Introduction

This page is designed to guide you through the many ways AI can enhance your teaching methods, from streamlining administrative tasks to creating more personalized learning experiences for your students. Whether you’re looking to optimize your syllabus, generate dynamic course content, or analyze student performance data, we offer practical tools and tips to help you incorporate AI effectively.  See below how AI can make your course planning more efficient, innovative, and impactful.

In This Web Page:
Getting Started with AI Assistance
AI Videos for Faculty
Example AI Prompts
Student AI-Tutor Use

Getting Started with AI Assistance

This guide will walk you through the steps to effectively use AI in your teaching tasks to make the most of AI technology. Follow these steps to get started and enhance your workflow with AI.

Step 1: Prompting

When crafting a prompt for AI, clarity and specificity are key. Start by clearly stating your objective or question. Provide relevant context to help the AI understand the background and scope of your request. Use concise language and avoid ambiguity. If your task involves multiple steps, break them down into clear, sequential instructions. Including examples can also guide the AI towards the desired outcome. Remember, the more precise and detailed your prompt, the better the AI can assist you.

Example: You are an expert on student assessment and rubric design. Please create:

  1.  A one-point rubric (or 3-point or 4-point) for the performance task,
  2.  A form that would help (level) students give one another peer feedback on rough drafts of their task and
  3. A form that would allow students to self-assess their own work. 
A screenshot of a prompt submitted to an AI-software requesting a course rubric.

Step 2: Get Specific

To improve the accuracy and relevance of AI responses, include additional information in your prompts. Start by providing context that outlines the situation or background. Specify any particular details or constraints that are important for the task. If there are multiple aspects to consider, list them clearly. Adding examples or desired outcomes can further guide the AI. The more comprehensive and detailed your prompt, the better the AI can tailor its response to meet your needs.

Example:  Reference my learning outcomes for the assignment:

  1.  History of Religious Traditions – Trace the broad history of five major religious traditions of the world, understanding the significant developments within each tradition and the relationships between the traditions historically.
  2. List 3 Persons and Concepts of Religious Traditions and identify and explain the important concepts and persons of eastern religious traditions of the world.
  3. List 4 Significant Practices of Religious Traditions Identify significant practices of and explain their importance for the eastern religious traditions of the world.  
A screenshot of an AI-generated response for a rubric that includes course learning outcomes.

Step 3: Review and Revise

Once you’ve submitted your prompt and clarifying details, AI will provide you with the result of your request. 

Remember that you can always make adjustments to your results. Iterative refinement helps the AI better understand your needs, leading to more accurate and useful results. 

A screenshot of an AI-generated response for a rubric.

AI Videos for Faculty

The following videos were developed by OTL staff members to support faculty in understanding how to use AI for various teaching and learning approaches. Each video will provide some context around the topic as well as potential learning activities for faculty to engage with as they consider new ways to integrate AI into student learning experiences. The videos align with our Teaching with AI workshop series topics. Do you have a request for a future video topic? Email otl@du.edu. 

Building Rubrics with AI

Using AI to Infuse the UDL Framework

Co-constructing AI Guidelines w/ Students

AI and Student Reflection

Navigating Bias in AI

More coming soon!

Have a request for an AI instructional video? Email otl@du.edu 

Example AI Prompts

The following is a list of example AI prompts that can support you in your teaching: 

You are a college professor teaching [course name/subject] for [undergraduate/graduate] students. The learning outcomes for [this course/this unit/this assessment are [A and B]]. You want to ensure that the following assessments align with the stated learning outcomes. Carefully review the assignments in the uploaded document and provide feedback and suggestions on how to better align the assessments to the learning outcomes and provide a coherent learning experience. 

You are a college professor. Design a graduate level assignment for [Course Name/Subject] that challenges students to [specific learning objective or task], provides clear instructions, includes evaluation criteria, and encourages critical thinking and creativity. The assignment should be suitable for [class size] and should consider any necessary resources or materials. Please ensure that the assignment aligns with the course’s overall learning goals and objectives.

Example with filled in bracketed sections: 
You are a college professor. Design a graduate level assignment for World Religious Traditions that challenges students to create a timeline of significant events in one of the major eastern religious traditions, provides clear instructions, includes evaluation criteria, and encourages critical thinking and creativity. The assignment should be suitable for 20 students and should consider any necessary resources or materials. Please ensure that the assignment aligns with the course’s overall learning goals and objectives: Trace the broad history of five major religious traditions of the world, understanding the significant developments within each tradition and the relationships between the traditions historically. 

You are a college professor teaching [course name/subject] for [undergraduate/graduate] students. The course is about [provide course description or list of topics]. Please create learning objectives for this course. 

You are an expert lesson plan writer, and I’d like you to write an example lesson plan for me. The subject of the course is [X]. The topic of the lesson is [Y]. The length of the class period is [Z]. The objective(s) for this lesson are [A and B]. First, look up [reference website] and then look up a variety of websites that are focused on innovative strategies for teaching this course generally and this topic specifically. After that, create an innovative example lesson that is interactive and engaging and does not use any special materials I would have to purchase or make. Please provide links to any websites I would need to teach the lesson.

You are an expert on student assessment and rubric design. Please create:

a) a one-point rubric [or 3-point or 4-point] for the performance task,
b) a form that would help [level] students give one another peer feedback on rough drafts of their task and
c) a form that would allow students to self-assess their own work.
Here are the standards/criteria: [Insert your content]
Here is the performance task: [Insert your content]

You are an instructor teaching a graduate level course titled [X]. The course is ten weeks long and will cover topics including [Y]. Create a comprehensive syllabus that includes course objectives, a week-by-week breakdown of topics, required readings, assignments aligned to the course objectives, and any additional resources or learning activities that would enhance the learning experience in the course. Please ensure that the syllabus aligns with current best practices in [subject/area of study] and provides a structured, engaging, and challenging learning experience for graduate level students.

*This prompt works best with Claude.ai since you can upload your syllabus document*

Please review the attached course syllabus document. Provide 4-5 concrete suggestions for adjustments I could make to this syllabus to ensure it demonstrates inclusive and accessible language, highlights available supports for diverse learning needs, addresses inequities in course design, and clearly outlines expectations and course components for students. Ensure your suggestions directly reference specific sections or components within the syllabus document provided.

You are an experienced [subject] professor tasked with reviewing a syllabus for an [undergraduate/graduate] [course information] course. The goal is to make the [attached document] more engaging and relevant to students’ academic, career, and/or personal goals. Carefully examine the attached document and pinpoint areas where the language could be revised to enhance student engagement by making the course content more interesting and relevant. Offer concrete recommendations for revising the document’s language. For example, suggest alternative phrasing, rewording of key concepts, or the inclusion of specific examples. [Attach the document you want the AI tool to review along with this prompt.] 

Possible Prompt: You are an experienced professor teaching a [undergraduate/graduate] [course information] course. Your students are currently working on an assignment that requires them to [describe assignment]. The assignment instructions are attached. Carefully review the provided assignment instructions and pinpoint areas where the instructions could be improved to: Make the assignment more directly connected to the students’ future careers in [field] OR offer additional context or examples to help students understand the connection of this assignment to their future professional work OR encourage students to think critically and apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. 

You are a college professor teaching in the [subject] department for [undergraduate/graduate] students. You have been appointed by your department to ensure consistency in style, format and level of detail across the course descriptions in the uploaded document. Carefully review the course descriptions in the uploaded document and rewrite the course descriptions to ensure they are consistent in style, format and level of detail. 

You are a college professor teaching [course name/subject] for [undergraduate/graduate] students. You would like to make the writing in this uploaded document as clear and concise as possible, avoiding jargon and overly technical language. You want to ensure that the language suits an audience of [description of student population/audience for message]. Rewrite these directions so that they can be understood by non-[subject] majors and English Language Learners (or Multilingual Learners). 

You are a college professor teaching [course name/subject] for [undergraduate/graduate] students. The objectives for this course are [A and B]. Please design [number] quiz questions on [specific topic] that are a mixture of multiple choice and short-answer that will require the students to demonstrate their knowledge of this topic. Please ensure that the questions align with the learning objectives. 

You are a college professor teaching [course name/subject] for [undergraduate/graduate] students. Please create an outline version of my lecture notes. [Copy and paste notes into the text field or attach document if available in the AI tool] 

You are a college professor teaching [course name/subject] for [undergraduate/graduate] students. Your upcoming class is on [specific topic] and the objectives for this lesson are [A and B]. Please find case studies and recent research on this topic to support the students’ learning. 

 You are a college professor teaching [course name/subject] for [undergraduate/graduate] students. Your upcoming class is on [specific topic] and the objectives for this lesson are [A and B]. Please find resources such as videos, podcasts, and infographics that can support the students’ learning of this topic. 

Student AI-Tutor Use

AI can be an invaluable resource for students, offering personalized tutoring and support across various subjects. By interacting with AI, students can receive instant explanations of complex concepts, step-by-step solutions to problems, and constructive feedback on their work. AI can also provide practice exercises, generate discussion topics, and help with study planning. With AI as a tutor, students can learn at their own pace, get tailored assistance, and enhance their understanding and skills in a more interactive and engaging way.  View an AI Tutor example prompt.

Course Descriptions and Outcomes

AI can assist with writing course descriptions and outcomes in several ways. 

  • Breakdown goals: Help articulate the primary learning objectives and outcomes. This involves breaking down the course content into manageable and understandable goals that students are expected to achieve by the end of the course. 

Accreditation requirements: Ensure the course descriptions and outcomes align with accreditation requirements or standards set by the university or your department. This may involve integrating specific competencies, ethical guidelines, or professional practices. 

  • Engaging language: Use engaging and accessible language to make the course appealing to potential students. This includes explaining how the course will be relevant to their academic, personal, or professional development. 
  • Real-world applications: Emphasize the real-world applications of the course material, showing students how what they learn will be applicable outside the classroom. 
  • Consistency: Ensure consistency in style, format, and level of detail across course descriptions within a department or institution to make it easier for students to compare courses and make informed decisions. 
  • Clarity and brevity: Maintain clarity and brevity, avoiding jargon or overly technical language that might confuse or deter prospective students. The goal is to be informative yet concise. 

Assessment alignment: Review and suggest adjustments to ensure that assessments and evaluations are aligned with the stated outcomes, providing a coherent learning experience. 

  • Educational technology: Suggest ways to incorporate educational technology and online resources that can enhance learning and engagement, mentioning these in the course description if they are a significant component of the course structure. 
  • Supplementary materials: Recommend including information about supplementary materials or resources, such as online forums, digital libraries, or software tools that will support the learning process. 
  • Provide examples: Offer examples of well-crafted course descriptions and outcomes from similar disciplines or courses for inspiration and guidance. 
  • Customizable templates: Create customizable templates for course descriptions and outcomes that faculty can adapt, ensuring they don’t have to start from scratch and maintain consistency across the board. 

Assessments and Rubrics

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can significantly aid faculty in creating course assessments and rubrics, making the process more efficient, personalized, and adaptive. Here are several ways AI can assist in this educational endeavor: 

Generate assessment questions: Analyze the course material and learning outcomes to create multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, and even essay prompts that are tailored to the course’s objectives. 

  • Develop detailed grading rubrics: Suggest criteria for evaluation, levels of achievement, and even descriptors for each level, ensuring a comprehensive and fair assessment.  
  • Grade assessments: Utilize a rubric to provide feedback along with explanations for incorrect answers, suggestions for improvement, and resources for further learning.  
  • Consistent feedback: Analyze a detailed rubric and examples of how to apply it to reduce subjective interpretation and ensure all students are assessed equally across different sections of a course or among different graders.  

Analyze assessment data: Provide insights into student performance, learning gaps, and the effectiveness of teaching methods. This analysis can help faculty adjust their teaching strategies in real-time and improve course content and delivery. 

For AI to be effective in these roles, it’s crucial for educators to provide clear objectives and content guidelines, and for there to be a collaborative process where AI’s contributions are regularly reviewed and refined by human expertise. Integrating AI into the assessment creation process requires careful planning and consideration of ethical implications, such as privacy, data security, and the importance of maintaining a human element in education. 

Lecture Notes and Study Guides

AI can assist faculty in writing lecture notes and study guides to streamline the creation process, ensure content accuracy, and enhance educational outcomes.  

  • Outline creation: Generate a structured outline for lecture notes or study guides, ensuring a logical flow that covers all the essential topics. 
  • Information compilation: Assist in gathering relevant information, data, and research to include in the lecture notes or study guides, saving time on research. 
  • Explanation of complex topics: Provide clear, concise explanations of complex subjects tailored to the understanding level of the target audience. 
  • Examples and case studies: Supply relevant examples, case studies, or practical applications to help illustrate theoretical concepts and enhance understanding. 
  • Quizzes and practice questions: Create quizzes, practice questions, and interactive exercises that can be included in study guides to aid in self-assessment and reinforce learning. 
  • Multimedia recommendations: Suggest resources like videos, podcasts, and infographics that can complement the written material and cater to different learning styles. 
  • Language refinement: Assist in editing language to make the content more engaging for students. AI can also provide suggestions on how to tailor the content to meet the specific needs and learning objectives of a course or curriculum. 
  • Strategy suggestions: Recommend teaching strategies that can be integrated into the lecture notes or study guides, such as flipped classroom models, collaborative projects, or digital tools for interactive learning. 
  • Inclusive language: Offer guidance on making the lecture notes and study guides accessible to all students through the use of inclusive language and adherence to accessibility standards. 
  • Accessibility options: Suggest formats and platforms that enhance accessibility, such as screen-reader-friendly documents and captioned videos. 

Sources and Research

AI can significantly streamline the process of finding academic sources.  

Semantic search: Analyze the context and nuances of search queries to provide more relevant results than traditional keyword-based searches. This can be particularly useful for interdisciplinary research topics where relevant information spans multiple fields. 

  • Automatic summarization: Summarize long documents, allowing faculty to ascertain the relevance of an article or book chapter without having to read it in its entirety. 
  • Trend analysis: Examine large volumes of literature to identify trends, emerging fields of study, and gaps in the research. This can help faculty position their work within the current state of their field. 
  • Citation analysis: Analyze citation networks to suggest relevant articles and authors that are central to a specific research topic. 
  • Similarity checks: By comparing documents, AI can find and suggest sources that are similar to those a faculty member is already using, potentially uncovering valuable resources that were not retrieved by traditional search methods. 
  • Automated organization: Assist in organizing literature, using natural language processing to categorize documents based on topics, methodologies, or other criteria defined by the user. 
  • Smart alerts: Provide customized alerts for new publications in their areas of interest, with AI improving the relevance of these alerts over time through feedback and interaction patterns. 
  • Language translation: Use AI-powered translation services to make sources available in multiple languages more accessible, broadening the scope of research that faculty can engage with. 
  • Accessibility features: Ensure research materials are more accessible, for example, through enhanced voice navigation, text-to-speech, and speech-to-text functionalities such as those available through Kurzweil 3000. 
  • Researcher matching: Suggest potential collaborators by matching faculty with other researchers based on shared interests, complementary skills, or geographical proximity. 
  • Social media and discussion analysis: Analyze discussions and trends on academic social networks and forums, connecting faculty members to relevant conversations and communities. 

By integrating AI into the research process, faculty can not only find sources more efficiently but also uncover insights and connections that might not have been apparent through traditional research methods.