The Academic Commons

This episode features Dr. Travis Pollen discussing integrating AI into the classroom. The conversation emphasizes intentional design, transparency, and continuous reflection, supported by both formal research and informal student feedback. This episode also highlights the importance of developing AI literacy and navigating the challenges of maintaining academic integrity in an evolving technological landscape.

Transcript Episode 9: Teaching with AI with Dr. Travis Pollen

Guest: Travis Pollen, PhD

• Role: Assistant Professor, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University
• Expertise: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, teaching with AI

Quote from the Episode:

Getting Started:

• Try different generative AI tools yourself to understand their strengths and limitations, allowing you to better guide student use of them.
• Clearly define how students should interact with AI in your classroom to maintain academic integrity.
• Utilize student feedback regularly through structured surveys/reflections and informal check-ins throughout the semester rather than just at the end.
• Contact us to talk about intentional use of AI in the classroom.

Terms to Know:

The terms below are mentioned in the episode, and for context and clarity, we've provided brief definitions of potentially unfamiliar terms you may hear.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): An umbrella term for any theory, computer system, or software developed to allow machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. Many mentions of AI in this episode specifically refer to Generative AI, an AI system capable of generating text, images, or other media in response to prompts.
• SoTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning): Systematic and methodological inquiry to research the impact of teaching practices and learning experiences.
• AI Literacy: An understanding of how AI works and critically evaluates its application to teaching, scholarship, and maintain vigilance for bias, misuse, and misapplication of the tools.

Selected Resources:

The Learning Curve team curated this list based on university resources or guest recommendations.

1. AI for Educators: From Basics to Best Practices - Academic Commons Self-Paced Module
2. Artificial Intelligence - Research Guides at Thomas Jefferson University
3. Dekerlegand, R., Bell, A., Clancy, M. J., Pletcher, E. R., & Pollen, T. (2025). Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education: Insights from Rehabilitation Sciences Students. Education Sciences, 15(3), 380-. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15030380
4. Bowen, J. A., & Watson, C. E. (2024). Teaching with AI : a practical guide to a new era of human learning. Johns Hopkins University Press.
5. Academic Commons Upcoming Workshops and Events