Introduction
At the University of Denver, faculty are exploring new ways to enrich the learning experience of their students by incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their teaching. These innovative approaches allow for more personalized learning, where students can engage with material at their own pace and receive instant feedback tailored to their needs. By bringing AI into the classroom, faculty are not just teaching the curriculum—they’re preparing students for the future by equipping them with the skills to navigate and excel in a rapidly changing world. See below how AI is helping us create more interactive, supportive, and engaging learning spaces at DU.
Dr. Richard Colby
Dr. Richard Colby, Teaching Professor in the Writing Program and Faculty Director of General Education
Dr. Colby discusses why he uses AI along with his ideas for integrating generative AI into courses in the blog post Faculty Feature: Dr. Richard Colby Discusses Teaching with AI.
Michael Gallagher
Michael Gallagher, Adjunct Faculty, Communications
Michael has taught in Japan, Europe, and The United States. He has run teacher-training seminars in Türkiye and the US and published 3 texts on teaching and learning public speaking. Currently, he is completing the second edition of Speaking Out. After participating in the Fulbright program in Türkiye, he continued to conduct teacher-training seminars there. He speaks at conferences on Protest Poetry, Student-Centered Curricula, Total Physical Response Language Learning, Religious Pluralism, Modern Tyranny and Speaking Across Differences. He has been a speech and debate director, a high school French and English teacher, and a university public speaking instructor. He recently accepted a board position with the nonprofit Nepal English Education Foundation (NEEF).
From his course, “Speaking on Ideas that Matter,” Michael shared an example assignment he has students complete using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Michael Gibson-Light
Michael Gibson-Light, Associate Professor, Sociology & Criminology
Michael is an Associate Professor of Sociology & Criminology at the University of Denver specializing in the study of punishment, work, and inequality. His research illuminates the often-obscured experiences and struggles of working prisoners through ethnographic observations, interviews, and historical and archival analyses. He offers elective courses relating to prisons and punishment (Prison Labor, Discipline & Punishment, Transforming Justice) as well as required courses on qualitative research methods (Sociological Imagination & Inquiry – Part A) and introductory Criminology.
Michael shared his current syllabus statement used to explain his expectations around AI use in his courses. He wanted to emphasize the collective effort in building this statement through conversations with other faculty at DU. He gives permission to make adaptations to this statement for your own syllabi.
Heather N. Martin
Heather N. Martin, Teaching Professor, University Writing Program
With over 20 years as a writing professor, Heather Martin centers her teaching on mutual exchange of ideas and fostering practical skills for real-world application. Her inclusive teaching approach encourages students to find their voices on a range of topics, including food access, humor, and wellness. Through community-engaged projects, her students explore greater Denver and draw on community-based knowledge and expertise. Dr. Martin’s mission is to support students in becoming thoughtful, effective writers prepared for diverse paths. In the featured assignment, Dr. Martin integrates AI to help students develop interview techniques, bridging classroom learning with community-engaged field research.
