Artificial intelligence in classrooms as it impacts faculty is the focus of the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu online event, Computational Thinking Hui Panel Series #2: AI in the Classrooms, which will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25, via Zoom.
Participants will reflect on the first panel held last month — Computational Thinking Hui Panel Series #1: Empowering Faculty through Indigenous Perspectives (access the YouTube link and summary here) — then engage in a conversation about AI in the classroom from the faculty perspective.
With the use of AI growing exponentially in our lives, everyone is welcome to join the conversation, said Dr. Esther Widiasih, professor of Mathematics with the Math, Natural, and Health Sciences Division at UH West O‘ahu.
“Staff, students, and faculty alike have AI as part of their devices now,” Widiasih said. “And the capability of these AI-powered tools are at a staggering level, anywhere from writing a paper in the tone of your choosing to providing solutions to math problems, even for advanced courses. This means that as faculty, at the very least, we need to rethink how we conduct our classes, how we assess and authenticate our students’ work, and much more.”
Widiasih continued, “While in this next panel, we focus on AI in the classrooms as it impacts faculty, we realize that the impacts on students and staff are also pertinent. There will be more conversations in the future that focus on that aspect.”
Featured panelists at the event include UH West O‘ahu’s Dr. Bradley Ashburn, associate professor with Math, Natural, and Health Sciences; Dr. Matthew Lau, assistant professor with Social Sciences Capstone Information; Dr. Michael Pak, assistant professor with Humanities, Dr. Fiorella Penaloza, assistant professor with Business Administration; and Dr. Chanelle Tolentino, faculty with Maryknoll High School.
The Computational Thinking Hui is a gathering place primarily for UH West O‘ahu faculty and staff to equip them with the tools in a learning community to elevate computational thinking in teaching practices; expand the knowledge base to serve a diverse community of students in an Indigenous-serving institution; and provide funding to support computational thinking research for themselves and for their students.
The Computational Thinking Hui and its monthly panel events are part of the Partnership in Advancing Computational Thinking (PACT) project, a collaboration between UH West O‘ahu and Kaua‘i Community College. As part of PACT, researchers are exploring a model for Native Hawaiian and other Indigenous-serving institutions to better prepare students and faculty in the face of emerging technological advances, such as generative AI.
The project, funded by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Tribal Colleges and University Program, is led by Kaua‘i CC Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Frankie Harriss and Co-PI Ryan Girard, and by UH West O‘ahu PI Widiasih and Co-PI Dr. Fiorella Penaloza.
The Computational Thinking Hui panel series aims to empower UH West O‘ahu faculty, staff, students, and community members with innovative tools to enhance computational thinking in teaching practices. To attend Computational Thinking Hui Panel Series #2: AI in the Classrooms, register at https://go.hawaii.edu/aUE. For inquiries, email widiasih@hawaii.edu.