AI Literacy Workshop Series
Artificial intelligence is transforming higher education, presenting both new opportunities and new challenges for teaching and learning. As AI tools become increasingly integrated into students’ academic experiences, faculty are faced with important questions about how these technologies align with their disciplinary values, learning outcomes, and instructional practices. This year, the Center for Faculty Excellence will host a six-part workshop series designed to provide a thoughtful, supportive environment where instructors can explore AI from a pedagogical perspective, regardless of their previous experience or current stance on its use.
Rather than focusing solely on the technology itself, this fall’s three-part series will emphasize intentional, evidence-informed teaching. Participants will reflect on their own approach to AI, develop practical skills using institutional and publicly available AI tools, and discover ways to thoughtfully incorporate AI into course design while maintaining academic integrity and meaningful student learning. By the end of the series, faculty will have a clearer understanding of AI’s role in higher education and a collection of practical strategies they can adapt to their own teaching contexts.
Click a link below to read more about:
- The Series at a Glance
- Workshop Descriptions
- How to Participate
- Who Should Attend
- Registration & Logistics
The Series at a Glance
The six workshops will be dispersed throughout the academic year—three in the fall and three in the spring:
- Fall 2026
- AI Positionality: Defining Your Approach to AI in Teaching
- Getting Started with AI: CatChat, Prompting, and Responsible Use
- AI for Course Design: Creating Meaningful Learning Experiences
- Spring 2027
- AI & Lesson Planning and Student Reflection
- AI & Creating Assignments & Assessments
- AI & Creating an AI Chatbot
Workshop Descriptions
AI Positionality: Defining Your Approach to AI in Teaching - September 16, 2026 || 12:00-1:00 pm || Renne Library 324
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping higher education, and faculty are navigating a wide range of perspectives on its role in the classroom. This interactive workshop will provide space for instructor to reflect on their own beliefs, concerns, and goals surrounding AI while exploring how those perspectives influence course design and teaching practices.
Participants will examine the spectrum of AI integration—from AI-resistant to AI-inclusive approaches—and discuss the pedagogical considerations behind each. Through examples of course policies and guided reflection, faculty will begin identifying where AI aligns with (or challenges) their learning outcomes and disciplinary values. Participants will also consider practical ways AI might support student learning without compromising academic integrity.
Expect to leave with:
- A clearer understanding of your own AI teaching philosophy
- Examples of AI course policies and classroom expectations
- Initial ideas for incorporating (or intentionally limiting) AI within your course
Getting Started with AI: CatChat, Prompting, and Responsible Use - October 19, 2026 || 12:00-1:00 pm || Renne Library 324
With an increasing number of AI tools available, it can be difficult to know where to begin. This workshop introduces MSU’s CatChat alongside other widely used generative AI platforms, helping faculty understand the strengths, limitations, and appropriate uses of each.
Participant will receive a demonstration of CatChat’s capabilities, compare common AI models, and explore important topics including data privacy, security, and ethical use. The workshop will also introduce the fundamentals of prompt engineering, allowing participants to practice writing effective prompts that generate more accurate, useful, and reliable outputs.
Expect to leave with:
- Confidence using CatChat and other AI tools
- An understanding of key differences among popular AI platforms
- Best practices for protecting student and institutional data
- Practical prompt-writing techniques to immediately apply to teaching and course development
AI for Course Design: Creating Meaningful Learning Experiences - November 18, 2026 || 12:00-1:00 pm || Renne Library 324
AI can streamline many aspects of course development while allowing instructor to devote more time to meaningful interactions with students. This hands-on workshop explores practical applications of AI throughout the course design process, with an emphasis o maintaining sound pedagogy rather that simply increasing efficiency.
Faculty will experiment with using AI to develop lesson plans, generate assignment and assessments, and design student AI reflection activities. Throughout the session, participants will critically evaluate AI-generated content and discuss strategies for ensuring that instructional decisions remain grounded in their expertise and learning objectives.
Expect to leave with:
- Practical examples of AI-assisted course design
- Strategies for creating assignments that thoughtfully incorporate AI
- Ideas for helping students critically reflect on their own AI use
Spring 2027 workshops will remain focused on ethical use of AI in the classroom, and will allow participants time to implement past content and ideas into their own courses. This page will be updated with Spring workshop information later in the fall. Stay tuned!
How to Participate
- Attend a single workshop based on your interests or immediate needs
- Follow the full series to build a comprehensive, flexible teaching toolkit
- Sessions are designed to be relevant across disciplines and teaching contexts
Who Should Attend?
- Faculty at all career stages -- NTT highly encouraged!
- Graduate instructors and lecturers
- Anyone interested in reflective, effective, and sustainable teaching practices
Registration & Logistics
Each workshop has its own registration page. Click individual sessions above to view dates, times, and registration details.
Each workshop will earn 1.0 credit towards membership in the Center and 1.0 credit towards the Teaching Enhancement Certificate.
If you have any questions, please contact Desiree Taylor at desiree.taylor1@montana.edu or Cassia Hameline at 406-994-4556 or at cassia.hameline@montana.edu
