The AU Instructional Resource Center, Writing and Communication Center and Archer Library now provide student workshops helping to teach students how to practically and responsibly use Artificial Intelligence. 

The sessions are held in the Active Learning Lab on the main floor of Archer Library on campus, and are presented by Curriculum and Instruction Librarian, Diane Schrecker, and WCC Associate Director, Dr. Andrew Wrobel.  

The workshops are in place to help students learn to properly use AI, and to follow the guidelines of the particular class they are using it for.  

“There was no avoidance of AI,” said Schrecker.  

“The use of AI is very much dependent on what the university is allowing the students to do, then a step further is what each individual instructor is allowing the students to do.” 

The popular misconception that many students have about the use of AI is proving to be false at AU, with new tools here to help.  

“We’ve never been against AI, we’ve just always been for its responsible use,” said Wrobel.  

He continued, “As universities and everybody actually, even outside of academia, they’re all adjusting to this AI movement, and it’s all very organic.”  

When attending a workshop, students are welcomed into a hands-on learning environment.  

While one workshop has already passed on Feb. 12, there are still two more scheduled for March 12 and April 9. 

“We also are scaffolding these three workshops, you can come to any of them, you don’t have to come to all of them,” said Schrecker.  

“The first one was very much introductory, we were just playing quite honestly, looking and discussing the importance, looking at the ramifications, looking at the responsibilities that the student has,” she said.  

The second workshop will deal with prompt generating and learning how to ask questions in order to get the answer you’re looking for. Then, in the third session students will look to build on those new skills even further.  

In the workshops, attendees will also be taught what to look out for while utilizing AI for school projects.  

“We’re very cautious when we deal with students and say, ‘you need to be aware of this, you need to follow through on whatever information it gives you because it could be incorrect,’” said Wrobel.  

Students are highly encouraged to attend these sessions, as they will prove helpful with the rising presence of AI.  

“AI can be such a wonderful tool, but we need to understand what its limits are,” said Schrecker.