Unfiltered: Real Talk about Things that Have (and Haven't) Worked for Us in the Age of AI
In-Person
Abstract
As artificial intelligence reshapes the landscape of higher education, faculty are navigating real, practical questions about how and/or whether to bring AI into their teaching. This panel brings together four USU faculty members from across disciplines to share honest, experience-based reflections on what has actually happened when they've used AI in their courses. Rather than taking a particular stance, panelists will speak candidly about both the wins and the failures, because the abandoned and unexpected results often teach us as much as the successes do.
Panelists will each address different dimensions of the AI-in-teaching experience: course design and preparation, in-class tools and real-time engagement, assessment and feedback practices, and student-facing AI use such as assignments where students engage with AI as part of the work itself. Together, these perspectives offer a grounded, multidisciplinary look at the intentional choices instructors are making as they navigate an evolving technological landscape. Session attendees can expect a lively, refreshingly honest conversation that looks at both the possibilities and the tensions of teaching and learning in the age of AI and will leave with real, classroom ready ideas that they can use in their own teaching.
Presenters
Jennifer Grewe
Associate Professor
Jennifer Grewe is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Utah State University, where she directs the Connections first-year experience program and co-directs the Undergraduate Psychology Program. Her work spans teaching, mentoring, and student development from students' first semester through research, leadership, and professional preparation. Jenn teaches courses in General Psychology, Human Connection, Happiness, Health Psychology. She also hosts A Curious Learning Curve, a podcast on instructor presence and student engagement in online learning. She has been awarded the CEHS Teacher of the Year, Undergraduate Faculty Research Mentor of the Year, and the Undergraduate Faculty Mentor of the Year. She mentors undergraduates in research and leadership, serves as faculty advisor for USU's Psi Chi chapter, and is an active member of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her husband and three daughters.
Marlene Graf
Prof Practice Assoc Professor
Marlene Graf is a registered dietitian and Professional Practice Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences at USU. She has taught courses in a variety of formats since 2007 and was the recipient of the Eldon J. Gardner Teacher of the Year Award in 2013. She enjoys cycling, hiking, podcasts, and little adventures with her family.
Brian Warnick
Professor
Brian Warnick has been a professor of agricultural education in the Department of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education since 2004. He was raised in Wyoming and received bachelor's degrees in Secondary Education-Biology and Special Education and a master's degree in Agricultural Systems Technology, all from USU. He taught high school agriculture and biology in the Box Elder School District for seven years before accepting a faculty position at Oregon State University where he earned a Ph.D. From 2014-2022, he served as associate dean for academic programs in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and was the head of the Department of Technology, Design, and Technical Education from 2022-2024. Brian is a recipient of the USDA Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award and USU’s Eldon J. Gardner University Teacher of the Year Award. He and his wife, Tami, live in Providence and have three children.
Russ Winn
Lecturer
Russ Winn teaches composition, research, and literature classes at Utah State University. His work focuses on AI and writing, as well as professional communication. His research and writing explore his childhood home in Preston, Idaho, and the landscape archaeology surrounding the Bear River Massacre.