Groundbreaking AI Initiative to Transform Education Launched at Touro University

Over 100 faculty members from more than a dozen Touro campuses gathered at the new Cross River Campus for the event, which was co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Dr. Patricia Salkin, and the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning. Led by the AI@Touro Leadership Team, including Associate Provost for AI Dr. Shlomo Argamon, Dr. Jamie Sundvall, Dr. Jasmine Cowin, and Dr. Goran Trajkovski, the bootcamp provided a forum for faculty to learn about and explore various AI tools and technologies.

Dr. Shlomo Argamon emphasized the urgency of addressing AI in education now, saying that AI is a “force multiplier for innovation,” and that therefore “change will come more and more rapidly in the future.”  He highlighted the fact that the “tools we teach our students when they enter the university will not be the same tools they’ll be able to use when they graduate. We must teach students and faculty not just how to use AI tools, but also the underlying concepts—they will need to be lifelong learners and adapt to the many technological changes to come.”

President Kadish: AI will Enhance Teaching, Operations and Productivity

Touro President Dr. Alan Kadish emphasized the importance of the new university-wide effort to implement responsible AI for education, stating, “At Touro, we see great opportunities for AI to enhance teaching, improve university operations, and boost productivity. Our goal is to lead the way in using AI effectively, ensuring that we equip our students with the skills they need to thrive in an AI-driven world without compromising their essential learning experiences.”

At the start of the bootcamp, many faculty attendees were not yet familiar with AI and its applications in education. However, by the end of the event, they felt more confident and excited about exploring how AI can assist them in their teaching and benefit their students. The hands-on projects and collaborative discussions helped demystify AI, leaving faculty eager to explore using these new tools.

Faculty engaged in a variety of interactive and thought-provoking activities. They participated in a collective generative AI activity, led by Dr. Cowin, to create course materials and explore the potential of AI to help faculty. Another group activity, led by Dr. Sundvall, focused on the ethical implications of AI, using interactive visuals and polling to explore morality in machine learning. In the afternoon, facilitated by Dr. Trajkovski, faculty worked in small groups on education-related AI projects, sharing their ideas with the group. Participants said they were energized by working with other faculty from different disciplines to create new ideas using AI.

Faculty Excited by AI

Throughout the day, faculty members expressed their excitement and shared what they learned. Dr. Melissa Morelli-Walsh, assistant professor in the nursing program, said, “It can free me up to be more available to work directly with students. I don’t want to spend so much time creating teaching materials—I’d rather have more time to connect with my students.”

One tool faculty were fascinated by was goblin.tools, an AI platform that offers tools to help with executive functioning. Dr. Toba Singer, Associate Dean at Lander College for Women, commented, “I have encountered so many students who need this kind of help. We often feel students should have learned these skills, but they haven’t, and now we can help them without feeling the pressure to take out time to teach the skills they should have mastered already.”

Dr. Henry Abramson, dean of Lander College for Men, highlighted a key challenge in trusting AI, noting that recently he queried ChatGPT about ancient Jewish presence in Bordeaux, and when the response cited “the Bordeaux Talmud,” which the dean knew didn’t exist, he followed up to learn more and the AI replied, ‘I apologize for the mistake in my previous responses. There is no historical evidence of a ‘Bordeaux Talmud.’ Thank you for pointing out the error, and I appreciate your understanding.”

The incident underscored the importance of responsible AI use, as faculty must navigate the balance between leveraging AI’s capabilities and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information it provides. Despite these challenges, Dr. Abramson expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I’m excited to explore AI further and see the tremendous potential it holds for helping both faculty and students enhance their learning and teaching experiences.”

Touro faculty are now looking forward to the next AI Faculty Bootcamp, to be held in December. The university’s vision, to build a faculty-wide collaboration to weave AI into all areas of education, aims at educating a new generation of tech-savvy leaders. By emphasizing relationships, collaboration, and practical AI applications, Touro is preparing for a future where change is constant, but human connection remains central.