Spring 2024 CWSP Speaking Faculty Engagement Sessions

The teaching of writing and speaking across the disciplines is way of understanding meaning making in different social, cultural, and disciplinary contexts. These engagement sessions focus on an inclusive understanding of disciplinary meaning making that promotes linguistic diversity, multiple modalities, and the productive differences in patterns of meaning from one context to another. Sessions will focus on writing and speaking assignments, in-class activities, and assessments that are applicable across student populations and honor vernacular, academic, and professional language use.

Spring 2024 Engagement Sessions

Making Friends With HAL 9000: Panel on Benefits of AI in Communication

Tuesday, April 9, 2024
9 to 10 a.m. via Zoom

As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, it is crucial for educators and researchers in communication across multiple disciplines to explore and embrace the potential benefits of Artificial Intelligence in enhancing communication skills and pedagogy. Panelists discuss their use of AI in public speaking, language instruction, social media marketing, and art education.

Panelists:
Monique Sacay-Bagwell, Department of Media and Communication, Lander University, PitchVantage: Using AI Communication Tools for Public Speaking
Kathryn McLaughlin-Rojas, Department of English and Foreign Languages, Lander University. Using ChatGPT ESL and Google Translate with Foreign Languages
Cherie Rains, Department of Marketing, Lander University, Using ChatGPT for Social Media Marketing in Business
Kristen Applegate, Art Education and Experiential Learning, Lander University
Using Canva Text to Image in Art Education

Facilitated by: CWSP co-directors, Dr. Kirsti Cole and Dr. Roy Schwartzman.

Argumentation, Communication, and Critical Thinking: Teaching Durable Skills to Prepare Our Students for Success in an AI-World

Monday, March 18, 2024
1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom

As AI reshapes what education and work will look like, equipping students with durable skills has never been more crucial. This presentation outlines the significance of helping students develop these durable skills, including core competencies in argumentation, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration. Focusing on developing these skills will help address faculty concern over student reliance on AI tools and will ensure that the university better prepares students for success in the AI workplace.

Facilitated by: Guest Speaker Dr. Anand Rao (University of Mary Washington)

Building Chatbots for AI Literacy

Tuesday, March 19, 2024
1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom

While most students have used generative AI tools like ChatGPT, that does not mean that they have a real understanding of how those tools work and how they can best make use of them. In this workshop, we will share a communication course assignment used in Fall 2023, where students built their own AI chatbot and then presented it to the class. Using the no-code platform Playlab.ai, participants will learn how to guide their students in developing personalized AI chatbots. This assignment helps students develop a more sophisticated understanding of how AI chatbots work, what their limitations are, and how they can be adapted for specific use. The assignment also helps students develop the durable skills they will need in the AI workplace. The assignment is easily adapted to courses across the university.

Facilitated by: Guest Speaker Dr. Anand Rao (University of Mary Washington)

Classroom Connections for Public Advocacy: Supporting Student Voices for Democracy

Wednesday, February 21, 2024
1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom

Faculty will be introduced to simple, inclusive, and creative classroom activities that support student voices as public advocates. Rounds of discussion will generate custom ideas, critical questions, and planning efforts to meet individual classroom needs.

Facilitated by: Dr. Spoma Jovanovic is Professor Emerita of Communication Studies, UNC Greensboro. She is a nationally recognized, multiple award-winning community engagement scholar whose career has advanced advocacy, activism, and collaboration in our communities.

Assessing and Addressing Communication Apprehension and Anxiety

Thursday, March 7, 2024
10 to 11 a.m. via Zoom

Decades of research has correlated fear of communicating in public speaking, interpersonal, conversational, or group settings with negative academic and personal outcomes. This workshop introduces participants to the standard assessment tool for measuring levels of communication apprehension and many techniques shown to improve confidence in communicating.