Abstract:

Universities worldwide grapple with navigating the appropriate uses of generative AI. This study explores a unique approach to understand and address the campus community's needs and concerns--in this study, we carried out a Course Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE), that is, a research project built into a credit bearing course at a university.

The presentation will highlight two key aspects of our CURE. First of all, we will discuss the value of CUREs in fostering student engagement through real-world research. We will showcase how our CURE involved undergraduates in every research phase, including literature reviews and survey design. Qualitative data from student interviews will be presented, offering insights into the benefits, challenges, and overall experience of participating in this research project.

Secondly, we will delve into the preliminary findings of the CURE survey (n=83). This section explores the campus community's perspectives on generative AI. Initial data reveals mixed attitudes towards AI, with a strong emphasis on the need for regulation and a willingness to participate in educational opportunities related to AI. We will analyze potential differences between faculty and student perspectives, alongside factors influencing the acceptance or rejection of AI on campus.

Finally, the presentation will conclude by outlining our team's next steps. We are launching the "AI Cafe" initiative, a platform for open discussion and collaboration on utilizing AI in higher education. Participants will receive list of resources outlining practical applications of AI in academic settings. Participants can expect to gain ideas about how to do undergraduate research and find starting points for using AI on their own campuses.

Keywords:

AI, needs assessment, Course Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE).