Generative AI 101
Northwestern IT Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT) invites applications to Generative AI 101, a professional development program co-sponsored by the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Generative AI. The program aims to increase instructors’ digital literacy in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). All Northwestern instructors ready to begin exploring GenAI are encouraged to apply.
The program is open to all instructors teaching in the Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall term of 2026. Instructors across all Northwestern schools, disciplines, and campuses are eligible to apply. It is designed as an introductory-level course for those interested in understanding the basics before delving into more informed topics and uses of GenAI; participants will emerge with a plan to use generative AI in a course assignment for an upcoming course.
Generative AI will be run three times during 2025-2026:
- December 3-17, 2025, 25-30 participants, fully online
- March 11, 2026, 75 participants, fully face to face on the Evanston campus
- June 15-29, 2026, 25-30 participants, fully online
Accepting applications for the December session now (Application deadline is October 31, 2025).
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Program Overview
Generative AI 101 participants will learn fundamental uses and functions of GenAI and develop course assignments. Previous familiarity with specific tools or predetermined learning goals is not required.
During the program, participants will:
- Design an assignment using GenAI to be used in one of their courses in the Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall term of 2026.
After the program, participants will:
- Take part in analyses and evaluations of the assignment after it is completed in their class.
- Receive feedback from program facilitators, peers, and students.
The December and June Generative AI 101 sessions will be conducted primarily in a synchronous online format. Accommodations may be made for asynchronous participation as needed. The March session will be fully face-to-face on the Evanston campus and will take 4 to 6 hours.
Depending on budget availability, cohort member may receive licenses to generative AI tools (MS Copilot, perhaps others).
Online Program Timeline (December or June)
Program Instruction: December 3-17 or June 15-29
Faculty will meet as a cohort twice a week for three weeks.
Time commitment: 5-10 hours overall, depending on the design of the participant’s assignments. 3-5 hours/week, including individual consultations.
In addition to pre-work and attending the sessions, members of the cohort will have one-on-one consultations with the Teaching and Learning Technologies program facilitators to build generative AI into one course assignment to be taught in the subsequent term.
The following topics will be covered:
- Foundational generative AI concepts and techniques for prompt engineering.
- Using Northwestern-licensed Microsoft Copilot tools.
- Foundational concepts on bias, ethics, and data privacy concerns in artificial intelligence.
- Student perspectives on using generative AI.
- Techniques for citing, source checking, and verifying AI-generated output.
- Analyses of the impact of generative AI tools in the learning process.
- Development of a generative AI course assignment.
Time is built into each session for discussion and hands-on exploration of tools.
Student Feedback: Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall term of 2026
- Participants will use their generative AI assignment in tat least one course.
- Participants can invite Teaching and Learning Technologies program facilitators to observe or participate in their course assignments.
- Participants evaluate the assignment via student surveys and other reflections and submit a short report to the program facilitators and their cohort members.
Face-to-Face Program Timeline (early March)
Program Instruction: Faculty will meet face-to-face for one half-day on March 11.
Location: Northwestern Evanston Campus, Norris Student Center
Time commitment: 5-10 hours overall, depending on the design of the participant’s assignments. 1-3 hours of pre-work prior to March 11 and 4-6 hours on March 11.
The following topics will be covered:
- Foundational generative AI concepts and techniques for prompt engineering.
- Using Northwestern-licensed Microsoft Copilot tools.
- Foundational concepts on bias, ethics, and data privacy concerns in artificial intelligence.
- Student perspectives on using generative AI.
- Techniques for citing, source checking, and verifying AI-generated output.
- Analyses of the impact of generative AI tools in the learning process.
- Development of a generative AI course assignment.
Members of the cohort can schedule one-on-one consultations with the Teaching and Learning Technologies program facilitators following the program to build generative AI into one course assignment to be taught in the subsequent term.
Participants can invite Teaching and Learning Technologies program facilitators to observe or participate in their course assignments.
Student Feedback: Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall term of 2026
Participants will use their generative AI assignment in at least one of their courses.
Participants evaluate the assignment via student surveys and other reflections and submit a short report to the program facilitators and their cohort members.
Who can apply?
Any Northwestern faculty member or instructor from any discipline scheduled to teach a class in the Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall term of 2026.
Considerations for selection will include:
- School / Department / Discipline (The program intends to include representation from many different areas.)
- Years of teaching experience (The program intends to include representation from instructors of all lengths of teaching careers.)
- Amount of AI exposure/experimentation (Most participants will have minimal experience using these tools.)
- Class identified by the applicant to be taught after the program (The program intends to include a range of class sizes, formats, and topics.)
Apply now to join the Generative AI 101 Learning Cohort
Join the Generative AI 101 Learning Cohort. Applications close on October 31, 2025. Selected cohort members will be notified on or before November 14, 2025. Accepted applicants must teach at least one course in the Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall term of 2026.
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