Profs. Reilly and Schumann Selected for University's AI Faculty Guides Program

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An essay on students' use of ChatGPT became the most-read piece in 2023 in the Chronicle of Higher Education. 

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies rapidly reshape education, many faculty members are cautiously curious, balancing the potential for innovation with concerns about maintaining academic integrity. At the University of Virginia, the AI Faculty Guides program aims to bridge this divide. The program empowers educators with the tools and knowledge to integrate AI ethically and effectively, ensuring that higher education not only adapts to these advancements but thrives. 

Earlier this year, UVA's Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, in collaboration with the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), invited applications for the Faculty AI Guides program for the 2024-25 academic year. Two esteemed faculty members from the School of Architecture, Lisa Reilly, Commonwealth Professor of Architectural History, and Kyle Schumann, Assistant Professor of Architecture, were selected to join this important cohort. 
 

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The Faculty AI Guides program seeks to advance the understanding of generative AI across the university. It enables faculty to make informed decisions about how to adapt their teaching methods in response to tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Midjourney. As part of the program, Faculty AI Guides will explore the implications of generative AI for teaching and learning and share their insights with colleagues. 

Reilly, who teaches writing intensive courses, is looking forward to incorporating AI technologies in the classroom. "AI is certainly here to stay and we need to acknowledge how it is changing our students’ experience and the work world they will be entering," she said. "It also offers us a lot of compelling ways to rethink our teaching and work flows. The AI Guides program is particularly exciting as it is fostering a lot of opportunities for faculty across the University to discuss the pros and cons of AI as well as share their methods of using it in the classroom as well as in their research."

Reilly and Schumann, along with over fifty colleagues from across Grounds recently participated in an intensive two-day session focused on teaching and learning with generative AI. When asked how this medium might positively impact teaching design, Schumann said, "Generative AI has massive potential to supplement our creative production. It is a very powerful tool which, like any other technology, has strengths and weaknesses. There is an opportunity for us to harness it in design education to help teach and strengthen technical skills and know-how, enabling us to work more efficiently and therefore free up more time for the creative conceptualization, iteration, and development of design ideas."

Throughout the academic year, Reilly and Schumann will engage in monthly peer learning sessions with fellow Faculty AI Guides. They will also lead discipline-specific learning opportunities, offering sessions for their colleagues to learn about generative AI and its applications in education. Additionally, they may contribute to a workshop or presentation series open to all UVA faculty, lead a community of practice on generative AI applications in their discipline, or contribute to the CTE’s Teaching Hub gallery, “Generative AI in Teaching and Learning.” Reilly and Schumann will be available to offer guidance and direct A-School colleagues to appropriate resources as needed, with the support of the CTE. 

In addition to the Faculty AI Guides program, UVA has introduced a new online short course, “Teaching in a World of Generative AI,” to help faculty understand and make informed decisions about this emerging technology. This initiative, led by the Provost’s Office and supported by a committee that includes the School of Architecture’s Information Technology Director Eric Field, features voices from across Grounds and external resources. The course is designed to help faculty decide whether to incorporate generative AI into their classes. It includes insights from students about what they want to hear from their instructors regarding AI, thoughts from faculty experts on the implications of AI for the workplace and society, and practical guidance from instructors across various fields on how to enhance teaching with AI, incorporate it into assignments or activities, and discuss its use with students. 

The online course is now live and accessible through the UVA Canvas Dashboard. 

We congratulate Lisa Reilly and Kyle Schumann on their selection and look forward to the valuable contributions they will make to the Faculty AI Guides program and the broader UVA community.