Alabama State University faculty and staff are embracing the power of artificial intelligence (AI), using it to enhance teaching, streamline administrative tasks and equip students with critical skills for the future.
In a forum held at noon Sept. 20, in the lecture hall of the Levi Watkins Learning Center, members of the university community gathered to share their experiences with AI and discuss how its integration into the university’s systems is benefiting students and educators.
Kenley Obas, associate professor of applied technology and one of the forum’s chairs, explained how AI has become an essential tool in his work.
“I use AI for everything,” he said. From helping me grade students and analyze large data sets to improving my writing. It is almost like a second brain for repetitive tasks.”
Obas also highlighted AI’s potential to help students improve their writing and critical thinking skills.
“AI can target specific areas and help students make better decisions, but it is important to use it as a tool, not something that does all the work for them.”
Sarita Strother, associate vice president for business and finance, noted how AI is already playing a significant role in her day-to-day tasks.
“I use tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly to craft emails, memos and formal letters,” Strother said. “AI is here, and it has been here, so we need to help our students understand what it can do and what it cannot do.”
Strother also emphasized the importance of responsible AI use among students, particularly with tools provided by the university.
“Learn about AI but use it responsibly here at ASU,” Strother said. “We have a tool that we talked about today called Stinger. If you have professors encouraging you to use it, that is a starting point because it is something we can monitor and something you can rely on. I encourage students to use AI, but just use it responsibly.”
Albert Calhoun, a campus administrator responsible for integrating Stinger (the university’s AI tool) into the university’s learning management system, spoke about the importance of teaching students how to effectively use AI.
“I use AI to double-check my work and ensure the information I have is valid,” Calhoun said. “The key advice for students is to practice prompting. The more specific and direct you are, the better AI works.”
Calhoun offered this advice to students on mastering AI tools.
“Practice your prompting. Know your material prior, but most importantly, practice prompting,” Calhoun said. “Prompting is about being very specific and direct. The more you practice it, the better you’ll be. I always tell people this about AI: AI is not going to take your job. AI is going to take the jobs of people who do not know how to use it.”
Mia Oliver Williams, director of continuing education, highlighted the broader benefits of AI for both students and faculty.
“This forum was very beneficial, not only for faculty but also for departments that could benefit from understanding AI better,” Williams said. She explained that AI, especially the Stinger platform, is built into both the university’s campus platform and the SkillzTech platform used for continuing education. “For students, understanding how to prompt AI to get the right information and recognizing valid versus invalid sources is crucial.”
Williams continued.
“I think the benefit for students with AI is that they will understand how to prompt the technology to get the information they need,” Williams said. “It is also important for us to work with them to understand valid sources versus invalid sources and how to use the technology to their benefit, not their detriment.”