Welcome to the Tuesday Teaching Tip, an easy-to-implement tool that you can use immediately in your classroom teaching. 

TUESDAY TEACHING TIP: Teaching the Community Read on AI 

SCU’s Community Read program provides an opportunity for campus-wide participation in activities that create a common intellectual experience in curricular and co-curricular activities. Whether you teach first-years, graduating seniors, or graduate students, this year’s Community Read selection, Unmasking AI by Joy Buolamwini, provides students with excellent learning opportunities ranging from real-world applications of artificial intelligence and algorithmic justice to broader issues related to the use of technology, technology law, ethical business models, women of color in STEM, research design and impact, student leadership in research, and more.

This week, we challenge you to incorporate this text into your courses in one of the following ways to enhance your students’ learning. 

Here’s one way to do it 

First, read the book! Access the ebook for free here or listen to the audiobook on your way to work or while on a walk. Then, brainstorm how the book’s theme(s) can directly support one or more of your course’s learning outcomes. 

Once you have identified a link between this book and one of your learning outcomes, create a course activity or assignment that engages the book. These can include having students:

1. Discuss real-world applications around technology and ethics and/or the law
2. Use intersectionality as a framework for inclusive research design
3. Discuss ethical business models related to artificial intelligence and machine learning, based on the topic of algorithmic justice and Dr. Boulamwini’s research, or
4. Watch the documentary, Coded Bias, or a shorter video lecture by Dr. Buoalamwini to engage in a discussion of ethical and inclusive research design, effective science communication, and other power differentials and social dimensions of her work and that of the Algorithmic Justice League. 

Whatever you decide to do, it is important that you ensure your activity/assignment is accessible. What does this mean? Students in your class should have equal opportunity to engage the material you present.

DID YOU DO IT?

Let us know how it went! We would love to hear your feedback about how you implemented today’s Tuesday Teaching Tip in your classroom. Click here to fill out our 3-question survey. The survey is anonymous, but if you choose to enter your name, you’ll be entered in a drawing at the end of the quarter to win a new book from Faculty Development!

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Join us today for our CAFE on minimizing microaggressions at 12:15 in Varsi 222.

• Join us at our next CAFE: Community Read – Unmasking AI Thursday, January 30, 2025 from 12:15 - 1:15 in the St. Clare Room (NOT the usual location in Varsi 222) and hear from the Community Reads co-chairs and faculty adopters on what makes this a great read and addition to your class.

• The library will be hosting a panel on Feb 20th, tentatively titled The Many Faces of AI: Disciplinary Approaches to Artificial Intelligence, in collaboration with Silicon Valley Reads, whose book selections for this year address the theme Empowering Humanity: Technology for a Better World.

• Three more events will be scheduled in Spring through the Community Read program– stay tuned! These include: Arts and AI event, Film Screening, Speaker Event.

WANT TO READ A LITTLE MORE?

• Not familiar with the book? Read more about it on the SCU University Library’s Resource Guide on Unmasking AI. 
• Having trouble? Visit one of our Faculty Associates in weekly office hours to discuss your questions or attend the Community Read CAFE on January 30th to learn about some concrete strategies. 

This week’s Tuesday Teaching Tip was prepared by Mythri Jegathesan on behalf of the Faculty Collaborative.

Missed a teaching tip? Read them all here. Don’t forget to check out our Faculty Associates office hours here.

And check out our full calendar of CAFEs and other Faculty Development and Faculty Collaborative events.