How AI shapes what we know, and how SMU Libraries is helping
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape how we access, analyze, and produce information, SMU Libraries is taking a proactive, campus-wide approach to exploring its impact—integrating AI into student learning, faculty development, and research support through collaborative initiatives led by the Libraries and in partnership with other departments.
As part of this effort, librarians are bringing their subject expertise into the classroom to help students engage with AI in meaningful ways, emphasizing critical thinking, the thoughtful evaluation of sources, and the development of efficient research strategies.
“Our Information Systems and Society course covers a lot of different technologies and their impact on knowing, but we have taken particular care to make investigating how AI works, how it influences knowing, and how it impacts information a fundamental part of student learning,” says Julia Anderson, social science research librarian, who taught the course alongside Megan Heuer, director of educational initiatives. “Students naturally have many questions about AI, so by integrating AI literacy into our course we were able to prepare students for their academic future and beyond.”
Even when librarians are not the primary instructors in a course, they are always available to support students with AI-related questions in any class. For example, students can access the Research with Generative AI guide, Canvas modules and AI Resources at SMU guide, which provide useful information about AI research tools along with best practices for using them effectively and responsibly. Whenever students have questions or need help with AI, subject librarians are ready to assist.
Advancing academic research and instruction for faculty
SMU Libraries also supports faculty and researchers by offering training on AI-driven research tools. These efforts foster an understanding of AI’s capabilities and limitations, empowering academic professionals to integrate AI effectively into their work.
Faculty support is ongoing after the recent conclusion of the AI for Research Summer Cohort, an interdisciplinary cohort of SMU faculty to evaluate AI tools for literature reviews, led by Carrie Johnston, director of research and scholarly initiatives. SMU Libraries leads departmental and faculty workshops on teaching research assignments with generative AI, also consulting with faculty on AI’s potential impact on research (e.g., impact scores, evaluation of sources, and Open Access publishing). SMU librarians consistently evaluate and support AI tools which could streamline and add value to academic research on the Hilltop, recently embarking on a trial period of the AI tool Consensus.
The work continues
Upcoming initiatives at SMU Libraries also include an AI for College workshop led by Julia Anderson, a campus campaign to raise awareness of AI literacy, and more developments from the Research and Scholarly Initiatives team and other dedicated librarians. Additional student support for navigating AI in a dynamic landscape will include a new Canvas module available at the start of this semester, What do we mean by AI?, which will provide insight into the different levels of AI, the connection between AI, machine learning and deep learning, and AI subfields and output interventions. Check out the SMU Libraries tutorials page when classes begin to use this resource.
Learn more about AI at SMU Libraries, the new realities of generative AI, library search and databases using AI, and the ethics of this new technology.
This post was written in collaboration with Director of Educational Initiatives Megan Heuer, Social Sciences Research Librarian Julia Anderson, and Director of Research and Scholarly Initiatives Carrie Johnston. Megan, Julia, and Carrie work diligently to empower researchers and students to excel in a dynamic educational landscape and use their expertise daily while interacting with those in the SMU community.