Let\u27s ChatGPT: Facilitating dialog on AI in Outdoor Recreation Management classes

Abstract

In March 2023, shortly after the release of ChatGPT-4, I took my academic sabbatical. When I resumed teaching in Fall 2024, I felt unprepared to address the pedagogical, ethical, and practical implications of generative AI in my courses. To better serve my students and gain knowledge about generative AI, I participated in a Faculty Learning Community (FLC) focused on teaching and artificial intelligence. Learning alongside other teaching faculty, the FLC helped me deepen my understanding of generative AI, identify the societal and environmental impacts, and informed my perspectives on my role in developing AI literacy among students. Inspired by a suggestion from the FLC, during my Winter Term 2025, I led an interactive, anonymous discussion with students about the use of generative AI, utilizing the interactive presentation tool, Mentimeter. This personal narrative explores the benefits of positioning educators as co-learners in the rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI, highlighting what I learned from my students