2023 Projects

AI Toolkit Checklist

Generative AI: A New Frontier for Community College Pedagogy Across Course Modalities On November 30, 2022, the release of ChatGPT reached 1 million subscribers in less than 5 days. It took Instagram 2.5 months to reach that number. Community college faculty are in a unique position to lead the way in adopting Generative AI to support student learning and success across different course modalities, including online, hybrid, and in-person courses. To aid faculty in effectively and ethically integrating Generative AI, a comprehensive Generative AI integration toolkit tailored to community colleges is presented in this paper. This toolkit contains several resources that can be used to create authentic learning experiences for students enabling them to quickly adapt to the rapid changes in an AI-driven workforce.

AI: A New Tool or Old Friend? AI (Artificial Intelligence) may seem like a new technology, but it has been around since the 1950s and has permeated 21st century living. In fact, you may have used it already today or at least you are likely to at some point. Maybe you asked Siri or Alexa for today’s weather forecast. Or, maybe you listened to a suggested playlist from Spotify or Apple music during your morning run. Perhaps you used Google Maps or Waze for the fastest route to your off-campus meeting. Did you use Word’s spelling and grammar checker or Grammarly to proof your weekly course announcement? Did you engage your anti-lock brakes on your way to work today? All of these activities involved AI.

AI Evolution: An Ongoing Process In the mid-20th century, the development of electronic computers helped usher in the modern era of AI. By 1956, the term "artificial intelligence" was coined, formally establishing the field. Over the decades since, AI has experienced periods of enthusiasm (AI summers), and periods of skepticism (AI winters) as society grapples with whether AI is “good or bad” for humanity. Recent advancements in machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks have fueled the current AI renaissance, leading to breakthroughs in various applications, most notably natural language processing. A timeline is provided highlighting key advancements in AI.

Checklist
 This checklist is intended to help faculty/staff use various AI tools in a responsible way. 

Toolkit Glossary
Key AI Terms for Educators Understanding basic AI terminology will help educators stay informed about the latest advancements in AI technology and explore its potential for enhancing teaching and learning in their classrooms. It's important to note that AI is still evolving, and its application in education is ongoing. However, understanding the basics of AI will provide educators with a solid foundation to navigate this rapidly changing field and make informed decisions about its integration into pedagogical practices. This glossary will help provide the foundation educators need to speak knowledgeably about AI in the classroom.

AI Comparison Chart
This chart is designed to help compare various AI tools.

Developed By: 
Dana Gullo, Cecil College

Shawn Crosby, Community College of Baltimore County

Eileen Hardin, Community College of Baltimore County

Julie Horton, Frederick Community College

Christina Gentile, Montgomery College

Hoa Nguyen, Montgomery College

(Group Mentor: Dr. Michael Mills, MOL Board Chair)