All are invited to the AI Spring Symposium: May 20-24, 2024
The goal of the symposium is for UCSB community members – faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students – to exchange ideas and learn from each other about how to advance the productive, ethical use of AI. You do not need to be an “expert” or advanced AI user to present: we welcome you to share ideas at any stage of development!
Everyone at UCSB is invited to participate as a presenter, workshop facilitator, or panelist, or to submit a digital poster or video. Awards will be given to the highest ranked student digital presentation submissions.
Purpose and Goals of AI CoP
The UCSB AI Community of Practice is a forward-thinking initiative intended to harness the transformative potential of AI for UC Santa Barbara in a manner that is ethical, equitable, and aligned with our institutional values. Through advocacy, exploration, and the sharing of resources, the CoP fosters a community well-equipped to navigate the complexities of AI. Our goals are to:
Provide a hub of community for people across UCSB working on all forms of AI to find each other, and for leadership to be able to identify experts to engage on projects or provide input on campus decisions.
Foster community discovery, evaluation, and sharing of AI related use-cases (scenarios), needs and approaches (including policy, services, etc.) to effectively support UCSB’s mission.
Support the community in discovering trade-offs, better understanding of risks, and collaborative learning about where different forms of AI are a fit for various purposes.
Provide community input to campus governance bodies (such as the IT Board and IT Council) and other leaders on policies for using and deploying AI services.
Gather input from the community into UCSB’s AI technology investment priorities (both in staff time to support projects and for funding needs to purchase or develop AI-related services and technologies).
AI-CoP: An Inclusive Community
The Community of Practice promotes an inclusive environment that welcomes the active participation of all interested members of the UCSB community. Through our collective exploration and discussion of AI, we aim to highlight innovations, address challenges, and share resources that propel forward the thoughtful and ethical use of AI technologies.
Infographic about AI CoP membership coming soon
AI Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
AI Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are an opportunity for campus members with similar interests to explore and learn together in a smaller group setting. SIGs typically meet monthly.
The AI for Teaching and Learning group investigates implications of AI for learning and how to effectively integrate AI in educational settings. The group focuses on but is not limited to, equipping instructors with skills to teach students how to use AI wisely and ethically, addressing concerns regarding student use of AI, leveraging AI for course preparation and grading, and supporting instructors in acquiring necessary skills. The group remains receptive to exploring novel approaches and applications of AI that can enhance teaching and learning experiences.
Click here to join the AI for Teaching and Learning subgroup.
The AI for Research group explores the power of AI to advance research efforts across various disciplines and its associated implications. Key areas of interest include but are not limited to, data analysis, computer simulations, image and text analysis, knowledge discovery, and AI for coding. The group is committed to investigating new and emerging applications of AI that can further enhance research processes and outcomes, inspiring a new era of academic discovery.
The AI for Workplace Productivity group explores and implements AI solutions to enhance efficiency and streamline processes at UCSB. Areas of interest include but are not limited to, chatbots, officially supported AI tools, AI for coding, improving student-facing processes, and using AI for everyday tasks. The group welcomes ideas for other innovative applications of AI with potential to contribute to workplace productivity in higher education.
Click here to join the AI for Workplace Productivity subgroup.
AI Resources
Office of Teaching and Learning
Access guidance about the ethical use of these technologies by both instructors and students.
AI/Large Language Model Guidance
Instructional Development
Receive guidance on teaching students about the pitfalls and opportunities of AI within the context of your courses, as well as learn about how AI might be incorporated into your courses and work.
Writing Program
Given the expanding role that large language models will undoubtedly play in our students' lives, learn about the Writing Program's policies to encourage highly mediated, critically-aware, and transparent use of AI writing technology.
Upcoming Events
AI CoP Leadership
Executive Sponsors
Linda Adler-Kassner, AVC of Teaching and Learning
Josh Bright, AVC of Information Technology/Chief Information Officer
Co-Directors
Lisa Berry, Senior Instructional Consultant (Office of Teaching and Learning)
Joe Sabado, Deputy CIO (Information Technology Services)
Advisory Committee (in formation)
Ann-Marie Musto, Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer
Daniel Frank, Writing Program Lecturer
Renee Rottner, Associate Professor/Faculty Diversity Officer, Technology Management Program
Rita Raley, Professor, English Department