Balancing Promise and Pragmatism:
A Cautiously Curious Approach to AI in Urban Public Universities and Community Colleges
Driven by both fascination and cautious curiosity about the rapid advances in AI, I created AI for Higher Ed Project to curate resources for AI literacy and share my own experiments with AI-enhanced pedagogy in the field of communication.
This platform is designed specifically for professors at public teaching universities and community colleges in the fields of social sciences and humanities. Many of these professors are navigating the challenges and opportunities of AI with limited resources and guidance. My goal is to develop a feasible, effective and impactful AI strategy for teaching and learning that works within the context of such institutions, and develop a community of professors open to experiment, reflect and revise these strategies.
I will use this platform to curate relevant, accessible and useful resources on AI literacy and AI ethics, while also sharing my own experiments in AI-enhanced pedagogy.
I hope this project inspires like-minded professors to learn more about AI and share their own experiences and insights as they try out AI-based assignments in their classes.
Let’s connect for meaningful conversations around what it means to learn and teach in the face of AI, and how to adapt to these new frontiers!
Gamze Yilmaz
Associate Professor of Communication
University of Massachusetts Boston
Experiments in AI-Enhanced Teaching
The real-life application of AI-enhanced learning experiences designed and implemented by professors in public teaching universities and community colleges is sparse.
Here, I will share AI-based assignments and candid reflections on the effectiveness of teaching experiments with AI. You can also find other resources I compile on AI-based assignments from credible sources and educators here.
AI Ethics
AI ethics explores the moral implications and societal impact of artificial intelligence. This section provides professors with foundational resources to understand AI ethics and integrate these crucial concepts into their teaching, enabling them to educate students on responsible AI use.
AI Literacy
AI literacy, the foundational understanding of artificial intelligence, is crucial as it equips students with the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate an increasingly AI-driven world.
In this section, you can find thought provoking discussions from experts in higher ed, informational videos I created or curated on key AI concepts, and resources on practical AI literacy skills.
Notes on AI
In Notes on AI, I will occasionally share my opinions and reflections on the capabilities, limitations and challenges of integrating AI into pedagogical practices, particularly in the context of public teaching universities.
Community Talks
As we build our community, we will get out of our silos and meet to exchange notes on AI-enhanced pedagogical experiments. Here, you can find information about our upcoming community talks.
Contact
Feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas!
Email
gamze.yilmaz@umb.edu