Balancing Promise and Pragmatism: A Cautiously Curious Approach to Engaging with AI in the College Classroom
Driven by cautious curiosity about the advances in AI, I created AI for Higher Ed Project to share my own experiments with AI-enhanced pedagogy and help fellow professors critically engage with AI tools.
This platform is designed specifically for professors in the fields of social sciences and humanities. Many of these professors are navigating the challenges and opportunities of AI with limited resources and guidance. My goal is to develop a feasible, effective and impactful AI strategy for teaching and learning that works in the college classroom, and develop a community of professors open to experiment, reflect and revise these strategies.
Meet the Experimenter
Hi, I’m Gamze Yilmaz, an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Boston. My academic journey began with a PhD in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin, and since I started my work at the University of Massachusetts Boston 13 years ago, I have been driven by a deep passion for pedagogical innovation and creative learning.
I’ve had the privilege of attending the Teaching and Learning Studio at Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, and I am certified by IDEO as a design thinking practitioner. These experiences have profoundly influenced my approach to teaching, learning and my scholarly work. In recent years, I established a second line of research trajectory and started publishing studies on innovative pedagogies in the field of communication.
My passion for pedagogical innovation and student learning naturally extends to AI-enhanced pedagogy. The integration of AI-enhanced teaching and learning in the college classroom offers unprecedented opportunities and challenges for professors. It’s an exciting area that combines my love for pedagogical innovation with emerging technologies.
If you are also cautiously curious about the use of AI in higher ed, let’s connect!
Gamze Yilmaz, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Communication Department
University of Massachusetts Boston
Experiments in AI-Enhanced Teaching
The real-life application of AI-enhanced learning experiences designed and implemented by professors in public teaching universities and community colleges is sparse.
Here, I will share AI-based assignments and candid reflections on the effectiveness of teaching experiments with AI. You can also find other resources I compile on AI-based assignments from credible sources and educators here.
AI Community Talks
As we build our community, we will get out of our silos and meet to exchange notes on AI-enhanced pedagogical experiments. Here, you can find my most recent talks on how to engage with AI intentionally in the college classroom.
AI Literacy
AI literacy includes essential skills needed to work effectively with AI tools in academic and professional contexts. This section provides professors with foundational resources to develop their own AI literacy and integrate these competencies into their teaching,.
Services
With 20 years of experience in college teaching and a track record of implementing pedagogical innovation, I help higher ed institutions and edtech startups develop AI-driven learning experiences that work in the college classroom. Please click below to learn more about my consulting services.
Contact
Feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas!
Email
gamze.yilmaz@umb.edu