New generative artificial intelligence micromodules are now available for Concordia faculty

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is a hot topic. With the rapid emergence of AI and wide adoption of multiple technologies and tools — from ChatGPT and Elicit, to Dall-E 3 and beyond — GenAI is transforming many sectors and fields, including education, at a fast pace.

In this context, Concordia and McGill libraries have joined forces to develop a short training program for faculty professional development on the topic of GenAI. The aim is to develop a common, foundational understanding of GenAI, so faculty can engage in conversations, experimentation and more advanced learning if desired.

Through conversation, formal and informal surveys, and discussion groups, faculty at both universities have revealed an awareness of the importance of GenAI and keen interest in the topic. However, the majority identify significant gaps in their knowledge and skills, having not yet had the time to learn enough about the topic to inform their thinking or use of GenAI.

An environmental scan of existing online learning resources indicates that there is limited material currently available for university faculty on GenAI and what does exist does not meet the specific needs of faculty.

Concordia and McGill have therefore developed nine short online micromodules that form the  GenAI Quickstart: Foundations for Faculty project. The micromodules present common topics, questions and use cases tailored to the needs and concerns of professors. 

In line with Concordia’s values to support and provide open educational resources to its community, the micromodules are openly licensed using the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license. They will be available upon request for other universities to incorporate at their own institutions.

Collaborative development

Librarians from Concordia and McGill provided much of the content for the micromodules. Mike Barcomb, the educational technologist at the Centre for Teaching and Learning, and Paul Fournier, director of the Digital Transformation Office, were also tapped for their expertise on several topics. A team from eConcordia — developers of Concordia’s online credited courses — contributed its expertise to build the learning design and produce the micromodules.

Anne Whitelaw, Concordia’s provost and vice-president, academic, recognizes the importance and timeliness of this collaborative project. “I am delighted to have these modules available for faculty, as we all need a shared understanding to navigate both the possibilities and implications of AI together.”

Whitelaw adds that she is proud of this excellent and timely collaboration between Concordia and McGill libraries and the online learning team at eConcordia.

“I know many of our faculty will find these modules helpful, and I’m very pleased that they will be openly licensed for other institutions to use as well.”

Dianne Cmor is the associate university librarian for teaching and learning at Concordia and one of the project’s coordinators. “The GenAI Quickstart project has leveraged the knowledge and skills of librarians at Concordia and McGill, who have long-standing expertise in information and digital literacy and emerging technologies,” Cmor notes.

“Designing concise but meaningful modules was crucial in our thinking, as we know faculty are often time-poor and prefer targeted information. We were very lucky to work with the talented eConcordia team.”

Each online micromodule is delivered in a self-training format and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Module topics include “What is GenAI?,” “Types of GenAI Tools,” “Potential Uses in Teaching,” and “Potential Uses in Research,” among others.

The modules offer a combination of scenarios, videos, use cases, activities and demonstrations. They are designed to be interactive, flexible, accessible and engaging to meet faculty time constraints and interests. They can be completed in any order and revisited as needed. A French-language version is in development and coming soon.

After completing the modules, professors will be able to understand the key aspects of GenAI, apply them in their academic practice where relevant, and be better prepared for further learning as these technologies evolve.

Explore the short micromodules on Concordia Library’s GenAI Quickstart: Foundations for Faculty project page.