October 31, 2024
Greetings!
Welcome to Howard University’s Department of English and our Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force’s inaugural AI Symposium. Indeed, over the past few years, there has been a palpable sense of curiosity and anticipation among educators, administrators, and students regarding AI and the future of higher education. This event, led by the AI Task Force, and supported by university’s leadership, invites critical questions about the role of artificial intelligence in education: How will AI change our teaching methods? Will it reinforce biases, or can it act as a tool for inclusive growth?
For educators, AI’s presence in classrooms prompts an ongoing dialogue. Some are excited by AI’s potential to personalize learning, streamline administrative tasks, and offer new resources for students. Others raise caution about the implications, from the risks of techno-racism and sexism to concerns about academic integrity and the preservation of students' authentic voices in their work.
Beyond the classroom, AI stirs larger questions within higher education. Institutions must consider the ethical frameworks surrounding AI’s usage, examining issues like data privacy, equity, and fairness. The politics of AI permeate these discussions, as universities grapple with adopting technology that aligns with their values while maintaining academic freedom and intellectual rigor.
This symposium’s purpose is to empower educators and administrators with the insights and strategies needed to integrate AI into educational settings effectively. Our mission is to create a collaborative space that not only enriches AI literacy across disciplines but also encourages ethical, responsible, and innovative uses of AI in classrooms.
Through sessions designed to meet our objectives, we aim to:
• Equip attendees with best practices for AI integration in teaching and administration.
• Address ethical, socio-political, and cultural issues around AI, such as techno-racism and biases in recognition technology.
• Inspire participants to drive AI research and exploration that can influence policy and practices both within academia and beyond.
The event invites critical questions about AI’s impact: Can AI genuinely personalize education while preserving academic integrity? Educators bring a range of perspectives, debating AI’s role in both advancing and challenging traditional learning structures. Beyond the classroom, this conversation extends into higher education’s politics, as institutions consider how to integrate AI in ways that honor equity, privacy, and inclusivity.
As today’s program unfolds, attendees will have the opportunity to explore these critical issues, shaping AI’s role in a way that aligns with Howard University’s mission and upholds its values. Together, we envision a future where AI serves as a tool for innovation, responsible growth, and academic excellence.
This symposium aims to bridge these debates by fostering a space where educators can explore these transformative topics with integrity and foresight. As we gather, the hope is to shape a vision for AI’s responsible and equitable integration within higher education, empowering Howard University to be a leader in this evolving field.
Scholarly Regards,
Monique L. Akassi
Dr. Monique L. Akassi Director for First-Year Writing Program AI Task Force Symposium Organizer
Academic Affairs
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of English
AI Task Force
First Year Writing Program
AI Symposium Program
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Ballroom A
Dr. Anthony K. Wutoh
Provost and Chief Officer of Academic Affairs
Dr. Rubin Patterson, Dean of COAS
Dr. Carole Boyce-Davies, Department Chair
Dr. David Green, Associate Chair of Writing and Rhetoric
Dr. Monique L. Akassi, Director for First Year and AI Task Force Writing Program
Ballroom A
1.1 The Future of AI at Howard University Chair: Dr. Monique L. Akassi
“AI at Howard: Adoption, Governance and Pedagogy,”
Presenter: Dr. Kweli Zukeri 12:15 p.m.---12:30 p.m. Open Plenary 12:00 p.m.—12:15 p.m.
1.2 Case Studies in AI
Ballroom A
12:30 p.m.---1:30 p.m.
Chair: Professor Susan Mockler
“A Case Study on AI and Equity: Navigating Bias and Inclusivity in Higher Education,” Dr. Monique L. Akassi, Howard University
“Generating Prompts: Using AI to Cultivate Critical Thinking,” Professor Shantay Robinson, Howard University
“Understanding Limitations and Staging Ethical Critiques: Generative AI Lesson Plans in the Writing Classroom,” Dr. Travis Sharp, Howard University
“My Authentic Voice or AI: Why It Matters In A Cover Letter,” Professor Susan Mockler, Howard University
Ballroom A
1:30 p.m.---2:10 p.m. p.m.
1.3 Special Roundtable Discussion
Moderator: Dr. David Green, Howard University
“Special Panel on AI with the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC),” MLA and CCCC Representatives: Dr. Alex Lockett, , Independent Scholar; Dr. Matthew Kirschenbaum, University of Maryland, College Park; and Dr. David Green, Howard University.
1.5 Keynote Address
Moderator: Professor Shantay Robinson
Ballroom A
Keynote Address 2:10 p.m.—3:10 p.m. p.m.
Dr. Sid Dobrin, Chair of the University of Florida’s English department, has become one of the most soughtafter academic experts on Generative AI, having delivered more than 70 talks worldwide. He is the Founding Director of the Trace Innovation Initiative at UF and has been named a Digital Thought Leader by Adobe. He serves as a member of the Florida Institute for National Security, part of the University of Florida’s AI Initiative; he serves as a member of the Florida AI Learning Consortium (FALCON) Steering Committee; and he serves as a member of the UF AI Blue Sky Task Force. He is the author and editor of numerous books and articles, including Talking about Generative AI: A Guide for Educators, AI and Writing, and the forthcoming collection AI and the Humanities. His current research project examines enduring questions motivated by AI. In addition to his work in Digital Humanities, he is prolific in writing about Environmental Humanities, specifically focused on Blue Ecocriticism and Blue Humanities.
Abstract:
In the past 24 months, one of the most pressing conversations in the US (and, frankly, everywhere else in the world) has been about the emergence and implications of a technology called “generative artificial intelligence,” or “GenAI.” While this technology is not new, its widespread adoption and use have created a fervor and, in some cases, panic over its implications for the way we work, communicate, and live. It is no surprise, therefore, that nearly every college in the country is currently reimaging higher education in an effort to leverage the power of GenAI – and to preserve relevant aspects of traditional academic practices and values. From defining and integrating “AI literacies” across curricula to rethinking the fundamentals of what and how we teach, educators are confronting a host of thorny questions about the relationships between technology, knowledge, and human intelligence – all of which are emerging amidst rapid student adoption and use. This presentation will begin to demystify many of these emerging technologies and will address many of the concerns educators have expressed regarding AI and GenAI technologies in order to provoke conversations about the relationship between AI/GenAI and the traditions of higher education.
Ballroom
A
3:10 p.m.---4:00 p.m. p.m.
1.5 Pedagogical and Ethical Considerations of AI Usage in the Classrooms Chair: Dr. Monique L. Akassi
“The Common Sense Machine: LLM’s and The Construction of Cultural Hegemony,” Dr. Sean Pears, Howard University
“The Stakes are High. Are the Benefits Bountiful: What’s at Stake for HBCU Students With AI,” Dr. Adrienne Carthon, Howard University
“Chat GPT is a Terrible student: How LLM’s stylistic genericism and pseudo-scholarly claims can rob undergraduates of critical argumentative skills,” Dr. Bruce Miller, Howard University
Ballroom A
Closing Remarks 4:00 p.m.—4:05 p.m. p.m.
1.6 Closing Remarks Dr. Monique L. Akassi and Dr. David Green
Monique L. Akassi
Adrienne Carthon
Cyrus Hampton
Robin Sulkosky
AI Task Force Members
p.m.
David Green
Susan Mockler
Sean Pears
Bruce Miller
Shantay Robinson
Erin Torbett
Travis Sharp
AI Resources For Classes
p.m.
As we conclude our AI Symposium, we extend sincere gratitude to our Academic Affairs, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of English, our presenters, attendees, and organizing team. Together, we explored AI’s transformative potential in education and discussed ways to ensure ethical, inclusive, and innovative approaches. We hope you leave inspired to integrate these insights into your teaching practice, fostering AI literacy and critical thinking.
· Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide – José Antonio Bowen & C. Edward Watson
· AI and Writing – Sidney I. Dobrin
· Artificial Intelligence in Education: Promises and Implications for Teaching and Learning – Wayne Holmes
· AI for Educators – Matt Miller
· Teaching Effectively with ChatGPT – Dan Levy & Angela Perez Albertos
· Artificial Intelligence in Schools: A Guide for Teachers and School Leaders – Andy Peart & Chris Penfold
· The Age of AI and Our Human Future – Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, & Daniel Huttenlocher
· Decoding AI: Techno Racism, Misogyny, and the Fight for Justice in Education
– Monique L. Akassi (Forthcoming 2025, Routledge Press)
*For additional AI Resources, please visit the AI Task Force’s following website:
https://howardenglishai.wixsite.com/generativeai
For more information regarding future AI Initiatives, please email Monique.Akassi@howard.edu
Artificial Intelligence News
Howard University's Inaugural AI Conference for Students and Educators: A Resounding Success
On April 15, 2024, Howard University proudly hosted its inaugural Composition, Rhetoric, and Research in Artificial Intelligence Conference, a pioneering event focused on AI from a humanities perspective. Bringing together researchers, students, and educators from around the globe, the conference created a collaborative platform aligned with Howard's mission to foster interdisciplinary growth in AI.
Student and faculty presentations spanned topics such as the history of AI, classroom best practices, techno-racism, ethical language use, and AI-driven biases in recognition technology. Hundreds attended the event, including attendees and presenters nationally and internationally. Select presentations were chosen for publication in Howard University’s Undergraduate Journal on Research Across The Disciplines and a forthcoming anthology by Cambridge, ensuring lasting impact from the diverse research shared.
A highlight of the day was the keynote address by award-winning author Calvin D. Lawrence, who discussed insights from Hidden in White Sight: How AI Empowers and Deepens Systemic Racism. The event concluded with certificates of appreciation for presenters and an audience vote for the best presentations, embodying the conference’s spirit of academic excellence and community support.
This conference reflected Howard’s dedication to exploring AI's evolving influence in academia and beyond, equipping attendees with deeper insights and encouraging responsible, innovative AI practices. As Calvin D. Lawrence stated, “Regardless of what field you find yourself in, you need to have a basic understanding of AI because it will touch every industry."
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