Pepperdine Pioneers AI Literacy and Launches Generative AI Training for University Staff and Faculty

Empowering Pepperdine Faculty and Staff with Introduction to Generative AI Essentials

At Pepperdine University, the Information Technology (IT) department has introduced innovative instruction on Generative A.I. Essentials which will begin at the Thornton Administrative Center (TAC) and online from January 23. This pioneering move aims to equip both staff and faculty with the necessary abilities for the effective use of Generative A.I. tools in their everyday duties concerning strict data protection protocols according to Pepperdine Community.

As noted by Jordan Bautista Lazo, an IT training team technology trainer, this course provides valuable insights into the world of Generative AI while handling concerns about its right and safe application. The participants will know how to properly apply Generative A.I. tools as they wish so that their work can be positively affected.

Furthermore, this instruction exercise will emphasize upholding data security protocol and privacy, therefore conforming very much with the severe policies on Data Privacy at Pepperdine as stated by Jordan Lott - The senior manager of Technology and Learning/ IT Training.

For Pepperdine faculty and staff interested in exploring the possibilities of using artificial intelligence in improving writing skills, it helps optimize writing tasks such as: using AI tools. According to the Pepperdine community, attendees will be familiarized with artificial intelligence tools that are useful in producing safe and secure content.

“The whole purpose of this training is to help staff and faculty use A.I. safely and effectively at the workplace. We would like them to have an understanding of how they can incorporate A.I. into their work through A.I. literacy for making informed decisions as per data privacy guidelines outlined by Pepperdine." Dawn Oliver, IT Training Team’s Lead Technology Trainer explained that the training seeks to encourage AI literacy among the faculties so that they can make well-informed judgments concerning the integration of AI in their work.

Also, Pepperdine University’s TechLearn team will be demonstrating new functionalities and improvements on its plagiarism detection service, which is Turnitin integrated into the Courses Learning Management System (LMS). “Turnitin: Guidelines & Best Practices” workshops are designed for teachers who want to learn more about Turnitin at Pepperdine and find out some advice on plagiarism/AI detection best practices.

Pepperdine University has positioned itself as a leading institution in responsibly incorporating AI thus ensuring its workforce is ready to cope with changes in technology.

 Editor’s Note

With the integration of AI in almost every sphere of our lives, educators also need to equip themselves with the skills to navigate modern technology. In cyberspace privacy and data security are the most prevalent threats and hence must be learned to navigate through. The practical guidance session to integrate AI tools underlines the university’s dedication to fostering AI literacy and ensuring that its staff is prepared for the evolving technological landscape.