Determine the role of AI in your classroom

As the Fall semester approaches, you may be thinking about the role of AI in your teaching and your students’ learning.

In Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Learning (2024), Bowen and Watson argue that instructors must revisit approaches to course policies, classroom practices, grading rubrics, assignments, and assessment strategies. 

As AI becomes part of students’ everyday routines, we have an opportunity to guide their use of AI for academic purposes by clarifying what learning looks like in our courses and by being transparent about when and how AI can support or interfere with those learning goals. 

Now is a great moment to experiment with what AI can and can’t do in relation to your course learning goals, and determine how you will guide students to engage with AI responsibly.

Read on for practical strategies to prepare your syllabus, reframe assignments, and open dialogue with students. Explore upcoming workshops or dive into on-demand resources to help you approach the new semester.

Strategies to support teaching and learning in the age of AI

Clarify your expectations: begin with a syllabus statement

A clear AI use policy reduces confusion and promotes academic integrity. 

• Add an AI policy to your syllabus. Align it with the University’s Generative AI Policy and your school, department or program’s policy. Explore sample syllabi policies (compiled by Lance Eaton) for inspiration and participate in the “Craft Your AI Syllabus Statement” workshop on August 14.  
• Explain why your policy makes sense for the learning goals of your course. E.g., “This course is intended to help you develop your own critical thinking.”
• Discuss your policy with your students during the first two weeks of class to invite questions and conversation.

Rethink course assignments to invite original thinking

Design assessments that emphasize personal connection, process, or higher-order thinking.

• Communicate transparently what human skills and knowledge students will need to demonstrate through their assignments. Draw on the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) framework to clarify the purpose, task, and criteria for your assignment. Explore the CTL’s Designing Assignments for Learning and Getting Started with Creative Assignments for additional guidance and participate in the workshop “Designing Assignments for Motivation and Learning” on August 15.
• Invite students to reflect on their process and share drafts. This shows student thinking, builds their metacognition, and places emphasis on the learning process.
• Promote academic integrity by reminding students of your AI policy and provide support through office hours and campus resources to ensure students are able meet assignment expectations.

Talk with your students about their AI use

Set the tone for your course by having open conversations with your students. 

• Ask students what AI tools they have used and for what purpose.
• Discuss ways that AI can support learning in your course.
• Guide students to use AI responsibly and not to bypass learning in your course. Explore the Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence (2025) from AAC&U and Elon University. Participate in the workshop “Setting the Tone: Communicating Your AI Expectations” on September 2.

Experiment with AI to discover possibilities

Explore ways that AI can support your teaching and your students’ learning.

• Try out AI tools to determine the ways they can support your teaching. Watch the demo videos and find sample prompts to brainstorm creative assignments, generate quiz questions, rubrics and more on the Teaching and Learning in the Age of AI page. Participate in upcoming workshops including: “Creating Rubrics with AI” on August 12 (also offered on September 23) and “Using AI to Support Your Teaching” on September 9.
• Explore ways that AI can support your students’ learning. Watch the videos created by Teaching with AI Fellows for inspiration, or find sample prompts for learning purposes at AI in Education, a site created by students for students at The University of Sydney.

Workshops this week

The CTL is here to help you get ready for the Fall 2025 semester. Join us for this week’s workshops! 

Engaging Students in Discussion
Monday, August 11, 2025 | 11:00AM – 12:00PM | Register

Navigating HOT Moments: Before, During, & After Class
Monday, August 11, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Register

Creating Rubrics with AI
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Register

Faster, Fairer: Using Gradescope for Grading in Science & Engineering
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Register

Inclusive Teaching in Practice
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Register

Small Changes, Big Impact: Easy Ways to Boost Student Engagement in Any Classroom
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Register

Using In-Class Polls to Inspire Student Learning and Engagement
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Register

Reading the Room: How to Set Up Poll Everywhere
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 | 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM | Register

Preparing for a New Semester of Teaching
Thursday, August 14, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Register

Building Community and Belonging in the Classroom
Thursday, August 14, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Register

Crafting Your AI Syllabus Statement
Thursday, August 14, 2025 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Register

Preparing for a New Semester of Mentoring
Thursday, August 14, 2025 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Register

Designing Assignments for Motivation and Learning
Friday, August 15, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Register

The CTL is here to support you!

Connect via Zoom or over the phone 

Join us for office hours via Zoom (or phone) Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm to have your teaching with instructional technology questions answered, or schedule an appointment any time by contacting ColumbiaCTL@columbia.edu.

Schedule a consultations

Schedule an in-person or virtual consultation to discuss any teaching and learning need by emailing ctlfaculty@columbia.edu or email the CTL Learning Designer assigned to your school or department.