Bingyang Wei, Ph.D., associate professor in TCU’s Computer Science Department, is leading a workshop series titled ‘Empowering Faculty with AI for Scholarship and Teaching (EFAIST): AI Integration Training Program.’ Sponsored by TCU’s Research and Creative Activities Fund (RCAF), this program is designed to help faculty across various disciplines leverage AI technologies like ChatGPT to enhance both their teaching and research. The main goal of the EFAIST program is to equip TCU faculty with the knowledge and skills to effectively use large language models (LLMs) in their daily academic activities. Participants will gain a deep understanding of AI fundamentals, its capabilities and limitations, and practical applications in areas like lesson planning, research analysis, and grant writing.

Wei envisions AI transforming teaching at TCU by helping faculty manage larger class sizes without sacrificing the quality of education. “Many faculty members are now teaching more students than ever, which can be overwhelming when trying to provide personalized attention and feedback,” he noted. “AI can help alleviate some of this burden by automating routine tasks such as grading, generating assignments, and providing instant feedback to students.”

When utilizing AI to automate time-consuming tasks faculty are able to free up time to focus on curriculum design and one-on-one student interactions. Additionally, AI is helpful on the research side, as AI tools can streamline tasks like conducting literature reviews and summarizing data, allowing researchers to focus on complex analysis and innovation.

The workshop series will feature interactive sessions, guest lectures and hands-on learning opportunities covering topics such as AI fundamentals, deep learning, large language models and Python programming. Wei emphasized the accessibility of the material, explaining,

“The most important takeaway from this workshop is that AI is neither difficult nor mysterious. By demystifying the technology and providing a clear understanding of how large language models work, participants will gain insight into the true capabilities of AI.”

Wei also hopes this initiative will pave the way for TCU to become an “AI Institute” - a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration and AI expertise. This vision would empower faculty across all disciplines to leverage AI, driving innovation in both research and teaching.

The EFAIST workshop series kicked off at the end of October in Tucker Technology Center Room 139, and it was a tremendous success, receiving 51 applications for participation. Out of these, 22 applicants were selected to take part in the program.

For those unable to attend, Wei will be posting a video recap after each workshop session. You
can watch the first session here.