December 2024

Join Carter Zenke for

Hello, GPT! Crafting Generative AI Tools for Your Classroom

Monday, January 6  |  12 - 1:30 pm  |  Virtual

Join this highly interactive, hands-on workshop to learn how to adapt the latest generative AI tools for your classroom or other learning setting. After leading a highly acclaimed session at the 2024 Emerging Pedagogies Summit earlier this year, Carter Zenke T'20 returns to lead a virtual workshop tailored to those wanting to begin teaching with AI. 

Past participants have brought a range of ideas to life: an expert clinician to help nurse practitioners in training, a tutor to answer student questions at 3 am, and a co-teacher to generate classroom activities, among others. Come with an idea and leave with a prototype! No prior experience with generative AI required.

This event is open to all, regardless of Duke affiliation.

GAI Fundamentals: A Beginner’s Guide to Generative AI & Prompting

Friday, January 17  |  12 - 1 pm  |  Virtual

In this workshop, we will trace the impact of generative AI over the last year. We will review what generative AI means and discuss how natural language processing has created an AI accessible to all. Finally, we will discuss the basics of how to use generative AI. This means how to create prompts that will get you the best results in your conversations with the AI. This will be an educational session and not hands-on instruction. 

Instructor Insights

Insights into Scaffolding Learning with AI

Featuring Robert Duvall

Duvall's upper-level students are encouraged to use AI tools to enhance their projects rather than replace the core elements. Read the full story >

Playful Teaching with GenAI

Featuring David Stein

Stein’s passion for teaching and his innovative approach to technology have made him a trailblazer in integrating generative AI into education. Read the full story >

See our Guidance for Instructors on GenAI and Teaching at Duke

Just as in any industry, higher education has some cardinal rules. One of these theories is the ‘Iron Triangle,’ the concept that there are three primary goals that higher education institutions strive for: accessibility, affordability, and quality. However, achieving all three simultaneously is often believed to be challenging; if one side of the triangle is improved, it may negatively impact the other two. 

Join a Community of Practice on Innovative Grading and Assessment

The Innovative Grading and Assessment Community of Practice (CoP) aims to bring together instructors who have used or are currently using innovative grading and assessment approaches to achieve two goals:

We invite instructors of any rank and any discipline to apply. Participants meeting the program expectations will receive a stipend of $4,000. 

All events are virtual and in Eastern time unless otherwise noted.

Assessments in Canvas: Beyond Traditional Quizzes and Exams

Monday, December 9  |  12 - 1:30 pm

This workshop offers an opportunity to explore innovative assessment techniques that focus on reducing student anxiety, fostering meta-cognition, and utilizing student creativity. Instructors will learn how to implement these techniques in Canvas and leave with a plan to integrate innovative assessments into their teaching. Register Now >

Implementing Peer Review in Canvas

Tuesday, December 10  |  12 - 1:30 pm

Peer review can be a powerful tool for developing students’ evaluation skills, fostering learning communities, and reducing the grading workload for TAs and instructors. This workshop will introduce guidelines of implementing peer review and explore effective methods for doing so. Participants will learn how to use tools such as Canvas peer review, Discussion, Speedgrader, Voicethread, and Hypothes.is to implement effective peer reviews. Register Now >

Canvas Open Office Hours

Monday, December 16  |  10 am - 3 pm  |  Bostock 127 (The Edge Workshop Room)

Instructors are invited to work in person on their Canvas sites for Spring. There will be teaching consultants available to help answer questions. Plus, in the company of other instructors, you can share ideas and information about how you’ll be using Canvas. This is a drop-in event. No registration is necessary.

Crafting the Writing Process

Tuesday, January 14  |  12 - 1 pm

Offered by the Thompson Writing Program

Left to their own devices, students often wait to begin writing assignments until they are nearly due-cheating themselves out of much the learning the assignment was designed to support. This session explores a range of options for staging the writing process in ways that can maximize learning, without overburdening the instructor. Register Now >

Duke Interdisciplinary Studies

Request for Proposals: Multiyear Interdisciplinary Hubs

The Office of the Provost is soliciting internal proposals from faculty for term-limited interdisciplinary “hubs” in areas that can galvanize emerging intellectual connections, research collaborations and links to external partners, as well as create compelling pathways of inquiry for students at all levels. Hubs are intended to support broad interdisciplinary areas of inquiry, as opposed to singular research projects. Winning proposals will receive up to $375,000 annually for three years, along with 20% of an experienced project manager’s time.
Learn more and apply by December 13 >

Canvas Site Spotlight: Zoë Isabella’s Bio 202 Course Site

Announcing the 2024 – 2025 Bass Digital Education Fellows

Versatile video assignment improves undergraduates’ learning and confidence

LILE's Canvas Analyst Anna Levina co-authored the article in Active Learning in Higher Education

This mixed methods study examined an explanatory video assignment designed to operationalize contemporary theory about cognition, metacognition, and inclusive teaching. 

The authors found that students expressed learning and confidence gains beyond those due to typical course activities, and that the video assignment in the study may be a practical way to enrich the student experience.

Access the full article >

Every month we share the latest adventures of Lile the crocodile, LILE's unofficial mascot.

Lile accompanied a group of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Duke learners to the National Gallery of Art where they explored masterpieces spanning centuries and cultures. As part of OLLI’s vibrant, inclusive community of lifelong learners, the group appreciated the opportunity to deepen their understanding of art and history together.