Teaching U-M GPT and AI to Prepare Students for the New Era

School of Information, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

Problem

 Professor Jurgens wanted to change teaching practices to prepare students for the next generation in the era of AI. Specifically, Jurgens sought to help students understand AI not as a replacement for their work but as a tool for refinement, idea generation, critiques, feedback, and providing structure.

Audience

The primary audience is undergraduate students with low to middle familiarity with AI. The course is designed for students across all disciplines.

Outcome/Impact

  • Enhanced Learning: Students reported that AI changed the way they approached their coursework, using AI to proofread essays and get feedback, thus improving their work.
  • Skill Development: The course helped students develop skills to use AI tools effectively in various professional workflows, enhancing their critical thinking.
  • Creativity and Innovation: Students explored creative use cases for AI, such as cost of living budgeting and manipulating tables, which expanded their understanding of AI's potential applications.
  • Continuous Feedback: AI provided iterative feedback, allowing students to improve their work continuously and independently, even at times when human feedback was not readily available.