How to Actually Use AI

Are you curious about AI but unsure how to use it for meaningful academic work? Whether you’ve never used AI, or have already begun integrating it into your teaching practice, join us for a session exploring the ways you might effectively use the PSU-supported AI tools—Google Gemini and Notebook LM—throughout the teaching and learning process.

We’ll consider the stages of learning as we unpack the benefits of generative AI for instructors while creating content, designing effective courses, or supporting students. There will be plenty of opportunities to experiment with these tools and discuss specific applications for your courses.

Meet your facilitators

Andrew Lawrence

Education Technology Specialist

Andrew is passionate about making online education better in his community by directly supporting instructors in online environments. He received his M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy from Portland State University with a focus in Online Education. He has a deep interest in the learning outcomes of students in online learning environments. He also has a deep interest in watermelon, pockets, coffee and hiking to the hot springs. His current research explores how constructivist assumptions about technology influence pedagogical innovation in LMS platforms.

Ashlie Sarsgard

Educational Technology Specialist

Ashlie has worked in the education and training field for over twenty-five years, with the majority of that time serving higher ed and adult learners. Though her main expertise is in instructional design, online program development, and higher ed educational technology, she has also worked as a web producer and Pre-K–12 educational product and curriculum developer, has taught language arts at the K–12 level, and has also taught introductory and advanced composition, creative writing, copywriting, and writing for health professions to college and adult learners. She loves learning and teaching, and has strong interests in equity, accessibility, social justice, and student-centered, inclusive learning.

Ashlie serves as a co-lead of a higher education DEI Collaborative, working with individuals from over 70 institutions to annotate a repository of inclusive teaching practices and help infuse DEI into course quality standards. Ashlie holds an MFA in poetry from NYU, an MA in fiction from Johns Hopkins, and an MFA in fiction from the University of Maryland College Park. She has spent most of her life in Baltimore and New York and moved to Portland in 2020.

Good to Know

All PSU instructors are welcome!

The Office of Academic Innovation is committed to making our events accessible to all Portland State University faculty and staff. If you require an accommodation or service to participate, please contact us at oai@pdx.edu at least 7 days prior to the event.

Contact us with any questions!

If you need assistance, please contact the Office of Academic Innovation front desk at oai@pdx.edu.