When generative AI became available in late 2022, faculty at Northwestern addressed the challenges and opportunities posed by large language models for University courses. Many faculty members participated in workshops, symposia, and conferences. Some of their insights and ideas are captured in this video series.
McCormick School of Engineering
Kate Compton explains that students can get far more value from ChatGPT by treating it as an interactive learning partner rather than a tool that simply produces answers, using thoughtful questioning, open‑ended prompts, and role‑playing to turn it into a powerful tutor that supports deeper understanding and more effective learning.
Watch "ask the right questions"
The Writing Center
Elizabeth Lenaghan emphasizes that as AI becomes embedded in everyday writing tools, students and instructors need to understand how these models work, recognize the biases they can reproduce, and clearly define appropriate use, all while reaffirming the value of traditional writing processes like drafting and revision.
WATCH "Understand How AI Models Work"
School of Communication
Moya Bailey highlights how the Digital Apothecary lab uses AI tools like Midjourney to help students create and reflect, while also revealing the biases and limitations built into these technologies and encouraging a thoughtful, critical approach to their role in the classroom.
Watch "The Digital Apothecary"
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Ken Alder integrates chatbots into his history courses by having students compare AI‑generated summaries to their own research, showing them how, at times, the bot’s output can be shallow and generic, and reinforcing the value of deep, original historical investigation while helping students learn to use the tool more thoughtfully.
School of Communication
Ignacio Cruz teaches students how to understand AI-enabled hiring tools by having them interact with résumé scoring systems and examine companies’ model audits, helping them see that these technologies aren’t magical but systems whose assumptions and impacts can be unpacked and critically evaluated.
Watch "Going Beyond the Classroom"
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Chin‑Hung Chang integrated ChatGPT into her third‑year Chinese course by having students compare AI‑generated information with a book and then write an essay that blends their own writing with clearly marked AI‑assisted sections. She sees this as a way for students to learn language structures, verify information, and build lifelong skills for using diverse learning tools.
Watch "Writing a paper using ChatGPT"