At a recent Conference on Teaching Excellence, formerly called Wilmington University’s Faculty Development Day, keynote speaker Dr. Stan Skrabut addressed generative AI and how it can answer questions, generate text, provide information, enhance student engagement, and support teaching and learning. An author and instructional technologist, Dr. Skrabut holds an Ed.D. from the University of Wyoming. He is widely respected within academia, like many guest speakers who have graced WilmU’s faculty teaching conferences and who elevate the quality of intellectual discourse that mirrors WilmU’s dedication to nurturing educational excellence.
Dr. Skrabut’s book, “80 Ways to Use ChatGPT in the Classroom: Using AI to Enhance Teaching and Learning,” explores ways to incorporate generative AI into the classroom and how students can use ChatGPT for writing, research, and learning. ChatGPT is the most popular generative AI application. It’s a big enough deal to terrify those who don’t understand it — and no judgment is implied here. There’s a lot to understand. The fact that it responds to questions quicker than any human can is scary enough. But, at least for now, ChatGPT needs babysitters — human writers and editors who can fact-check its often inaccurate content and turn its grandiose, unnatural language into something, well, natural.
Educators feel the pressure. They know ChatGPT is not going away, and their students use it. So, to support WilmU instructors, the Center for Teaching Excellence was on it. About 462 faculty members were in attendance and heard Dr. Skrabut’s presentation, according to Dr. Adrienne Bey, director of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). The responses were overwhelmingly positive, with 92% reporting a favorable reaction. By the end of the session, participants could set up their own generative AI account, ask it questions, and integrate it into their teaching.
The goal is for faculty always to have a tangible takeaway. The conferences bring full-time and adjunct faculty together to explore relevant, timely information that aligns with WilmU’s career-focused curriculum.
Conference on Teaching Excellence attendees.
“The programming is informed by the University’s annual strategic initiatives, faculty input, and current trends in teaching and learning in higher education,” says Dr. Bey, adding that participants can complete a satisfaction survey to offer other topics of interest and explain how the CTE can help them enhance their teaching skills.
“Common responses include support in improving student writing, developing engaging content for students, and enhancing skills with various educational technologies,” says Dr. Bey. Over many years, thousands of WilmU educators have enjoyed diverse themes like pathways to instructional excellence, cultural awareness, and the art and science of teaching. They can choose numerous workshops, which have included topics such as trauma-informed approaches to teaching, grading and effective feedback,
and enhancing student engagement in the classroom.
Before the pandemic, the conference was offered in a hybrid format, so faculty nationwide could attend in person or online. “Because of the pandemic,” says Dr. Bey, “we were forced to hold the fall 2020 through spring 2023 conferences in a virtual-only format. In the fall of 2023, we went back to the hybrid format. What we are noticing now is that before the pandemic, more faculty attended in person than online. However, now we are seeing that more faculty prefer to attend online compared to attending in person.”
The CTE is vital in promoting continuous learning and advancing teaching excellence at WilmU. Professional growth is critical, and faculty members can learn about new pedagogical methods and remain effective and engaged in their roles. The conference also builds community. Full-time faculty share experiences with adjuncts, creating a forum to share challenges and successes, and to feel supported and connected to their peers.
WilmU is a student-centered institution, so the ultimate conference goal is to enhance student success and learning. When we equip faculty with the knowledge and skills to be effective, students are always the beneficiaries.