Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the development of intelligent systems that can perform tasks requiring human-like cognitive abilities. These systems employ algorithms and computational power to process vast amounts of data, recognize patterns, and make decisions or predictions. AI has gained significant attention and impact across various disciplines, including higher education.

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as Chat GPT has been a popular topic of conversation in higher education recently. AI presents exciting opportunities to transform teaching, research, and administrative practices. AI-powered tools and technologies can support faculty in their instructional endeavors, streamline administrative tasks, and advance cutting-edge research. 

Given the evolving landscape of AI in higher education, we have identified several use cases that instructors may find helpful in designing instruction. The following list identifies various instructional methods and strategies and gives example prompts that instructors can enter into the chat box of AI tools such as ChatGPT to improve efficiencies, generate novel ideas, and potentially enhance the educational experience.

  • The table is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and the AI-generated responses will need instructor review prior to instructional use.
  • Remember to adapt these prompts to suit the specific content, context, and objectives of your course, as well as the needs and dynamics of your graduate and professional students.
  • The more detailed, descriptive, and specific your questions are, the more illuminating the AI-generated responses will be. 

The FCTL is committed to supporting faculty in exploring and integrating AI technologies effectively and ethically into their teaching, research, and administrative practices. Our goal is to empower faculty with the knowledge and skills needed to leverage AI to enhance student learning, improve research outcomes, and foster innovation in higher education. Feel free to reach out to our team for personalized support and guidance on effectively harnessing the power of artificial intelligence in your academic pursuits.

AI Videos

AI Support Documents

AI Use Cases

Instructional Method Instructional Strategy Ask AI

Structured Overview

Direct Instruction

Provide a concise overview of the key concepts and objectives of your course. How can you structure the content in a way that provides a clear roadmap for your graduate and professional students?

Lecture

Direct Instruction

Design a lecture that incorporates engaging visuals, examples, and anecdotes to effectively convey complex theories or principles. How can you ensure active student engagement and promote deeper understanding during the lecture?

Explicit Teaching

Direct Instruction

Identify a challenging topic in your field and develop a step-by-step instructional approach to teach it explicitly. How can you break down the content and provide clear explanations, demonstrations, and practice opportunities for your students?

Drill & Practice

Direct Instruction

Design a set of targeted practice exercises that allow students to apply and reinforce their knowledge or skills. How can you provide immediate feedback and create a supportive learning environment that encourages self-directed practice?

Compare & Contrast

Direct Instruction

Choose two related concepts or theories and develop a comparative analysis activity. How can you facilitate a discussion or assignment that highlights the similarities and differences between these concepts and promotes critical thinking?

Didactic Questions

Direct Instruction

Create a series of thought-provoking questions that encourage students to reflect on a specific topic. How can you use these questions strategically to stimulate discussion, elicit higher-order thinking, and guide students towards deeper insights?

Demonstrations

Direct Instruction

Select a complex process or technique within your discipline and design a demonstration that effectively illustrates it. How can you ensure that the demonstration is interactive and provides opportunities for student participation and exploration?

Guided & Shared

Direct Instruction

Develop a guided activity that scaffolds students' learning by providing step-by-step instructions and support. How can you gradually release responsibility to the students, allowing them to actively engage in the learning process?

Problem Solving

Indirect Instruction

Design a problem-solving task that presents a real-world scenario or challenge related to your field. How can you structure the problem-solving process and facilitate students' critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving skills?

Case Studies

Indirect Instruction

Create a case study that presents a complex, authentic scenario for analysis and discussion. How can you encourage students to apply their knowledge, think critically, and make informed decisions based on the information provided?

Reading for Meaning

Indirect Instruction

Select a relevant academic article or scholarly text and develop a reading activity that helps students extract key information, identify main arguments, and critically analyze the content. How can you guide students to actively engage with the material and develop a deeper understanding?

Inquiry

Indirect Instruction

Choose a thought-provoking question or problem related to your field and design an inquiry-based activity that encourages students to explore, investigate, and generate their own knowledge. How can you provide resources and guidance to support their inquiry process?

Reflective Discussion

Indirect Instruction

Identify a controversial or complex topic within your discipline and create a discussion prompt that encourages students to reflect on different perspectives and articulate their thoughts. How can you facilitate a respectful and inclusive discussion that promotes deeper thinking?

Writing to Inform

Indirect Instruction

Develop a writing assignment that requires students to synthesize and communicate complex concepts or research findings effectively. How can you provide clear guidelines, peer-review opportunities, and feedback to support their writing process and enhance their communication skills?

Concept Formation

Indirect Instruction

Choose a fundamental concept or principle in your field and design an activity that helps students construct their understanding of the concept. How can you provide examples, non-examples, and opportunities for application to support students' concept formation process?

Concept Mapping

Indirect Instruction

Assign students to create concept maps that visually represent the relationships between different concepts or ideas within a specific topic or unit. How can you guide students in organizing their thoughts, identifying connections, and fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter?

Concept Attainment

Indirect Instruction

Select a set of examples and non-examples related to a specific concept and design an activity that requires students to identify the defining characteristics of the concept. How can you facilitate their discovery and help them develop a clear understanding of the concept through analysis and comparison?

Cloze Procedure

Indirect Instruction

Create a cloze exercise where students fill in the missing words or phrases in a text related to the course content. How can you structure the exercise to challenge students' comprehension and encourage them to apply their knowledge?

Debates

Interactive Instruction

Choose a controversial topic within your field and organize a debate where students take opposing positions and present arguments supported by evidence. How can you create a structured debate format that fosters critical thinking, respectful discourse, and active engagement?

Role Playing

Interactive Instruction

Design a role-playing activity that requires students to assume different roles or perspectives related to a specific scenario or problem. How can you provide guidelines and support for students to immerse themselves in their roles, think critically, and apply their knowledge to make informed decisions?

Panels

Interactive Instruction

Organize a panel discussion on a relevant topic within your field, inviting experts or professionals to share their insights and perspectives. How can you structure the panel to promote interactive dialogue, audience engagement, and critical reflection?

Brainstorming

Interactive Instruction

Introduce a complex problem or question and facilitate a brainstorming session where students generate as many ideas or solutions as possible. How can you create a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages creativity, open-mindedness, and collaboration?

Peer Partner Learning

Interactive Instruction

Design a learning activity that pairs students to work together on a specific task, such as problem-solving, analyzing case studies, or reviewing each other's work. How can you provide clear guidelines and foster effective communication, cooperation, and mutual learning?

Discussion

Interactive Instruction

Select a thought-provoking topic or question related to your course content and create a discussion prompt that encourages students to share their opinions, support their arguments, and critically engage with different perspectives. How can you facilitate a respectful and inclusive discussion that promotes deeper understanding?

Laboratory Groups

Interactive Instruction

For courses that involve laboratory work, organize students into groups to collaborate on experiments, data analysis, or research projects. How can you structure the groups to ensure equal participation, effective communication, and shared responsibility?

Think, Pair, Share

Interactive Instruction

Present a challenging concept or problem and guide students through the "think, pair, share" process. How can you encourage individual reflection, foster peer discussion and collaboration, and facilitate the sharing of insights and solutions with the whole class?

Cooperative Learning

Interactive Instruction

Design a group-based learning activity where students work collaboratively on a task or project, leveraging their diverse skills and knowledge. How can you establish clear goals, roles, and expectations, and foster a cooperative learning environment that encourages active engagement and collective success?

Jigsaw

Interactive Instruction

Divide the class into expert groups, where each group becomes an expert on a specific subtopic or concept. Then, reorganize the groups to create mixed-expertise groups where students teach each other. How can you structure the jigsaw activity to promote individual mastery and foster interdependence among students?

Problem-Solving

Interactive Instruction

Select a complex, real-world problem or case study relevant to your field and design a problem-solving activity that requires students to analyze, strategize, and propose solutions. How can you scaffold the problem-solving process and provide support as students navigate through the problem?

Structured Controversy

Interactive Instruction

Present a controversial issue within your discipline and organize a structured controversy activity, where students research, present arguments, and engage in constructive debates. How can you create a balanced and respectful environment that encourages critical thinking, evidence-based arguments, and empathy for different viewpoints?

Tutorial Groups

Interactive Instruction

Create tutorial groups where students can discuss and explore course material in a smaller setting. How can you structure the groups to encourage active participation, peer learning, and collaborative problem-solving?

Interviewing

Interactive Instruction

Assign students to conduct interviews with experts, professionals, or individuals with relevant experiences related to the course content. How can you guide students in formulating insightful questions, conducting interviews, and reflecting on the insights gained?

Conferencing

Interactive Instruction

Organize individual or small group conferences with students to provide personalized feedback, discuss their progress, or address specific questions or concerns. How can you create a supportive and constructive conference environment that promotes student growth and engagement?

Field Trips

Experiential Learning

Plan a field trip to a relevant location or event that provides students with hands-on experiences or exposure to real-world applications of the course concepts. How can you design pre-field trip activities, facilitate on-site learning, and guide post-trip reflections or assignments?

Narratives

Experiential Learning

Integrate narratives or storytelling elements into your instruction, such as case studies, personal anecdotes, or fictional scenarios. How can you use narratives to engage students, illustrate concepts, and encourage critical thinking and reflection?

Experiments 

Experiential Learning

Design experiments or hands-on activities that allow students to apply theoretical knowledge, collect data, analyze results, and draw conclusions. How can you guide students through the experimental process, ensuring proper methodology and encouraging critical analysis?

Simulations

Experiential Learning

Develop a simulation or virtual environment that simulates real-world situations or scenarios relevant to the course content. How can you structure the simulation to encourage active participation, decision-making, and problem-solving, while providing opportunities for reflection and feedback?

Games

Experiential Learning

Create educational games or gamified activities that promote active learning, competition, and engagement. How can you design game mechanics, incorporate course content, and align game objectives with learning outcomes?

Storytelling

Experiential Learning

Use storytelling techniques to present complex ideas, historical events, or case studies in an engaging and memorable way. How can you employ narrative elements, visuals, and multimedia to captivate students' attention and enhance their understanding?

Focused Imaging

Experiential Learning

Integrate visual materials, such as images, diagrams, or videos, to enhance students' understanding of specific concepts or processes. How can you guide students in observing, analyzing, and interpreting the visual information to deepen their knowledge and critical thinking skills?

Field Observations

Experiential Learning

Assign students to conduct field observations in real-world settings relevant to the course. How can you guide students in making detailed observations, recording data, and analyzing their findings to gain insights and deepen their understanding?

Role Playing

Experiential Learning

Design a role-playing activity where students take on specific roles or characters related to the course content. How can you structure the role-playing scenario to encourage active engagement, critical thinking, and the application of knowledge in a realistic context?

Synectics

Experiential Learning

Introduce a concept or problem and guide students to make connections with seemingly unrelated concepts, objects, or ideas. How can you facilitate a synectics session that encourages creative thinking, problem-solving, and the generation of innovative solutions?

Model Building

Experiential Learning

Challenge students to construct physical or conceptual models that represent complex concepts, systems, or processes. How can you provide guidelines, materials, and support for students to build and explain their models to enhance their understanding?

Surveys

Experiential Learning

Design a survey to gather data or opinions related to a specific topic or research question in your field. How can you guide students in formulating effective survey questions, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing meaningful conclusions?

Essays

Independent Study

Assign students to write analytical essays or research papers on a specific topic or issue within your field. How can you provide clear guidelines, resources, and support for students to conduct research, critically analyze information, and communicate their ideas effectively?

Journals

Independent Study

Encourage students to maintain reflective journals throughout the course, where they can document their thoughts, observations, and reflections on the material covered. How can you guide students in using their journals to deepen their understanding, make connections, and track their learning progress?

Reports

Independent Study

Assign students to research and write comprehensive reports on a specific topic or issue, requiring them to gather, analyze, and synthesize information from various sources. How can you structure the report assignment to develop students' research, critical thinking, and communication skills?

Lessons

Independent Study

Develop a series of structured lessons that sequentially introduce and explore key concepts or skills within your course. How can you organize the lessons to provide clear objectives, instructional materials, learning activities, and assessments that support student understanding and progress?

Learning Contracts

Independent Study

Allow students to create individualized learning contracts that outline their learning goals, strategies, and assessment criteria for a specific portion of the course. How can you provide guidance and feedback to ensure that the contracts are challenging, realistic, and aligned with the course objectives?

Research Projects

Independent Study

Assign students to conduct independent or group research projects on a specific topic or problem within your field. How can you guide students in formulating research questions, conducting literature reviews, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting their findings?

Assigned Questions 

Independent Study

Provide a set of thought-provoking questions related to the course content and assign students to answer them individually or collaboratively. How can you structure the questions to promote critical thinking, analysis, and application of knowledge?

Announcements

Direct Instruction

Compose an announcement to inform graduate and professional students about an upcoming event, important deadline, or policy change. How can you effectively communicate the necessary information while engaging students and encouraging their participation or response?

Module Overviews

Direct Instruction

Design a module overview that provides an outline of the key topics, learning objectives, and activities for a specific module or unit. How can you structure the overview to provide a clear roadmap and set students' expectations for the learning experience?

Assignment Descriptions

Direct Instruction

Craft an assignment description for a complex, real-world project or research task. How can you clearly communicate the assignment requirements, criteria for evaluation, and desired learning outcomes to ensure students understand the expectations and can effectively complete the assignment?

Interactive Tutorials

Interactive Instruction

Develop an interactive tutorial or online module that allows students to explore and practice a specific skill, software, or theoretical concept. How can you design the tutorial to provide clear instructions, interactive elements, and immediate feedback to enhance students' learning experience?

Academic Feedback

Direct Instruction

Provide constructive feedback on a student's written assignment, research proposal, or presentation. How can you provide feedback that is specific, actionable, empathetic, and promotes students' learning and improvement?

Test Questions

Direct Instruction

Create test questions that assess students' understanding of key concepts, critical thinking skills, and application of knowledge. How can you design questions that go beyond rote memorization and effectively evaluate students' comprehension and higher-order thinking?

Quiz Questions

Direct Instruction

Develop quiz questions that reinforce students' understanding of specific topics or concepts. How can you structure the questions to be concise, focused, and aligned with the learning objectives?

Survey Questions

Direct Instruction

Design a survey to gather feedback or collect data on students' perceptions, experiences, or opinions related to a specific aspect of the course. How can you formulate clear and unbiased questions that yield meaningful insights?

Narrations

Direct Instruction

Write a narration script for a multimedia presentation or video that introduces and explains a complex concept or process. How can you structure the narration to be engaging, concise, and accessible to a diverse audience?

Outlines

Direct Instruction

Create an outline for a lecture, presentation, or course module. How can you organize the content, subtopics, and learning objectives in a logical and coherent manner to facilitate students' understanding and retention of the material?

Learning Objectives

Direct Instruction

Draft clear and measurable learning objectives for a specific lesson, module, or course. How can you formulate objectives that align with the desired learning outcomes and provide a clear focus for instruction and assessment?

Online Discussions

Interactive Instruction

Compose a discussion prompt for an online discussion forum that stimulates critical thinking, encourages interaction among students, and promotes in-depth exploration of a topic or issue. How can you structure the prompt to foster a meaningful and respectful exchange of ideas?

Literature Reviews

Independent Study

Outline the requirements and guidelines for conducting a literature review on a specific research topic. How can you provide clear instructions on search strategies, evaluation of sources, and synthesis of information to guide students' literature review process?

Annotated Bibliographies

Independent Study

Describe the expectations and components of an annotated bibliography assignment. How can you guide students in summarizing and critically evaluating sources, and effectively communicating the relevance of each source to their research topic?

Dissertation Research

Independent Study

Design a prompt to guide graduate students in developing their dissertation research proposal. How can you structure the prompt to help students identify a research problem, articulate clear research questions or hypotheses, outline a methodology, and explain the significance and potential contributions of their proposed research?