Quick Start AI Guide

Brief Overview

Pressed for time? This guide will prepare you to: 

• understand the basics of Generative AI tools such as Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's GPT, and Google's Gemini
• set your course syllabus statement and policies
• understand AI ethics and bias concerns
• learn about how AI is being used in higher education environments

Step 1: Overview of Generative AI (50 minutes)

Watch Drs. Ethan Mollick and Lilach Mollick’s “Practical AI for Instructors and Students,” Wharton School YouTube Channel:

Part 1: Introduction to AI for Teachers and Students

Part 2: Large Language Models (LLMs)

Part 3: Prompting AI

Part 4: AI for Teachers

Part 5: AI for Students

Step 2: Bias Concerns (60 minutes)

Read/watch these resources:

• Buolamwini, Joy. “How I’m Fighting Bias in Algorithms.” TED Talk, 2017. (Dr. Buolamwini’s new book, Unmasking AI (Penguin Random House, 2023) is highly recommended for when you have more time.)
• D’Agostino, Susan. "How AI Tools Both Help and Hinder Equity." Inside Higher Ed.
• AI @ WMU Speaker Series: “AI, Ethics, and Bias: What You Need to Know” a Conversation with Dr. Pierrette Renée Dagg, Director of Technology Impact Research at Merit Network.

Step 3: Syllabus and Policy Statements (20 minutes)

Read/review these resources:

• Coffey, Lauren. “Professors Cautious of Tools to Detect AI-Generated Writing.” Inside Higher Ed.
• Eaton, Lance. “Classroom Policies for AI Generative Tools.” Crowdsourced Google Doc.

Step 4: Citing Guides (10 minutes)

Review these resources:

• APA Guide and MLA Guide
• Moulaison-Sandy, Heather. “What Is a Person? Emerging Interpretations of AI Authorship and Attribution.” Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology.

Step 5: AI in Education (60 minutes)

Read these resources:

• Mollick, Ethan. “Innovation through Prompting: Democratizing Educational Technology and More…”. One Useful Thing substack.
• Mollick, Ethan, and Lilach Mollick. “Instructors as Innovators: A Future-Focused Approach to New AI Learning Opportunities, with Prompts.” Available at SSRN, 22 April 2024. Direct PDF Link.
• Mowreader, Ashley. “Teaching Tip: Navigating AI in the Classroom.” Inside Higher Ed.
• Supiano, Becky. “Teaching: Practical AI Strategies for the Classroom.” The Chronicle of Higher Education.
• Warner, John. “On AI and Meaningful Feedback.” Inside Higher Ed.

Step 6: Ongoing Recommendations and Best Practices

• AI and Critical Thinking in Education
• Planned, Structured, and Supervised Student-AI Interaction
• Implementation Guidance for AI-Restricted Courses