AI Adventure series

Artificial Intelligence for Higher Education Teaching Excellence

By Matthew Abramson

A brand-new, faculty-focused training series just launched to help University of Florida instructors gain a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence. The “AI Adventure” series explores the transformative potential of AI, how AI systems work, ethical implications for AI in education, and ways AI can be applied to their own teaching.

"The AI Adventure isn't just another professional development course," said Dr. Alexandra Bitton-Bailey, director of UF's Center for Teaching Excellence. "It's a thoughtfully crafted journey that puts human connection at the heart of technological transformation. We believe that the most powerful educational experiences happen when AI amplifies rather than replaces the human elements that make learning meaningful."

This 3-part course series guides instructors through a hands-on journey to thoughtfully integrate AI into their courses, from simply building AI literacy and improving prompting skills, to designing accessible and engaging instruction that boosts student participation.

“All of the voices and perspectives in this course will give faculty a well-rounded foundation for building their personal compass around AI use,” said Jenna Molen, project manager with the AI² Center. “The product models good pedagogy that embraces critical thinking, putting learners in the driver seat of their own spaceship, rather than giving a generic, prescriptive approach for integrating AI.”

The AI Adventure series intends to honor both cutting-edge innovation and timeless teaching wisdom—where technology serves pedagogy, and every educator leaves empowered to create more meaningful learning experiences for their students.

“Leaning into the delightfully campy space exploration theme, the instructors use creative metaphors and interactive elements to make AI concepts relatable, all while keeping the content anchored in AI's real-world implications for teaching and learning,” said Dr. Emily Bald, associate instructional professor with the University Writing Program. “Many lessons end with reflection prompts or hypothetical situations for educators to consider, encouraging them to use their new knowledge to make more informed decisions about AI's role in their teaching.”

A crew of top UF faculty designed and developed this course series, in collaboration with the AI² Center, the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), and UF Information Technology’s Center for Instructional Technology and Training (CITT). Mission commanders Dr. Alexandra Bitton-Bailey, Brian Shilling, and Mackenzie Donnovan lead the way. Contributing UF experts for the first course, AI Adventure: AI Fundamentals, include Dr. Andrea Ramirez-Salgado, Dr. Catia Silva, Dr. Joel Davis, Dr. Matt Gitzendanner, Chris Sharp, Dr. Sanethia Thomas and Dr. Hans van Oostrom.

“These courses won’t only provide information; they’ll provide differing perspectives from more than 25 education professionals who are all navigating the universe of AI,” said Brian Schilling, instructional designer with the CITT.

Each course is offered asynchronously each semester, as well as sections with live office hour sessions. Those who complete all three courses in the series earn their AI in Higher Education micro-credential badge. Learn more here.