. Nursing professors bear the responsibility of bridging these gaps, which involves not only teaching course content but also fostering critical thinking and clinical judgment skills. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges by disrupting traditional learning environments, reducing curriculum quality, and forcing rapid shifts to online modalities without adequate instructional support. Consequently, students experienced diminished academic confidence and increased mental health concerns, leaving them less prepared for college-level expectations. Furthermore, students now demand greater flexibility, personalized learning paths, and enhanced academic support, placing additional burdens on faculty who must balance these needs with traditional teaching responsibilities under tight time constraints.��

10 of 19

Do you feel this in the classroom?

11 of 19

AI to the Rescue

VARK (Hybrid Form)
Visual – Infographics
Auditory – Podcasts, Webinars
Reading/Writing – Guided Notes
(K) Critical Thinking - Interactive

12 of 19

CoPilot-Guided Notes (Reading/Writing)

Gather your Material/Define Your Purpose

Lecture, Concept, Chapter
What are the learning objectives or outcomes

Use Copilot to Generate a Draft

Open CoPilot
Provide a prompt “Create guided notes for undergraduate nursing students on ovarian cancer. Include key terms, definitions, and space for students to fill in examples.”
Upload Document or PowerPoint (optional)
BE SPECIFIC

Format: bullet points, headings, fill-in-the- blank sections.

Level: undergraduate, advanced, etc.

Style: concise, clear, and student-friendly.

C. Add Interactive Elements

1. Fill-in-the-blank questions

2. Diagrams or tables with missing labels

3. Critical Thinking Prompts

D. Review and Customize

1. Check for accuracy

2. Adjust language for clarity and tone

E. Format for Accessibility and Share with Students

13 of 19

Example

14 of 19

CoPilot-Infographic (Visual)

Gather your Material/Define Your Purpose

Collect key data points, statistics, or concepts
Summarize text into short, impactful phrases
Identify any visual elements that will support your message

Choose a Layout

1. Timeline (for processes or historical events)

2. Comparison (pros vs cons, before vs after)

3. Flowchart (steps or decision-making)

4. Data-driven (graphs, charts)

Use Copilot to Generate a Draft

1. Provide a detailed description of the infographic style:

Example: “Create a square infographic with a clean, modern design, pastel colors, and icons for each step of the nursing process.”

2. Specify:

Orientation (portrait, landscape, square)

Color scheme (brand colors or thematic colors)

Elements (charts, icons, illustrations)

D. Add Branding, Check for Accessibility, Export and Share

15 of 19

AI in Education Infographics

16 of 19

Brisk Tools!

What is Brisk?

A Chrome extension that integrates directly into Google Docs, Slides, Classroom, and YouTube.

Instant Resource Creation:

Lesson Plans & Quizzes: Convert any webpage or YouTube video into a structured lesson or a Google Form quiz in seconds.
One-Click Presentations: Turn PDFs or articles into fully formatted Google Slides.

Instructional Differentiation:

Leveling: Instantly rewrite any text to match a specific grade level (K-12) and University.
Translation: Support ELL students by translating resources into 50+ languages instantly.

Personalized Feedback:

"Glow & Grow": Automate encouraging, specific feedback directly in Google Docs.
Rubric Alignment: Upload your own rubric to ensure AI feedback matches your grading standards.

The Educator's Workflow:

Brisk "Boost": Create interactive AI activities for students to engage with in real-time.
Pro Tip: Use Brisk for 80% of the draft, then apply your "Teacher Touch" for the final 20%.

17 of 19

Demo �(Auditory & Reading/Writing)

18 of 19

Interactive Activities with AI (Critical Thinking)

Virtual Debate Partner

AI acts as an opponent in a debate on a course-related topic.
Students argue their position while AI provides counterarguments.
Learning Outcome: Improves reasoning and communication skills.

Role-Play Simulation

AI simulates a patient, client, or historical figure.
Students interact with the AI to practice communication or decision-making. Example: Nursing students practice delivering bad news to an AI patient.
Learning Outcome: Empathy and professional communication.

Interactive Case Study

AI presents a scenario (e.g., a patient with symptoms).
Students ask questions, gather data, and propose solutions.
AI responds dynamically based on their choices.
Learning Outcome: Problem-solving and diagnostic reasoning.

19 of 19

Demo: CoPilot Agent

✅ AI Agent Outline
Introduction
Explain what an AI agent is and where it’s used (education, healthcare, etc.).
Step 1: Define the Agent’s Role
Pick a topic (e.g., “Nutrition Basics” or “Study Tips”).
Write down 5–10 FAQs the agent should answer.
Step 2: Build the Agent
Add FAQs and responses.
Test with sample questions.
Add a fallback response like: “I’m not sure, please check your notes.”
Step 4: Test & Share
Instructors should test the agent or ask another instructor to test the agent
Consider adding a Forms guide for reflection
Discuss what worked and what could improve.
Wrap-Up
Reflect on how AI can support learning.
A short reflection: “How could this agent help in real learning scenarios?”
Discuss ethical considerations (bias, privacy).