Artificial intelligence has rapidly become an integral tool in workplaces, classrooms, and daily life. Students, educators, and professionals alike are embracing its potential, making it essential to stay ahead of the curve by understanding and effectively utilizing these resources. In response to the exponential growth of AI tools in higher education over the past two years, Ball State University has taken a proactive role in fostering innovation by developing its own AI tools for staff, faculty, and students. To support this initiative, the Digital Corps hosted a series of training sessions designed to introduce these new tools and explore their applications. Through three sessions, 185 faculty and staff learned about these innovative tools.
During these sessions, participants gained valuable knowledge and left with a clear understanding of how to utilize Ball State’s AI tools. They were equipped to implement at least one tool in their teaching or research, identify relevant sections of the Ball State AI Ethics Policy, and integrate ethical considerations into future classroom or workplace discussions.
The sessions each began with an introduction to Ball State’s AI Ethics Guidelines, which have been approved and vetted by the Provost and several college deans. The training emphasized the university’s efforts to implement these tools responsibly, highlighting the standards upheld through rigorous reviews and guidelines. Key discussions from attendees included the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in AI tools, as well as the role of human oversight in aligning these tools with social norms.
Following this introduction, attendees were divided into small groups to discuss questions related to the ethical use of AI. Participants explored their personal definitions of “ethical AI use,” shared how their departments were currently addressing ethical considerations, and identified tasks they deemed appropriate or inappropriate for AI applications. A recurring theme from the discussions was the need for greater clarity on accessibility in AI. Common ethical practices highlighted by participants included encouraging proper citations, using clear prompts, and conducting thorough research on the tools being utilized.
The session then shifted focus to the four new AI tools being developed at Ball State: Google Cloud Lab, Financial Aid, Grants AI, and Cardinal DocuQuery. Each tool was presented in detail, with live demonstrations to showcase its functionality. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the anticipated availability and timelines for each tool. During each session, attendees were engaged and excited about each tool, but the Financial Aid and Grants AI tools generated significant interest and were met with positive feedback.
After the demonstrations, participants reconvened in small groups to discuss how they planned to use these tools in their respective roles and the potential impact on the campus community. Responses varied widely, from leveraging Cardinal DocuQuery to summarize and compare documents to utilizing the Financial Aid tool for future orientation programs.
To conclude the session, attendees were briefly introduced to additional AI tools, such as Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, and Gemini. Attendees were also informed about the upcoming launch of the Cardinal Concierge chatbot!
These training sessions generated enthusiastic feedback, with attendees expressing excitement about integrating these tools into their daily workflows. The engaged participation and positive reception from campus leaders underscored the potential of these innovations to transform teaching, research, and administrative processes. The Digital Corps looks forward to building on this momentum in the upcoming sessions. Unable to attend these sessions but interested in learning more about the tools mentioned? Check them out here!