Faculty Case Studies

Course Production Efficiency

Boosting Engagement and Access

Strategy: Use AI to Enhance Engagement and Accessibility 

Artificial Intelligence can be leveraged to design interactive, learner-centered activities while simultaneously strengthening accessibility in online courses. By using AI to draft formative discussion prompts, polls, and accessible learning materials, instructors can promote ongoing engagement, gather diagnostic insights into student understanding, and ensure broad access to course content. 

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SOW 6305 – Foundations of Social Work with Individuals, Families, and Groups 

In SOW 6305 Foundations of Social Work with Individuals, Families, and Groups, Melissa Thompson collaborated with Learning Designer Janine to enhance student engagement and accessibility of course materials through intentional use of generative AI tools. 

To promote active participation in an asynchronous learning environment, the instructional team used Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini to draft discussion prompts and poll activities in Harmonize aligned with module-level learning outcomes. These low-stakes formative assessments were integrated into asynchronous modules. The goal was not only to foster engagement, but also to generate actionable insight into student understanding. Poll and discussion responses allowed faculty to identify misconceptions, common challenges, and gaps in comprehension related to readings, videos, lectures, and interviews, informing targeted instructional adjustments. 

In addition to engagement enhancement strategies, AI tools were used to strengthen course accessibility. Gemini and ChatGPT assisted in converting complex handwritten diagrams into accessible digital formats and generating descriptive alternative text for visual materials. Instructor review remained central throughout this process to ensure that all content was accurate, discipline-appropriate, and aligned with learning outcomes. 

AI Tools Used: Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Harmonize (for polls and discussions) 

Digital Learning Designer Tips 

  1. When creating discussions and polls provide AI with specific module objectives and cognitive targets (e.g., Bloom’s taxonomy levels) to generate more meaningful prompts. Once created, treat AI-generated content as drafts. Revise for clarity, relevance, and depth, and compare outputs across different AI tools. You can also ask AI to generate case studies, scenarios, real-world applications, and reflective prompts to maintain engagement across modules. 
  2. To enhance accessibility, review and refine AI-generated image alt text descriptions, especially for discipline-specific diagrams and handwritten content. Develop guidelines for alt text length, terminology, and detail level to ensure uniformity across materials and when digitizing handwritten materials, confirm accuracy in formulas, symbols, and specialized notation. 
  3. Use AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement for instructional expertise. Your knowledge of students, context, and learning science should guide all final decisions. 
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Janine Diaz-Cotto - Learning Designer 

 

Quick Details

Faculty Developer: Melissa Thompson

College: USF College of Behavioral and Community Sciences

Learning Designer: Janine Diaz Cotto

AI Tools Used: Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Harmonize