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Faculty Programs

AI in the Classroom Seminar Series

AI in the Classroom is a new, faculty-led discussion series designed to explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning. As AI tools become increasingly embedded in coursework—from homework and coding assignments to exams—this series creates a collaborative space for faculty to share experiences, challenges, and strategies. This series is intentionally designed to be a conversation, not a lecture. Each session is led by a fellow faculty member and centers on real classroom experiences, practical challenges, and thoughtful approaches to navigating AI in engineering education. Whether you’re experimenting with AI policies, redesigning assessments, or simply trying to determine what’s working (and what isn’t), this is a space to learn from colleagues facing similar questions.

"Prompting versus Problem-Solving"

 Led by Dr. Yuankai Huo

As AI tools become increasingly capable of generating solutions on demand, an important question emerges: are students learning how to solve problems—or how to prompt AI to solve them? This session explores the distinction between prompting and true problem-solving, examining what cognitive skills may be shifting in the age of generative AI. Together, we’ll discuss how to design assignments and classroom experiences that preserve deep conceptual understanding while thoughtfully incorporating AI tools.

February 25th @ 12pm. 308 Featheringill-Jacobs Hall. Lunch will be provided.

"Letting the Students Use AI"

Led by Dr. Daniel Moyer

Should students be allowed to use AI in coursework—and if so, under what conditions? This session explores practical approaches to integrating AI into assignments while maintaining academic rigor and integrity. We’ll discuss policy design, transparency expectations, and how to distinguish between productive AI use and overreliance.

March 3rd @ 8:30am. 308 Featheringill-Jacobs Hall. Breakfast/coffee will be provided.

"Using AI to Improve Student Feedback"

Led by Dr. Bennett Landman

AI can generate summaries, draft comments, and even suggest improvements—but how can it meaningfully enhance the feedback process without diminishing instructor voice or student growth? This discussion focuses on ways AI might streamline grading workflows, improve feedback quality, and support more timely responses while keeping faculty firmly in the loop.

March 6th, 2026 @ 12pm. 308 Featheringill-Jacobs Hall. Lunch will be provided.

"When the Code Works but the Student Didn’t Write It"

Led by Dr. Yuankai Huo

In technical courses, AI can produce fully functioning code in seconds. But if the solution works, how do we assess whether the student understands it? This session examines strategies for evaluating comprehension, reinforcing learning objectives, and redesigning assessments to prioritize reasoning over output.

March 18th @ 12pm. 200 Featheringill-Jacobs Hall. Lunch will be provided.

“I Think My Student Used AI to Cheat. What Do I Do?”

Led by Dr. Cynthia Paschal

As AI tools become harder to detect and easier to access, faculty are navigating new gray areas around academic integrity. This conversation addresses how to respond when AI misuse is suspected, the limitations of detection tools, and how to approach these situations thoughtfully and consistently.

March 24th @ 8:30am. 308 Featheringill-Jacobs Hall. Breakfast/coffee will be provided.

"How should I adjust my lesson plans to account for AI use?"

Led by Alex Carroll

Rather than reacting to AI, how can we proactively design courses that account for it? This session explores how lesson plans, assignments, and assessments might evolve in response to AI’s growing capabilities. Together, we’ll discuss strategies for maintaining rigor, encouraging authentic learning, and future-proofing our courses.

April 7th @ 8:30am. 308 Featheringill-Jacobs Hall. Breakfast/coffee will be provided.

Want to lead a session or have an idea for a session topic?

We would love to hear from you! Please email us at valiant@vanderbilt.edu.