At the end of last semester, Tyeson Seale, Director of Academic Technology at the Meadows School of the Arts, hosted what he believes is just the beginning of many more AI-focused sessions to come at SMU.
The workshop introduced Meadows faculty and staff to generative AI—its purpose, various models, and how it can be leveraged in the classroom. Tyeson shared, “My goal really was to introduce people to these tools and get them comfortable using AI. I think with most people, once they’ve used it once or twice, usually for personal reasons, that’s when they start thinking about work applications. We’re not trying to make people use AI or tell them exactly how to use it unless they ask.”
The class participated in a tiered prompting exercise, testing the same query across different AI models to compare results. Using basic, detailed, and advanced prompts, they explored how refining inputs impacts the quality of AI-generated responses.
While Tyeson designed the workshop with practical applications for personal AI use, the session concluded with a discussion on AI tools for faculty productivity and teaching. Faculty explored how AI can assist with:
- Lesson Planning – Generating discussion questions, case studies, and exercises.
- Email Writing & Communication – Crafting polished, professional emails.
- Grading & Feedback – Structuring rubrics and summarizing student work.
- Time-Saving Tasks – Automating repetitive administrative duties.
Key Takeaways from the Workshop
- Faculty don’t need to be AI experts, but developing AI literacy is essential to keep pace with student use.
- AI can enhance teaching and administrative tasks without compromising academic integrity.
- Personal experimentation helps faculty understand AI’s potential before applying it in the classroom.
- Students want AI incorporated into their learning because they recognize its value in future careers.
The workshop was well received, and under the direction of Jason Warner, Associate CIO for Academic Technology, the goal is to integrate AI literacy training into faculty development initiatives across different schools.
Generative AI Guides
Tyeson has also played a key role in developing AI literacy resources tailored specifically for Meadows faculty. These include:
- Generative AI for Course Design & Assessment
- Ethical & Responsible AI Use
- AI for Arts & Communication
- Accessibility & Inclusivity in AI
- AI for the Evolving Classroom
Tyeson, along with other Academic Technology Service Directors across campus, continues to make significant strides in hosting school-specific workshops, providing 1:1 training, and customizing AI-specific guides for each school. When I asked Tyeson about the Generative AI Guides, he shared, “It’s about AI literacy—helping faculty understand what these tools can do so they can make informed decisions about incorporating them into their teaching. The guides we’ve created address everything from course design to ethical use, and they’re specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of each school’s faculty.”
For more information on incorporating AI into your courses, please reach out to your Academic Technology Service Director.
