NW Valley Times

Director of Online Education Rick Holbeck and Honors College Dean Dr. Breanna Naegeli chair committees that help set the tone of Grand Canyon University’s (GCU) approach to using artificial intelligence in teaching and learning.

Dressed in purple GCU scrubs, stethoscope dangling around her neck, Mira flashes a reassuring smile.

It’s 1 a.m., your biology exam is in seven hours, the Academic and Career Excellence Centers are closed, and your professor is tucked safely in bed.

“How can I help you today?” Mira asks.

GCU chatbot Mira specializes in science and health care. You ask: “How does metabolism work?”

“Great question!” Mira responds. “Metabolism is like your body’s engine, responsible for converting food into energy. Let’s break it down, step by step.”

She explains ingestion, digestion, absorption, cellular metabolism, catabolism, anabolism.

To ensure comprehension, she follows up with: “Which phase of metabolism involves breaking down food into simpler forms?”

You respond: “digestion.”

“That’s correct!” she says. “You’re doing awesome.”

But GCU’s science and health care assistant isn’t human. It’s actually the university’s first artificial intelligence chatbot, rolled out in summer 2023 to help prenursing students with prerequisite science courses.

This fall, she’ll be introduced to ground students, tutoring them on subjects from Biology 201 and 202 to Chemistry 101.

And she isn’t the only chatbot at GCU.

Isaac, a GCU chatbot expected to debut this fall, is the university's AI math tutor named after Sir Isaac Newton.

Dr. Mark Wooden, College of Natural Sciences dean, and Dr. Lisa Smith, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions dean knew exactly what they wanted when GCU faculty were inspired to weave AI into the classroom.

“We were just rolling out our science courses online and wanted to assure that students had all the resources they could have available to be successful,” Wooden said.

An AI tutor seemed like the perfect first step—an academic assistant available 24/7.

An academic leadership team worked with multiple departments and colleges to develop and test Mira. Nursing faculty knew that students struggle with chemistry and anatomy I and II; if they don’t do well, they don’t get into the nursing program or change majors.

Dr. Lisa Smith emphasized that if GCU is going to help with the nursing shortage, it needs to be proactive in helping students. Prenursing students were the first to use AI academic assistant Mira.

“So if we’re going to help with the nursing shortage... we needed to be even more proactive,” Smith said. A tool like Mira might be a game-changer.

Student feedback has been positive enough that the number of courses for which Mira is trained will increase from 10 to 25.

The math department hopes for similar success with Isaac. Department leaders turned to Nathan Harris from Grand Canyon Education’s Academic Web Services department responsible for building GCU’s AI academic assistants.

“That course is a struggle point for students,” Harris said about introductory-level college algebra.

Isaac will walk them through problems without supplying answers directly but guiding learning instead.

“You NEED a student to think and come up with the answer themselves,” Wooden said.

Miranda Hildebrand added that these chatbots offer security as opposed to third-party ones which use data for training future models.

Mira and Isaac aren’t GCU's only ventures into leveraging AI for teaching.

GCU President Brian Mueller stated that just as the university pioneered online education 15 years ago it aims to lead in artificial intelligence over the next decade.

“There’s so much more we can do for students with generative AI,” Hildebrand said.

Embracing AI

Comets hitting Earth are called impact events; similarly ChatGPT arrived on Nov. 30th 2022 causing awe globally while panicking academia fearing misuse affecting integrity leading initially towards bans until acceptance grew realizing its permanence prompting Mueller aiming revolutionary teaching via AI fostering leadership within it explained Naegeli Character Integrity Committee member emphasizing productive usage not mere answer bots discussing policy enforcement ethical implications highlighted developing professional tools integrating character ethics bias detection scenario-based activities creating think tanks navigating curricular integration successfully shared across national conferences showcasing innovation setting benchmarks leading business aspects involving productivity creativity within operations emphasized Lucas incorporating fundamental skills badges mandatory tech classes initiating MBA programs focusing on applicability essentiality validated by industry demands echoed Kaites ensuring preparedness adapting rapidly evolving landscapes counseling sectors exploring virtual role-playing reducing biases addressing confidentiality future-proofing fields diversifying methodologies classrooms leveraging brainstorming prewriting refining quizzes lesson planning critically evaluating generating materials establishing guides aiding educators comprehensively embracing technological advancements elevating educational paradigms significantly marking transformative impacts affirming innovative strides toward futuristic goals aligned values reflecting true essence propelling forward dynamically