As teachers and scholars, Gettysburg College faculty continually hone their teaching practices to fully engage their students in academic exploration.
Gettysburg College has recently received a $15,900 collaborative grant from the Central Pennsylvania Consortium (CPC) to support faculty enrichment and education for navigating technology use in the classroom. Funding provided by the grant supports an educational initiative titled “Cultivating Attention and Engagement: Navigating Technology Use in the Liberal Arts Classroom.” The project is a collaboration between Gettysburg College and Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
East Asian Studies Prof. Junjie Luo, who directs Gettysburg’s Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning (JCCTL), said the grant has supported multiple activities and workshops surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and its challenges and opportunities for teaching and learning.
“The classroom lies at the heart of teaching and learning at Gettysburg and is an important part of the liberal arts education experience,” Luo said. “With the support of this grant, the JCCTL can offer more opportunities for participants to engage in discussions about emerging trends in classroom teaching and learning, particularly those related to technology use. By drawing on collective wisdom, these efforts contribute to enriching the classroom experience for faculty and students.”
During the winter break, Luo and Lee Franklin, a professor of philosophy and interim director of the Faculty Center at Franklin & Marshall, co-organized a well-attended workshop on digital distraction. This spring, the grant will support learning circles that will allow faculty from both colleges to collaborate on topics related to classroom technology.
“Through conversations on topics ranging from AI to digital distraction, faculty are exploring effective ways to best engage our students in the classroom at Gettysburg and to help prepare them for working and learning in a digital world beyond our classrooms.”
– Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
Michelle Schmidt
The goal of this collaboration, Luo said, is to create actionable plans that consider the challenges and opportunities of keeping students engaged in learning as technology usage rapidly increases.
“This collaborative effort not only tackles the immediate challenges technology presents in the classroom but also cultivates a learning environment that supports student success,” he added. “I am deeply grateful to the Provost’s Office and the College Grants Office for their support in securing and implementing this grant and to the faculty for their participation and engagement.”
“We are excited that Prof. Luo, in his first year as JCCTL director, took the initiative to secure this important grant,” said Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Michelle Schmidt. “Through conversations on topics ranging from AI to digital distraction, faculty are exploring effective ways to best engage our students in the classroom at Gettysburg and to help prepare them for working and learning in a digital world beyond our classrooms.”
These collaborative workshops for faculty build upon the work that Gettysburg has already begun to help our students gain the knowledge and skills to navigate a world shaped by technological advancements. In 2023, Health Sciences Prof. Josef Brandauer, former JCCTL director, and English Prof. Melissa Forbes collaborated on a project that created and compiled AI resources and guidelines for their fellow educators. During the summer of 2023, Brandauer and Forbes led several AI-focused information sessions that discussed how AI and similar forms of technology impact their teaching and their students’ learning.
The JCCTL also created an online resource for faculty and staff to reference throughout the academic year related to AI usage in the classroom. The New York Times endorsed the JCCTL’s proactive approach to preparing Gettysburg College faculty for AI and its emerging influence in higher education.
About the Central Pennsylvania Consortium (CPC)
Founded in 1968, the Central Pennsylvania Consortium (CPC) advances institutional collaboration and intellectual vitality among Gettysburg, Dickinson, and Franklin & Marshall colleges in Central Pennsylvania. Through the CPC, students, faculty, administrators, and residents of communities served by these institutions enjoy a diverse range of academic and cultural programs fostering educational enrichment for all participants.
Related Links:
External Links:
- The New York Times: “How schools can survive (and maybe even thrive) with A.I. this fall”
By Michael Vyskocil
Photos by Casey Martin Photography and Jason Minick
Posted: 02/05/25