When artificial intelligence, commonly known as AI, burst onto the scene, Santiago Canyon College professor Scott James saw the innovation as “the most powerful accessibility tool” he had ever seen.
Today, as the distance education coordinator at SCC, James has been drawing on his AI proficiency to help position SCC as an innovator and leader in the area of distance learning.
The longtime educator developed and is teaching a course titled “AI for Educators,” which will guide educators on an exploration of AI and its “transformative impact on teaching and learning.
Designed for working professionals, the three-unit course runs for eight weeks, from June 16 to Aug. 10.
The course is an online, asynchronous course, James said, meaning students don’t need to be online at the same time to do assignments and access materials.
Instead, students access SCC’s running management system, Canvas, and take the class from wherever and whenever it is convenient.
Educators enrolled in the course will build a solid foundation on AI as an educator’s tool, James said.
Participants will be introduced to AI concepts and terminologies while exploring a variety of AI tools designed to enhance classroom management, curriculum design, personalized learning and assessment, the professor said.
“I created the AI class really to help teachers wrap their heads around how students are using it,” James said. “And how they can use it to support their classroom design, and some strategies for how to mitigate any sort of inappropriate use of AI in the classroom, and ethics of AI, as well.”
James, who has spent much of his career teaching educational technology and instructional design, was an alternate media specialist in Disabled Students Program & Services when he witnessed the profound impact of technology in helping students excel, despite their disabilities.
Inspired by the benefits of technology to his students with special needs, James went on to earn a master’s degree in learning theory and educational technology and continues to strengthen his expertise in the area.
Students in James’ AI for Educators class will learn to design and use AI tools to create detailed lesson plans and assignments based on the curriculum outline of their classes.
James will have his students create personalized chatbots, which are programs that simulate human conversations, usually through voice- or text-based interactions.
Chatbots guide users through processes and can personalize experiences.
James’ resume includes creating chatbots for AI 4 Learning, an open education initiative through Axim Collaborative, a joint endeavor of Harvard and MIT focused on enhancing Generative AI training for faculty at community colleges and other educational institutions.
The collaborative is designed to provide educators with the skills to effectively integrate AI tools into their teaching and learning environments.
“He is quite a remarkable leader in the field of AI at Santiago Canyon College,” said SCC faculty member Patty Sanchez, coordinator for Workforce Preparation and Vocational ESL in Continuing Education at SCC.
Sanchez piloted the modules that guided faculty in designing chatbots to support student learning and shared her knowledge with faculty in the ESL Department and Career Education in Continuing Education.
James’ course culminates in a capstone project in which students will showcase their ability to synthesize AI tools, curriculum design and ethical principles to enhance student success and equity in the classroom.
“Our faculty are very excited to use this technology to advance student learning.” Sanchez said.