Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)

Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Learning Opportunities

Consultation Requests

The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) provides consultation services and workshops for faculty and staff interested in learning more about generative AI. 

To request a consultation, email cte@bryant.edu

A decorative image generated by ChatGPT representing the workshop series.

Spring 2025 Workshop Series

In partnership with Carrie Kell, Lecturer of History, Literature, and the Arts; Interim Coordinator of First-Year Writing; and CTE Faculty Fellow, we hosted a series of workshops, designed to empower faculty with the tools they need to approach AI with confidence, navigate classroom policies, and explore innovative and creative uses of the tools. 

Navigate through the tabs for detailed information on each session.

Generative AI Anxiety Roundtable

Lead Facilitators: Michelle Munoz and Carrie Kell

Now that generative AI tools have been widely available and in use for two years, this session was designed as an opportunity to revisit and reflect on our evolving understandings, concerns, and anxieties surrounding the technology.

In a roundtable format, faculty were invited to engage in open conversation and reflection on the role of generative AI in teaching and learning. Discussions focused on:

  • The current challenges faculty face in relation to generative AI
  • Key concerns about both student use of generative AI and the broader implications of the technology

Insights gathered during the roundtable helped shape future workshops and resources aimed at addressing faculty concerns and supporting confident, effective use of AI tools in the classroom.

AI and the Ethics of Writing: A Faculty Discussion

Lead Presenter: Carrie Kell

This session provided a collaborative space in which faculty could explore, discuss, and share perspectives on the ethical implications of AI tools in the writing process. 

Participants gained insights into the ethical considerations surrounding AI use, learned from their colleagues’ experiences, and collaboratively developed strategies for addressing these topics in the classroom. 

Leveraging AI as a Collaborative Writing Partner in the Classroom

Lead Presenter: Carrie Kell

This session examined the ways in which AI tools can support students through their writing process.

This workshop offered practical strategies for integrating tools in ways that align with course objectives. 

Attendees also delved into ethical uses of AI in academic writing, discussing how to guide students in using AI responsibly, ensuring that it both complements their learning which maintaining academic integrity. 

Designing AI Enhanced Assignments

Lead Presenter: Michelle Munoz

This workshop was designed to provide faculty with ideas for richer student-AI interactions that promote student creativity, iteration, and discussion. 

Designing Generative AI-enhanced assignments involves flipping the script on common AI narratives. Rather than using generative AI to create content or search the web, integrating AI tools as thought partners, peer-reviewers, audience personas, and even trivia hosts, allows students to demonstrate competency, practice key skills in safe environments, and introduce them to productive and effective uses of the technology.

Unlocking Research Potential: The Role of Generative AI in Student Inquiry

Lead Presenter: Carrie Kell

This interactive faculty session examined how Generative AI may improve student research and inquiry. Participants discovered how Generative AI technologies can help with ideation, question refinement, and information synthesis.

This session also included an examination of ethical issues, critical evaluation of AI-generated outputs, and approaches that enable students to utilize AI responsibly as a collaborative tool to better understand the research process through case studies and hands-on exercises. 

Leveraging AI for Course Design/Administrivia

Lead Presenter: Michelle Munoz

This workshop was designed for both faculty and staff, and focused on how to work with Generative AI tools to minimize the “Administrivia” load. 

In this session, attendees learned how to streamline repetitive tasks such as revising bios and abstracts, creating simulations and sample data sets, and polishing generic rubrics and syllabus language. 

Understanding Generative AI

Generative AI refers to a type of artificial intelligence that creates new content based on patterns it has learned from vast amounts of data. This content can include text, images, audio, code, or even video. Today, when we talk about AI, we’re almost always referring to generative AI, a subset of machine learning.

True artificial intelligence has not yet been accomplished. AI refers to the ability of machines to perform human-like cognitive tasks, with the goal of mimicking reasoning, learning, and decision-making.

Read more about AI versus Generative AI in What is AI (artificial intelligence) (McKinsey & Company, 2024)

Machine Learning is a subset of AI in which systems learn from data and adapt over time without needing explicit instructions.

Learn more about Machine Learning: What is generative AI? (IBM, 2023)

The foundational models that drive the Generative AI tools. These are deep learning models trained on massive datasets, and programmed to make complex prediction based outputs.

Learn more about Large Language models: Ask a Techspert: What is generative AI? (The Keyword, Google, 2023) 

GPTs (Generative Pre-trained Transformers) are the mechanism that allows users to interact with LLMs. Think of GPTs as the translators that help users retrieve useful responses.

What is a Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT)? 

Understanding GPT’s is key to using Generative AI tools productively and effectively. This Transformer model is what makes modern AI tools so powerful. They allow GPTs to generate relevant, human-like responses in real time. If you want to explore this concept further, check out this resource: Generative AI exists because of the transformer, 2023.

Decorative Image of AI

What should I consider when using Generative AI? 

Be Mindful of How AI Models Train

Resources and Links

Access the Generative AI Detection Canvas Course

This course is designed for all Bryant faculty to support effective communication with students about AI use and to guide critical evaluation of AI detection systems.

Review the Guidelines for the Use of Generative AI Tools at Bryant University

Generative AI tools offer substantial benefits for academic research, teaching, and administrative operations. However, their use also raises concerns about data privacy and security. These guidelines aim to ensure that the university community utilizes these tools responsibly and in compliance with legal and ethical standards.

Information Services Generative AI Guidelines

Review the Guidelines for the Use of Generative AI Tools at Bryant University

Generative AI Sample Syllabus Statements

When including generative AI policies in your syllabus make it clear when and how you would like students to use AI generated content in your course (if at all).