The January Faculty Institute enabled Gettysburg College faculty, administrators, and academic staff to collaborate and apply new insights on AI technology to their teaching, curriculum, and support for student learning
Committed to equipping our students to learn and lead in a rapidly changing world, Gettysburg College faculty gathered for the January Faculty Institute (JFI), presented by the Provost’s Office and the Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning (JCCTL) on Wednesday, Jan. 14. The event brought together 39 faculty members, academic staff, and administrators to discuss how to navigate student learning in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).
During the morning session, faculty participated in circle discussions that promoted dialogue on questions such as how to develop the judgment to know when to eliminate and how to incorporate AI tools into a learning experience. Participants discussed ways to help students develop the skills, habits of mind, knowledge, and judgment for the appropriate use of AI. Conversations also focused on best practices for assessing student learning in the AI age and on incorporating AI into the curriculum.
Michelle Schmidt, associate provost for faculty affairs, believes that the JFI promoted the type of collaborative learning environment that remains a hallmark of a Gettysburg education.
“The circle discussions in the morning revealed a genuine curiosity about difficult questions related to student learning, assessment of student work, and curricular design,” Schmidt said.
“We cannot ignore AI…. We need to think anew about what we are teaching and why.”
– Psychology Prof. Richard Russell
For Psychology Prof. Richard Russell, the discussions offered him an opportunity to speak about the implications of AI with faculty colleagues and College administrators. “The consensus was that we cannot ignore AI, that we need to think anew about what we are teaching and why, and that, in many cases, we need to significantly rethink our learning environments and assignments,” he said. “I left feeling very encouraged by the level of engagement by the faculty.”
During the afternoon, participants journeyed to the AI and Media Lab in the Plank Gym basement to engage in several AI showcases. Topics presented during the showcases included Moodle AI tools, AI use in the humanities, and AI image and video creation.
“The afternoon sessions brought AI tools to life, demonstrating concrete examples of what AI can do in educational contexts,” Schmidt said.
“I enjoyed the demo on generating images and short videos using genAI (generative AI),” said Africana Studies Prof. Abou Bamba. “I remain convinced that students need to learn the fundamentals of good research and good writing. In other words, they need to discriminate between sound work and unsound work before the use of genAI.”
Reflecting on the JFI, Anthropology Prof. Kirby Farah believes that students need to master essential skills and connect meaningfully with course content before engaging with AI.
“The goal of a liberal arts college is to expose students to a wide range of perspectives and to encourage them to develop as critical, self-possessed thinkers,” Farah said. “While AI can certainly threaten this kind of education, by proactively adapting our courses we can work toward ensuring that students are better equipped to use generative AI discerningly and in ways that enhance learning rather than detract from it.”
“The richness of the conversations at the January Faculty Institute on issues related to teaching, learning, and AI was truly impressive,” said JCCTL Director and East Asian Studies Prof. Junjie Luo. “Equally inspiring was the energy and generosity that faculty, administrators, and academic staff brought to learning from one another and to applying new insights to reimagine our pedagogy.
“This collective work reflects a profound commitment to our students—keeping their curiosity and evolving needs in mind as we navigate the new educational landscape presented by AI tools.”
By Michael Vyskocil
Main photo by Abbey Frisco; supporting photos by Wali Muhammad ’28
Posted: 01/27/26