1 of 19

Incorporating AI in Teaching: Faculty Reflection

Dr. Molly Vetter Dreier | University of Missouri | Department of Health Sciences

Dr. Ying-Hsiu Liu | University of Missouri |

Missouri Online

2 of 19

Before We Get Started…

What are your experiences with using Generative AI tool(s)?

I have not used/experimented with any Generative AI tools.
I have used/experimented with Generative AI tools but I do not use any of them in my teaching.
I have used/experimented with Generative AI tools AND use them in my teaching.

2

3 of 19

Agenda

AI pedagogy and its role in learning
An example of embedding AI into my health promotion course

Goals for doing this
Strategies used
Student feedback–benefits & limitations
Instructor reflection & lessons learned

3

4 of 19

AI Pedagogy and It’s Roles in Learning�

Mollick E, & Mollick L. (2023, June 21). Assigning AI: Seven approaches for students with prompts�UNESCO (2023, April 14). ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence in higher education .

4

Role	Description
Idea generator	AI helps brainstorm, or generate various version of expressing ideas; AI helps to develop an argument
Evaluator	AI assesses or critiques the work provided, and offers feedback.
Co-design/Co-creator	AI collaborates with students to design or create an artifact (writing, images, and videos, etc.)
Personal tutor or coach	AI helps students to identify learning gap, reflect on their learning, provide immediate feedback, create a study plan and work with students to explore certain topics. �AI can also provide students guidance on thinking through and reflecting their experiences.
Productivity facilitator	AI helps students to efficiently locate sources and obtain summaries of information
Simulator	AI can be part of role play to interact with the students

5 of 19

Goals for Using AI Within Course Assignments

Prevent students from using AI tools inappropriately (i.e, plagiarism)
Teaching them to use AI tools to enhance their learning
Skills they will need in their future careers
Equity - Equal opportunity for success

5

6 of 19

Embedding AI into My Health Promotion Course

Why in my Health Promotion course specifically?

Upfront work with students…

Ethics of using AI tools in higher education

About 50% of students worry about they will violate the academic integrity and dishonesty

Helping student learn to use AI tools

How the use of AI tools were embedded into course assignments

Brainstorming
Researching–reliable sources of information & data
Critically thinking
Interviewing skills

6

7 of 19

AI Pedagogy and It’s Roles in Learning�

Mollick E, & Mollick L. (2023, June 21). Assigning AI: Seven approaches for students with prompts�UNESCO (2023, April 14). ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence in higher education .

7

Role	Description
Idea generator	AI helps brainstorm, or generate various version of expressing ideas; AI helps to develop an argument
Evaluator	AI assesses or critiques the work provided, and offers feedback.
Co-design/Co-creator	AI collaborates with students to design or create an artifact (writing, images, and videos, etc.)
Personal tutor or coach	AI helps students to identify learning gap, reflect on their learning, provide immediate feedback, create a study plan and work with students to explore certain topics. �AI can also provide students guidance on thinking through and reflecting their experiences.
Productivity facilitator	AI helps students to efficiently locate sources and obtain summaries of information
Simulator	AI can be part of role play to interact with the students

8 of 19

Student Feedback - Benefits

57% stated that AI helps them get started by brainstorming, drafting outline (organized knowledge) and expand their view.

Examples:

I also found it helpful that AI thought of things that I wouldn't have even begun to consider about my topic.
…it helps brainstorm ideas that I need additional information to form my thoughts.
I'm most pleased with AI for this course whenever it helps me generate ideas… which then can help narrow down problems from that.
The biggest perk that I have seen with AI is that it has given me extra ideas on a topic that I had not thought of. For that, AI was very useful.

36% stated that AI is helpful in assisting them to locate relevant sources efficiently, which also gives students confidence to do so.

Example: Using AI tools has helped me be more confident in the sources I am finding.

8

9 of 19

Student Feedback - Benefits

Students state AI tools help them locate sources more efficiently

Examples:

I am most pleased with AI's ability to find great resources that I can then expand on and find even more!
Perplexity has up-to-date events and sources that it gives you so that is very helpful because it gives you places to look for more information and current data on your topic. �

Improved students view of AI tools as a way to enhance their learning…

Week 1: 67% viewed tools as NOT helpful in enhancing their learning
Week 6: 73% viewed tools as helpful in enhancing their learning

9

10 of 19

Student Feedback - Limitations

Students’ inexperience/limited ability to develop prompts.

Examples:

The most challenging thing I have encountered in using AI to assist me in completing my assignments is just making sure that my questions have the right wording.
Getting specific results that answer the questions I want, instead of generalized answers.
My biggest challenge has been trying to lock down effective prompts.

Students expressed cognitive overload with so much information; difficult to apply all the information to develop one’s own work.

Example: It's hard to read an AI output and then write your own response.

10

11 of 19

Student Feedback - Limitations

Majority of students state challenges coming from weaknesses within the AI tools

Examples:

It is just an extra step of work I have to do that I find unnecessary. The info it provides may not always be true and it doesn't provide any sources to back up what it is saying.
The biggest limitation is that while it can provide good information, the links associated with that information are not locatable.
One of the limitations I found is not being able to fully trust the information. I still have to double-check that the information is correct by checking the sources.
…when I look into the source it doesn't contain the information AI said it did.

Students state they cannot get AI to address the level of specificity needed.

Example:

Sometimes, AI will not directly answer my question.
…it doesn't always know what I am talking about or the questions I have are too specific and the answers are not what I am looking for.

11

12 of 19

Instructor Reflections

‘Consultant’ for students to increase efficiency and quality of their product

Allows for more time to be spent on other learning activities

Identifying the best AI tool for the ‘job’
Excitement as they see how beneficial these tools can be :)
We are all still learning….

12

13 of 19

Challenges & Lessons Learned

Getting students to limit use of AI output as a source
Students creating their own work after use of AI tools
Still in early stages of learning to develop prompts

13

14 of 19

Generated with Copilot ∙ April 1, 2024

Let’s Discuss…

15 of 19

Conclusions: Overall Implications

Ethical issues
Breadth of the benefits & limitations AI tools
Critical Thinking: process & products
Effectiveness & Efficiency: Everyone is above average

15

16 of 19

Questions?

16

17 of 19

Molly Vetter Dreier, PhD

17

vettermj@health.missouri.edu

Ying-Hsiu Liu, PhD

liuyingh@umsystem.edu

18 of 19

QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHING WITH AI?

We are happy to share more information and answer specific questions you may have.

Missouri Online

19 of 19

TEACHING.MISSOURI.EDU

TeachingOnline@umsystem.edu