Workshops for Teaching and Research with Artificial Intelligence (AI)
As ECU continues to explore and integrate artificial intelligence across our campus, the ECU @ AI Website Team is learning about innovation and discussions happening in classrooms, research labs, and administrative offices. To better showcase this work and foster collaboration across our university community, you are invited to submit your AI-related stories, resources, and use cases via this simple web form. They are particularly interested in hearing about:
- Success stories and innovative applications of AI in teaching, research, or operations
- Helpful resources that others might benefit from regarding student learning and academic integrity
- News about AI-related research projects or achievements
- Questions and concerns that could spark broader discussions
- Specific use cases that demonstrate effective AI integration
These contributions will help the team highlight the meaningful work happening across campus and create opportunities for colleagues to learn from each other’s experiences with AI. Thank you for supporting this effort to document and celebrate the innovative work happening throughout ECU. For additional AI resources visit the Artificial Intelligence at ECU website.
| Date/Time | Session Title | Description | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 20, 2026 2:00 - 2:30 In-Person: Joyner Library 2301 | AI in Action Plagiarism in the Age of AI: Prevention, Not Policing | Explore how to design assignments and assessments that make AI misuse less tempting and genuine learning more likely. We’ll also look at tools and techniques for guiding students toward ethical use. Facilitated by Todd Finley | |
| January 27, 2026 11:00 - 11:45 | Journal Policies and Ethics for AI in Research | Should you be using AI in all aspects of your research process? Do the journals you want to submit to even allow AI? How should you disclose AI use in your article? How can you make sure you are not citing an article that is AI generated? Learn about journal policies, ethical considerations, and other things you might want to know before you use AI in your scholarly works. Facilitated by Allison Kaefring | Journal Policies and Ethics for AI in Research - Session Recording Journal Policies and Ethics for AI in Research - Presentation |
| January 29, 2026 10:30 - 11:30 In-Person: Joyner Library 1008 | Making Space for Mentorship: How AI Frees Advisors for Deeper Connection | Academic advisors are experiencing significant burnout, with recent research showing over 40% feel overwhelmed at least weekly while managing growing caseloads and complex student needs. This presentation introduces a practical library of ready-to-use AI prompts that streamline routine tasks like email writing and resource guide development, allowing advisors to focus more time on direct student interactions. Discover how AI can function as a reliable assistant to help you work more efficiently while maintaining the personalized, relationship-centered advising that supports student success. Facilitated by Brandon Jones | Making Space for Mentorship: How AI Frees Advisors for Deeper Connection - Session Recording Making Space for Mentorship: How AI Frees Advisors for Deeper Connection - Presentation |
| February 5, 2026 3:00 - 4:00 | Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum with AI | Join us for a practical and thought-provoking workshop exploring how AI tools can be integrated ethically and effectively into writing instruction across disciplines. We’ll examine discipline-specific strategies for using AI to support student writing—from idea generation to revision and genre practice—while also reviewing sample assignments and policies that encourage critical thinking and transparency. The session will also include a discussion of the challenges and opportunities AI presents for teaching writing, including issues related to authorship, assessment, and skill development. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Will Banks | Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum with AI - Session Recording |
| February 10, 2026 12:00 - 12:30 | AI in Action: Google’s NotebookLM: Reading, Research, and Inquiry Experience | NotebookLM combines source curation with AI-powered dialogue to create learning environments that foster explorative research, reading, and writing. It can help transform learning from a linear step-by-step process into a workflow based on inquiry and curiosity. This presentation demonstrates how this approach can lead to deeper learning and unexpected insights. Facilitated by Michelle Eble | AI in Action: Google’s NotebookLM: Reading, Research, and Inquiry Experience - Session Recording |
| February 12, 2026 10:00 - 11:30 | Faculty Feedback Forum: AI for Brainstorming | The Faculty Feedback Forum series provides an opportunity for faculty to share and receive peer feedback on instructional strategies, resources, or routines used to support student learning. Each session focuses on a specific topic, for this session it is, “AI for Brainstorming.” Participants must come prepared with an example, resource, or activity they use (or are developing) to help students engage with AI for brainstorming. This might include an assignment prompt, syllabus section, or AI task concept. You'll leave with helpful feedback, new ideas, and a completed Peer Assessment form that can be uploaded into Faculty180 under Peer Assessment. Pre-registration is required by February 5th; space is limited. *Faculty members seeking peer assessment documentation may fulfill that requirement through this session. Facilitated by Tori Jackson | |
| February 18, 2026 11:30 - 12:30 | Teaching Smarter, Not Harder: Integrating AI Literacy Through the Skills Students Already Struggle With | Students often rely on AI most heavily in the same places they struggle with. This includes course concepts, interpreting data, analyzing texts, applying frameworks, generating ideas, or evaluating evidence. This session shows faculty how to introduce meaningful AI literacy without adding new content, simply by using these existing points of difficulty. Faculty will explore simple in-class activities that reinforce key disciplinary thinking skills while guiding students toward ethical and accurate AI use. Facilitated by Tori Jackson | Register for Teaching Smarter, Not Harder: Integrating AI Literacy Through the Skills Students Already Struggle With Join Teaching Smarter, Not Harder: Integrating AI Literacy Through the Skills Students Already Struggle With |
| February 24, 2026 12:30 - 1:00 | AI in Action: Getting Started with Copilot Chat | In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to access and interact with Copilot Chat to support teaching, research, and productivity. We’ll explore practical prompts for summarizing documents, conducting research, generating images, and more—demonstrating how Copilot can be a partner. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use examples, ideas for experimentation, and curated resources to continue exploring AI at ECU. Facilitated by Michelle Eble | Register for AI in Action: Getting Started with Copilot Chat Join AI in Action: Getting Started with Copilot Chat |
| March 3, 2026 10:30 - 11:00 | Developing an ECU AI Glossary: Part 2 | In this follow-up session, we'll unveil the draft ECU AI Glossary developed from Part 1's input and gather comprehensive feedback from the campus community. Participants will review proposed definitions, suggest refinements to ensure clarity and accuracy, and help finalize a glossary that serves as ECU's authoritative resource for AI terminology across teaching, research, and administrative contexts. Facilitated by Michelle Eble | Register for Developing an ECU AI Glossary: Part 2 Join Developing an ECU AI Glossary: Part 2 |
| March 19, 2026 10:00 - 11:00 | Evaluating AI Output: Teaching Students to Analyze, Question, and Improve AI-Generated Work | Move beyond asking “Did they use AI?” and focus on helping students think critically about what AI produces. This session introduces practical ways to teach students to spot inaccuracies, weak reasoning, and missing evidence in AI-generated text and then improve it. Faculty will explore strategies that turn AI from a shortcut into a tool for deeper learning. Facilitated by Tori Jackson | Register for Evaluating AI Output: Teaching Students to Analyze, Question, and Improve AI-Generated Work Join Evaluating AI Output: Teaching Students to Analyze, Question, and Improve AI-Generated Work |
| March 24, 2026 11:30 - 12:00 | AI in Action: From Detection to Design: Academic Integrity and AI in the Classroom | This session will discuss alternatives to “No AI” policies that often prove unenforceable and may even be counterproductive to student learning. We'll examine why "AI-as-cheating" policies create equity and pedagogical problems, then explore practical strategies for redesigning assignments and making student thinking and learning visible. Participants will leave with concrete approaches for moving from surveillance-based academic integrity to learning-centered assessment design. The session emphasizes acknowledging legitimate faculty concerns while also providing students with the critical discernment skills they need for both academic success and professional contexts. Facilitated by Michelle Eble | Register for AI in Action: From Detection to Design: Academic Integrity and AI in the Classroom Join AI in Action: From Detection to Design: Academic Integrity and AI in the Classroom |
| April 7, 2026 1:00 - 1:15 | AI-Resistant Assignments: Designing for Authentic Student Work* | In just 15 minutes, explore design choices that make assignments more AI-resistant by emphasizing authentic experience, personal reasoning, and unique student voice—plus pitfalls that unintentionally invite AI-generated work. Facilitated by John Smoot | Register for AI-Resistant Assignments: Designing for Authentic Student Work Join AI-Resistant Assignments: Designing for Authentic Student Work |
| April 14, 2026 1:00 - 2:00 | Spotting AI-Generated Writing: Realities, Risks, and What Faculty Can Actually Do | AI detection sounds simple, but the reality is far more complex. This session gives faculty an idea of what detection tools can and cannot do, why false positives happen, and how to approach suspicious writing responsibly. Learn practical strategies for using detection as a conversation starter, not a verdict, and explore assignment designs that reduce reliance on authorship certainty while supporting authentic learning. Facilitated by Tori Jackson | Register for Spotting AI-Generated Writing: Realities, Risks, and What Faculty Can Actually Do Join Spotting AI-Generated Writing: Realities, Risks, and What Faculty Can Actually Do |
| April 21, 2026 1:00 - 1:15 | AI-Resistant Assignments: Designing for Authentic Student Work* | In just 15 minutes, explore design choices that make assignments more AI-resistant by emphasizing authentic experience, personal reasoning, and unique student voice—plus pitfalls that unintentionally invite AI-generated work. Facilitated by John Smoot | Register for AI-Resistant Assignments: Designing for Authentic Student Work Join AI-Resistant Assignments: Designing for Authentic Student Work |
| April 22, 2026 1:00 - 2:00 | Ethics, Trust & AI in Academia: Concerns and Institutional Realities | AI ethics isn’t just an abstract debate; it shapes everyday teaching decisions. This session introduces faculty to key ethical issues such as transparency, fairness, privacy, and student well-being, and translates them into practical classroom considerations. Learn how to set clear expectations, guide responsible AI use, and foster trust without fear or overconfidence. Facilitated by Tori Jackson | Register for Ethics, Trust & AI in Academia: Concerns and Institutional Realities Join Ethics, Trust & AI in Academia: Concerns and Institutional Realities |
Fall 2025 |
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| September 9, 2025 11:00 - 11:30 | Artificial Intelligence (AI) at ECU Website | This session introduces ai.ecu.edu, ECU’s new central hub for engaging with generative AI technologies responsibly, ethically, and effectively. The site supports student success, faculty innovation, research excellence, and operational efficiency. Attendees will explore how this resource amplifies ECU’s existing strengths and provides practical tools for navigating the evolving AI landscape. Facilitated by Michelle Eble | Artificial Intelligence (AI) at ECU Website - Session Recording |
| September 9, 2025 2:00 - 3:00 | Ethics and Journal Policies for AI in Research | Should you be using AI in all aspects of your research process? Do the journals you want to submit to even allow AI? How should you disclose AI use in your article? How can you make sure you are not citing an article that is AI generated? Learn about journal policies, ethical considerations, and other things you might want to know before you use AI in your scholarly works. Facilitated by Allison Kaefring | Ethics and Journal Policies for AI in Research - Session Recording Ethics and Journal Policies for AI in Research Presentation |
| September 10, 2025 3:00 - 4:00 | Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum with AI | Join us for a practical and thought-provoking workshop exploring how AI tools can be integrated ethically and effectively into writing instruction across disciplines. We’ll examine discipline-specific strategies for using AI to support student writing—from idea generation to revision and genre practice—while also reviewing sample assignments and policies that encourage critical thinking and transparency. The session will also include a discussion of the challenges and opportunities AI presents for teaching writing, including issues related to authorship, assessment, and skill development. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh and Will Banks | Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum with AI - Session Recording |
| September 16, 2025 1:00 - 1:30 In-Person: Joyner Library 2301 | AI in Action: AI and Learning Simulations | This session will share classroom-tested strategies for boosting engagement while building critical AI literacy. Participants will explore hands-on AI activities that simulate real-world problem-solving and integrate formative assessment to track and support student progress. Facilitated by Todd Finley | |
| September 23, 2025 12:30 - 1:00 | AI in Action: Getting Started with Copilot Chat | In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to access and interact with Copilot Chat to support teaching, research, and productivity. We’ll explore practical prompts for summarizing documents, conducting research, generating images, and more—demonstrating how Copilot can be a partner. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use examples, ideas for experimentation, and curated resources to continue exploring AI at ECU. Facilitated by Michelle Eble | AI in Action: Getting Started with Copilot Chat - Session Recording |
| October 8, 2025 10:00 - 10:30 | AI in Action: Utilizing AI to Create Engaging Quizzes for Canvas | This session will demonstrate how artificial intelligence can be used to design and deliver engaging quizzes that can be integrated into Canvas which will enhance student learning. Participants will learn how to utilize AI-powered tools to generate quizzes tailored to their specific content area. The training will emphasize how AI can reduce quiz creation time while also promoting deeper learning and student motivation. Facilitated by Michael Daniels | AI in Action: Utilizing AI to Create Engaging Quizzes for Canvas - Session Recording |
| October 16, 2025 2:00 - 3:30 | Faculty Feedback Forum: AI for Studying | The Faculty Feedback Forum series provides an opportunity for faculty to share and receive peer feedback on instructional strategies, resources, or routines used to support student learning. Each session focuses on a specific topic, for this session it is, “AI for Studying.” Participants must come prepared with an example, resource, or activity they use (or are developing) to help students engage with AI for studying. This might include an assignment prompt, syllabus section, or AI task concept. You'll leave with helpful feedback, new ideas, and a completed Peer Assessment form that can be uploaded into Faculty180 under Peer Assessment. Pre-registration is required by October 9th; space is limited. *Faculty members seeking peer assessment documentation may fulfill that requirement through this session. Facilitated by Tori Jackson | |
| October 21, 2025 11:30 - 12:00 | Developing an ECU AI Glossary: Part 1 | This collaborative workshop brings together faculty, staff, and students from across ECU to identify the AI-related terms most relevant to our campus community. Participants will brainstorm terminology from their respective fields and experiences, discuss emerging AI concepts impacting higher education, and prioritize which terms require ECU-specific definitions that align with our institutional values and policies. Facilitated by Michelle Eble | Developing an ECU AI Glossary: Part 1 - Session Recording |
| November 3, 2025 2:00 - 2:30 | AI in Action-- | Custom GPTs can transform how students learn—serving as AI tutors, project simulators, curriculum advisors, and writing assistants. In this session, I’ll share my experiments developing and using GPTs, along with practical strategies and best practices for integrating them into your courses. You’ll leave with concrete ideas, example prompts, and implementation tips to boost student engagement and support learning outcomes. Facilitated by John Drake | AI in Action--Engaging Students with Custom GPTs: From AI Tutors to Project Simulators - Session Recording AI in Action-- Engaging Students with Custom GPTs: From AI Tutors to Project Simulators - Presentation |
| November 19, 2025 12:00 - 12:30 In-Person: Joyner Library 2301 | AI in Action Teaching Writing with AI: From Blank Page to Better Drafts | Learn how to use AI to model writing processes, scaffold student work, and provide rapid, individualized feedback. You’ll leave with ready-to-implement activities that enhance rather than replace student voice. Facilitated by Todd Finley | |
*(DE) This session is aligned with the ECU Distance Education Continuing Education Requirement
Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact ECU’s ADA coordinator at least 48 hours prior to the event at 252-737-1018 or ada-coordinator@ecu.edu.
Recordings of Previous AI-Related Sessions
Link to archived Teaching and Research with Artificial Intelligence (AI) Workshops