Skip to main content

The AI Learning Lab Awards AI-Powered Teaching Grants to Faculty

  • published: 2024/12/02
  • contact: UNO Division of Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives (ILCI)
  • email: innovate@unomaha.edu
AI Learning Lab logo with a bold red circle, white text, and University of Nebraska Omaha branding, set against a black background with circuit board patterns.

Artificial Intelligence at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) continues to gain momentum with the increase of AI integration in courses. In September 2024, The AI Learning Lab accepted nearly 50 AI-Powered Teaching grant submissions with 31 grants currently in progress for the fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters.

The Three Tiers of AI-Powered Teaching Grants

UNO encourages embracing generative artificial intelligence (AI), and providing support for faculty who want to integrate generative AI into their coursework is a top priority for the AI Learning Lab. To help best support faculty, the AI Learning Lab launched a three-tiered approach to AI-powered teaching grants:

Tier One: AI implementation in an assignment: For those looking to incorporate generative AI into their course slowly. Ex. AI as a tool to help assist in translation for a service-learning project.

Tier Two: AI implementation in a module or project: For those looking to teach students how they can use it in future career fields or looking to implement AI into a scaffolded project during the semester. Ex. A module on the ethical and unethical uses of AI in journalism.

Tier Three: For those looking to fully implement AI throughout their course or capstone class.

In awarding these grants, the AI Learning Lab seeks to support faculty members in the implementation process by providing concrete ideas and ensuring that AI implementation is done in a clear and ethical way, teaching students how to use AI responsibly, and giving them future-ready skills. Integrating generative artificial intelligence into the classroom is an important first step that will help students meet the needs of the changing workforce.

“One thing I continuously hear from faculty is that they want to incorporate AI into their course, but they don’t have the time to figure out how and to provide a ton of guidance to students in an already busy semester. That is where we come in,” said Cassie Mallette, program manager for the AI Learning Lab.

“By providing this support and resources for them to share with their students, we’re providing them with a clear approach to AI implementation. When we support faculty, we support students, ensuring that AI implementation will be done in a clear, ethical way that upholds academic integrity and prepares students for an AI-driven workforce.”

How might AI integration in a course look?

With many grants underway, there have already been many success stories:

  • Comparing the use of AI as a tool in business statistics compared to excel to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the tool
  • AI as a tool to practice conversing with people in another language.
  • AI as a practice tool for buying and selling products
  • AI as an assistant in all steps of a research project
  • AI as a tool in social media
  • AI as a peer reviewer for a final project

AI in education isn’t a shortcut, it’s a way to build the skills that will help students learn more, think deeper, and prepare them for a tech-driven workforce.

To learn more about the AI Learning Lab and its offerings, visit: ilci.unomaha.edu/ailearninglab