Category

Smeal Academy Sessions

Francesca Joyce
In AI, Smeal Academy Sessions

GenAI Series: Empowering GenAI Responsible Use in Students

Join us for a session designed to explore best practices for guiding students in the responsible and ethical use of Generative AI (GenAI). As AI becomes an integral part of teaching, learning, and business, it is crucial to establish clear expectations, teach students how to craft effective prompts, and help them critically evaluate AI-generated content.
In this session, we:
  • Explore the benefits and challenges of GenAI in student learning.
  • Discuss strategies for integrating AI into coursework while maintaining academic integrity.
  • Provide hands-on activities for crafting effective prompts and verifying AI outputs.
  • Address ethical considerations, transparency in AI use, and student concerns.
  • Offer practical tools for detecting AI misuse and fostering responsible engagement.
This session includes opportunities for discussion, giving participants the opportunity to share experiences and ask questions. By the end, faculty and staff will feel more confident in guiding students to use GenAI as a tool to enhance—rather than replace—critical thinking and learning. This session is for faculty and staff who support courses.

Resources:

Francesca Joyce
In Smeal Academy Sessions

GenAI Series: Rethinking Teaching and Assessment in the Age of AI

Generative AI (GenAI) is transforming the landscape of teaching and learning, yet many faculty members struggle with when, how, and whether to incorporate it into their courses. This resistance may stem from their own concerns, hesitation about its use for various reasons, or academic integrity concerns, as well as skepticism from students. This practical session will provide practical strategies to address these challenges while also highlighting the opportunities GenAI offers to enhance teaching and learning.

The session will focus on designing assignments that leverage GenAI as a tool to foster deeper engagement, critical thinking, and skill development. Participants will discuss how to:

  • Explore use cases for AI-inclusive assignments that foster student learning.
  • Create AI-resistant assessments.
  • Cultivate AI literacy by helping students critically evaluate AI outputs, understand its limitations, and use it responsibly.

Rather than viewing GenAI as a threat, this session will explore strategies to reimagine assignments in ways that both protect academic integrity and help prepare students for an AI-driven business world. Join us to discuss approaches to blend AI-resistant and AI-inclusive strategies in your course(s).

Resources:

Mark Deluca
In Smeal Academy Sessions

GenAI Series: Effective Prompt Writing and Evaluation for Teaching and Learning

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is transforming education, providing new ways to enhance learning experiences, streamline content creation, and foster critical thinking. This interactive session will introduce participants to key principles of effective prompt writing, describing how to craft clear, specific, and relevant prompts tailored to various teaching scenarios.

Participants will gain insights into how to access available GenAI tools, learn how to craft prompts for desired outcomes, and discuss some of the the considerations related to the use of GenAI applications in higher education. Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, participants will gain the skills needed to begin leveraging AI as a valuable educational tool.

Resources:

Francesca Joyce
In Smeal Academy Sessions

Practical Approaches for Reaching Gen Z Students

 

Who among us has not had moments of frustration staring out at a sea of young faces beaming looks of boredom or, worse, staring glassy-eyed into their phones? Join other Smeal instructors and instructional designers to share experiences and discuss creative connection strategies for today’s higher education classroom.

Resources:

PPT: Approaches for Reaching Gen Z
Smeal Academy Session: Active Learning Strategies

Francesca Joyce
In Smeal Academy Sessions

Communication Skills for Teaching and Presenting

Skilled staff and professors must possess technical expertise AND communication skills that generate interest in their areas of expertise. This could mean the difference between success (or failure) in the classroom, earning a grant, or garnering support from the community at large regarding why your work matters. This session will introduce the strategies required to garner audience interest and support. Andy Gustafson is a professor of Leadership Communication in the Smeal College of Business. He has taught Penn State MBAs for almost 30 years. In addition to the work that Andy does with the college, he has also provided Communication Consulting for firms like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanely, Lockheed-Martin, McDonald’s, and PNC.

Francesca Joyce
In Smeal Academy Sessions

The Blue Folder: Breaking Down Smeal’s Academic Integrity Violation Process

Join Michelle Darnell, Smeal’s Director of Honor and Integrity, and Lisa Posey, Smeal College Academic Integrity Officer, for this “must-see” session. Whether you have been teaching for years or this is your first semester, you will learn helpful information to streamline the academic integrity violation process. In this session, Michelle and Lisa:

  • discuss the process for instructors who suspect an academic integrity violation in their course,
  • clarify requirements for documentation submitted to the online Academic Integrity System, and
  • review the guidance for GenAI plagiarism detection tools from Faculty Senate and the Joint Standing Committee on the Effective and Responsible Use of AI in Higher Education Instruction.

 

Resources:

Mark Deluca
In Smeal Academy Sessions

GenAI Series: Beginning of Semester Update and Resources

Come for a discussion about University guidance and learn about resources and strategies that the eLDIG team created to support your course needs and Generative Artificial Intelligence policies. We will:

  • Share the latest updates on University guidance regarding the use of Generative AI (GenAI) in courses.
  • Discuss strategies for integrating GenAI policies into course assignments and syllabi.
  • Share information about and discuss the Provost’s AI-Enhanced Pedagogy Endorsement.

Resources:

Francesca Joyce
In Smeal Academy Sessions

Fall Kickoff: Start the Semester Strong

 

Join us for a Smeal Academy session designed to provide tips and strategies to put the finishing touches on your Canvas courses for the upcoming semester. We’ll cover some Canvas basics, provide a checklist of must-do items before publishing your course(s), and share tips and strategies for a successful start to the semester. New this year: We will discuss best practices for creating a positive first impression and first-day strategies for faculty based on Sarah Rose Cavanaugh’s book The Spark of Learning, which we read for the Smeal Academy Book Club. This session will help you ensure a strong Fall kickoff.

Resources:

Michael Christie
In Smeal Academy Sessions

Affordances of AI for Assignments

PowerPoint Slides for this Session can be downloaded here.

Resources

Resources from experts in higher education to help us with generative AI background and framework

Joseph Yun (Pitt)

Ethan Mollick (Wharton)