In this solo episode of the Prof Talk Pod, host Becky Achen shares how Generative AI is shifting the way I design active learning in the classroom.

It’s no surprise that students have started leaning on ChatGPT to breeze through in-class activities. While the "quick answer" is tempting, our goal is to move them toward intentional, critical use of these tools.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• A structured process for in-class activities that prioritizes human brainstorming and root-cause identification before bringing in technology.

• How to guide students to use ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot to fill specific knowledge gaps, rather than outsourcing the entire solution.

• Using LLMs to poke holes in human ideas and refine them before a final pitch.

• Why you should demonstrate how you use AI so students see the process in action.

We don’t want our students to be "lazy AI users." To help get students ready for the workplace, scaffold AI use in your own courses, explain the "why" behind your constraints, and lead by example.

In this solo episode of the Prof Talk Pod, Becky discusses the importance of balancing student accountability with support, and offers actionable strategies to help students stay on track. From the hands-off approach to personalized check-ins, discover methods to foster a supportive learning environment while encouraging independence. Focused on retaining students and enhancing their success, Becky emphasizes the human aspect of teaching and shares tips for developing student skills in attendance, participation, and assignment completion.

Join us for part two of our discussion on attendance and engagement with Katie, focusing on practical strategies for managing excused absences and fostering student participation. We discuss university policies for attendance and share our personal methods for tracking attendance and ensuring meaningful student engagement. Whether it's using in-class activities, allowing drops, or navigating university policies, we cover actionable tips to help professors improve their classroom dynamics. Discover how to balance accountability with flexibility, and how to motivate students to attend and participate actively. If managing attendance has been a challenge for you, this episode offers valuable insights.