AI @ Bates
Wednesday, August 27, 10 – 11 am (Roger Williams 105)
Thursday, August 28, 1:30-2:30 pm (Roger Williams 105)

An overview of the AI resources readily available on campus for teaching and learning: including generative image tools such as Adobe Firefly and the web-based platform Adobe Express; various Adobe Creative Cloud applications (Photoshop, Premiere Pro, etc); Google Gemini; Google NotebookLM; as well as freely available software (LMStudio.ai and Ollama) for experimenting with Large Language Models and Chatbots securely on your personal computer.

Women in Technology @ Bowdoin

Women in Technology at Bowdoin is hosting a half-day convening to be held on May 9, 2025, “Convene, Connect, and Collaborate: Exploring the Future of AI at Liberal Arts Colleges.” All Colby, Bates and Bowdoin community members are welcome to attend.

Please use the form below to register; the deadline for registration is end of day Wednesday, April 30th: https://forms.office.com/r/cE19TeL2si

Event Overview: This half-day convening aims to bring together faculty, staff and students from Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin to discuss and explore the evolving role of technology, with a particular focus on the direction of AI in liberal arts education. The event will feature an opening speaker, a panel discussion, and breakout sessions designed to foster networking, collaboration, and actionable takeaways.

Schedule for the day

Registration Begins at 8:15 in Studzinski Recital Hall 

Poster and Pastries open at 8:30 AM  

Posters:

1. Partnering to Understand Student GenAI Usage over Time at Bowdoin
2. Spotting Spot in Public Spaces: How Use Case Affects Bystander Perception in Robot Encounters
3. AI and the Common Good: Creating a Short Course for Students to Explore Ethics, Impact, and Responsible Use

9-10:00: General Session with Keynote by Stacy Doore, Colby College

AAC&U Institute on AI, Pedgagogy and the Curriculum Panel with members from the Bates and Bowdoin teams

10:15-11: Breakout Sessions

• Session 1: Expanding Digital Archives with Multimodal LLMs​
• Session 2: Generative AI for Career Exploration and Discovery​
• Session 3: German-Language Creativity with Artificial Intelligence: Theories and Practices in the Intermediate Second-Language Classroom 

11:15-12: Breakout Sessions

• Session 4: AI-Supported Translations across the Liberal Arts: A Critical Inquiry into Opportunities, Limitations, and Pedagogical Applications (Part I) ​.
  
  Chris Agbonkhese (DCS), Joyce Bennett (Anthropology), Hannah McGaughey (Japanese) and Anelise Shrout (DCS).
  
• Session 5: Finding AI’s Place in Working Towards More Accessible Technology​
• Session 6: Approaching AI in Film and Media Studies​

12:15- 1: Breakout Sessions

• Session 7: AI-Supported Translations across the Liberal Arts: A Critical Inquiry into Opportunities, Limitations, and Pedagogical Applications (Part II)​
• Session 8: AI vs. In Person Tutoring: Implications for the Writers and Writing Support ​
• Session 9: The Consciousness Threshold: Opportunities and Challenges in the Evolution of AI

Faculty Showcase: Approaches to using AI
Wednesday, March 12, 2025.  Noon – 1:00
Roger Williams 105
Please join us for a discussion of the practical and theoretical impact of generative AI on teaching and learning. Anita Charles (Education) will demonstrate and discuss their use of AI in teaching and learning.  

AI and Languages: Perspectives and Approaches 
March 4, 2025.  Noon – 1:00
Roger Williams 105
Please join us for a discussion of the practical and theoretical impact of generative AI on language teaching and learning.  Laura Balladur (French & Francophone Studies), Jakub Kazecki (German & Russian Studies) and Hannah McGaughey (Japanese) will guide discussion.

Using Generative AI in courses and with students.
February 13, 2025. 4:00-5:30pm (Zoom)

Join Carrie Diaz Eaton (Bates: Associate Professor of Digital and Computational Studies), Stacy Doore (Colby: Assistant Professor of Computer Science), and John Paul Kanwit (Bowdoin: Associate Director of the Baldwin Center for Learning and Teaching) to learn how they are using Generative AI in their courses and work with students. Following panelists’ open remarks, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and then move into breakout rooms to discuss the impact of generative AI in the classroom.

Generative AI Tools: Hands on Session
Roger Williams 105
November 4 & November 8, 2025

This session will give participants a chance to use some readily available Generative AI Tools. The workshop will introduce faculty and staff to various chatbots, including how to create simple custom chatbots using ChatGPT. It will also provide an opportunity to experiment with image generators, including Adobe Firefly. Participants will explore how these tools can be integrated into assignments and student learning experiences.

Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learing: Lunch & Learn
The Art of the Prompt: Enhancing Your Generative AI Prompting
September 30, 2025.

In this session, we’ll dive into the art and science of crafting effective prompts for generative AI tools, helping you enhance how these tools can support your teaching and student learning. We’ll showcase practical use cases that can inspire you to integrate AI into your work. Additionally, we’ll share a model for facilitating class discussions on the role of generative AI, allowing your students to engage critically with this technology.

This is a fantastic opportunity to expand your toolkit, engage with colleagues, and reflect on how new technologies can enhance learning experiences. Although not required to engage, feel free to bring a laptop or tablet to explore AI prompting live with us in the workshop.

Curricular and Research Computing: Showcase Series
Generative AI Tools
Wednesday, September 25th. 10 AM – 11 AM

This session will introduce faculty and staff to image generators, including Adobe Firefly. It will also provide an opportunity to experiment with various chatbots, including how to create simple custom chatbots using ChatGPT. Participants will explore how these tools can be integrated into assignments and student learning experiences.