Beverly Kris Jaeger-Helton
People are saying how they are using AI but not all are outlining what boundaries they are putting around it. My advice to others is to do your background research, talk to others, and attend workshops and information sessions on the topic. Be intentional in your inclusion of AI to harness its benefits, and be transparent with students about your intentions and guidelines. AI literacy is becoming essential for all of us.
Beverly Kris Jaeger-Helton
Teaching Professor
Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering
As an engineering professor teaching courses in human-machine systems, I became aware of the growing use of AI in engineering. I wanted to explore how to use generative AI and LLMs as tools for teaching and learning. My goal was to figure out and highlight guidelines for students about when it should and shouldn’t be used, and I wanted to equip my students to make their own decisions about its value in unscripted situations.
I began by considering which of my assignments would lend themselves to being an infusion of generative AI, as opposed to an invasion or substitution for their own thinking and work. I created a small activity to introduce students to AI, followed by an optional “Bonus Question” assignment before allowing students to use AI in a major assignment. In each case, I sought student feedback about how they found AI beneficial as well as what they learned about its limitations, and I analyzed their responses to identify themes.