Welcome to the Teaching with AI book discussion guide. Whether you're an educator embracing technology or simply curious about the future of learning, we invite you to explore José Antonio Bowen, and C. Edward Watson · insights with us!
What you'll find in this guide:
Dr. C. Edward Watson is the Vice President for Digital Innovation with the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). There, he leads the association’s national and state-level advocacy to advance quality in undergraduate student learning. This includes programming and a scholarly agenda that focuses on general education, teaching and learning practice, and evidence-based instruction enhanced by technology. For the latter, key foci include artificial intelligence (A.I.), digital equity, and open learning. “Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning” (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024) is his latest book. His book series on General Education Reform (Routledge) will arrive in early 2025.
Prior to joining AAC&U in the summer of 2017, Dr. Watson was the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Georgia (UGA) where he led university efforts associated with faculty development, TA development, student learning outcomes assessment, learning technologies, media production services, classroom support and learning spaces, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. He also taught a range of courses on College Teaching, Student Learning, and Course Design. He continues to serve as a Fellow in the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at UGA.
Dr. Watson has 25 years of experience in faculty and instructional development. Dr. Watson has been an invited keynote speaker on campuses and at a variety of conferences, including events by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative Annual Meeting, the Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching, the Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy, the Teaching Professor Conference, the Leadership in Higher Education Conference, the Assessment Institute and others. He was also recently quoted in the New York Times, CNN, Chronicle of Higher Education, NPR, Campus Technology, Diverse Education, EdSurge, University Business Magazine, UK Financial Times, and Consumer Reports regarding teaching and learning issues and trends in higher education.
José Antonio Bowen is an American author, academic, and musician. He served as the 11th president of Goucher College from 2014 to 2019.
Bowen has been leading innovation and change for over 40 years at institutions such as Stanford University, Georgetown University, and the University of Southampton in the UK. He has also held positions as a dean at Miami University and Southern Methodist University.
As a jazz pianist and composer, Bowen has performed worldwide with renowned artists like Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bobby McFerrin. His scholarly contributions include over 100 articles and books such as Teaching Naked and Teaching Change, focusing on education and technology.
He has received numerous accolades, including a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship and the Ernest L. Boyer Award for significant contributions to American higher education.
Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning" by José Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson is a timely exploration of how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education. The book provides educators with practical strategies for integrating AI tools into teaching and learning environments. It addresses both the opportunities and challenges that AI presents, particularly in relation to creativity, academic integrity, and assessment.
The authors begin by defining AI and its relevance in education. They emphasize that while AI can sometimes produce superficial or overly generic outputs, it also has the potential to enhance creativity by bypassing human cognitive biases like "anchoring and adjusting." For example, AI can generate fresh ideas that people might otherwise dismiss prematurely. The book offers practical prompts that educators and students can use to foster ideation and creative thinking with AI tools.
A key concept in the book is the idea of human-AI partnerships. Bowen and Watson argue that students and educators can work with generative AI systems to improve learning processes, making them faster and more efficient. They propose that assessments should shift to focus on the process of creation rather than just the final product. For instance, students might be required to submit transcripts of their AI interactions as part of their assignments, making the learning journey more transparent and assessable.
The book also discusses the evolving landscape of AI technology and industry players, though it acknowledges that the rapid pace of development means that some references might become outdated quickly. While the authors touch on ethical and equity considerations, they do not explore these issues in depth, which some readers might find disappointing.
Overall, "Teaching with AI" serves as a practical guide for educators navigating the AI-driven future of learning. It provides thoughtful analysis and actionable guidance on how to integrate AI in ways that support creativity, process-oriented assessment, and meaningful student engagement
AAC&U Center for Engaged Learning
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