As Gen AI (GAI) tools proliferated across the globe during the last few semesters, did you find yourself panicked, excited, or feeling a bit of both? Were you overwhelmed by the implications for academic integrity or overcome by a sense of wonder at the boundless potential to innovate our teaching, learning, and research? However you … Continue reading Navigating the Future of Learning with Gen AI
AI Spark Tips: Coaching Students for Ethical AI Use
The UNESCO AI Competency Framework for Students stresses the importance of AI ethics and a human-centered mindset. As educators, our goal is to guide students in their progress from novice to expert. Helping students develop responsible and effective AI prompting techniques can be an important part of their learning journey. 100 Chats for College Students … Continue reading AI Spark Tips: Coaching Students for Ethical AI Use
Detection, Dialogue, and Innovation in Classroom Uses of AI
Despite the relative newness of AI tools for all, surveys conducted by the Digital Education Council, Chegg, and TechTrends found that more than 80% of students have already built AI into their learning lives. According to the survey results, students are using tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, and CoPilot primarily to search for information, check grammar … Continue reading Detection, Dialogue, and Innovation in Classroom Uses of AI
AI Spark Tips: AI Support for Feedback in Blackboard
Providing timely and meaningful feedback to students is one of the most crucial and most time-consuming instructional activities. The Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) offers the AI Virtual Assistant (AVA) to leverage its password-protected, closed GenAI environment to streamline and speed up the grading and feedback process. Instructors may use AVA to suggest feedback comments … Continue reading AI Spark Tips: AI Support for Feedback in Blackboard
Building Classroom Connections, One Name at a Time
Peter Felten recently gave a memorable workshop for USC Upstate’s Fall Faculty Day. In addition to being a kind, funny, and passionate student advocate, he left us with plenty to think about – and to act on - as we launch into the fall semester. Much of his research shows that small adjustments in faculty … Continue reading Building Classroom Connections, One Name at a Time
AI Spark Tips: Welcome to ChatGPT.Edu
Beginning in Fall 2025, USC Upstate is making available ChatGPT.Edu accounts for faculty, staff, and students. Along with Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT.Edu is the University-provided Generative AI (GenAI) tool. Getting Started with ChatGPT.Edu Your ChatGPT.Edu account enables you to use single-sign-on with your USC Upstate email account and enjoy GenAI with a high level of privacy … Continue reading AI Spark Tips: Welcome to ChatGPT.Edu
How Star Wars is Your Course?
In a recent video from Innovative Educators, Tom Tobin gives a short overview of what we can learn from Star Wars about making accessible places where intergalactic beings and droids can easily get around and communicate with each other. He highlights the consistent use of ramps, wide doors, limited or no stairs, and translation devices. … Continue reading How Star Wars is Your Course?