This five-session, in-person 10-hour professional development series is designed to help USU faculty build practical AI skills and explore how generative AI can support teaching, learning, and research. Through interactive, hands-on activities, participants learn how to use AI tools effectively and responsibly, develop strategic prompt engineering skills, and critically evaluate AI-generated outputs.
They will also explore AI applications for course preparation, student engagement, scholarly writing, and research workflows. The training introduces tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Consensus, Perplexity, Gemini Notebook, Gemini Gems, and Gamma. Participants will learn how to work with their own teaching and research materials, create AI-supported learning resources, and develop customized AI learning assistants. Rather than focusing solely on AI demonstrations, the series emphasizes guided practice, personalized support, peer learning, and real-world applications. Participants will also have opportunities to discuss their ongoing AI-related projects, share teaching and learning materials they are developing, and receive practical feedback and guidance on integrating AI into their academic work.
No prior technical expertise or paid AI subscriptions are required. Throughout the AI training, we place responsible AI use, data privacy, academic integrity, critical thinking, and human oversight at the center of our approach, integrating these principles into hands-on activities and discussions.
Dates, Times, and Location
All five (5) sessions will be held in-person from 4-6 pm in LSB 231 on the Logan Campus.
- Thursday, November 5
- Tuesday, November 10
- Thursday, November 12
- Tuesday, November 17
- Thursday, November 19
About the Instructor
Zubair Barkat is the AI Teaching Assistant for the College of Arts & Sciences and a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology. He teaches the popular Sociology of Artificial Intelligence course and holds a certificate in Applied Generative AI from MIT. His work focuses on making AI tools practical, ethical, and accessible for faculty, students, and community members.
His Spring 2026 course received perfect 5/5 student evaluation ratings for both “Excellent Teacher” and “Excellent Course.” Students described it as one of the most helpful courses they had taken, praising his clear, patient, and hands-on teaching style. He has delivered more than 20 AI workshops, guest lectures, invited talks, and academic conference presentations, reaching over 300 participants.
Recently, Zubair led a 10-hour AI Fluency and Mindset workshop series for the College of Arts & Sciences faculty, focusing on practical applications of AI in teaching, learning, and research. He also collaborates with USU Extension's Rural Online Initiative (ROI) to deliver hands-on AI skills labs that help rural Utahns leverage AI to strengthen their job-search skills, explore employment opportunities, and advance their career goals. Across his teaching and workshops, participants consistently commend his patient, organized, and engaging approach.