Research & Faculty Impact

GCU Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Jennifer Pellish

Dr. Ron Berman

Faculty Showcases

The Social Presence Literacy Lab (SPL²) is a research and innovation hub exploring how human connection, engagement, and trust are cultivated in online learning environments. With the rapid growth of AI and EdTech, SPL² emphasizes the essential role of social presence, ensuring education remains deeply human, even in digital spaces.

SPL² contributes to CETLA by:

Advancing research on social presence and online pedagogy.
Showcasing innovative approaches that blend human connection with emerging technologies.
Developing professional resources and models of best practice for engaging online classrooms.
Facilitating partnerships that bridge scholarship, practice, and innovation in online learning.

Through its research, collaborations, and professional development initiatives, SPL² helps reimagine the future of online teaching, where technology supports, but never replaces, the human connections that make learning transformative.

To see more on the impact of the Social Presence Literacy Lab click this link: https://cirt.gcu.edu/home/spl2

Faculty Showcases

SPL² contributes to CETLA by:

Advancing research on social presence and online pedagogy.
Showcasing innovative approaches that blend human connection with emerging technologies.
Developing professional resources and models of best practice for engaging online classrooms.
Facilitating partnerships that bridge scholarship, practice, and innovation in online learning.

To see more on the impact of the Social Presence Literacy Lab click this link: https://cirt.gcu.edu/home/spl2

Presentations and Publications

Holbeck R., & Critchfield M. (2024). Developing an AI model for teaching and learning. 2024 HLC National Conference.
          Impact: Presents a model for integrating AI into teaching, which can be a guide for other institutions.
Mandernach B.J. (2024). Redefining student engagement: The impact of generative AI from a learner’s perspective. ConexEd 2024 Putting the Student at the Center online conference.
          Impact: Discusses the effects of AI on student engagement, which is essential for educational advancements.Mandernach et al. (2024) – AI + OER innovation
Steele J. (2023). Sweet tea, ChatGPT, and student success: Implementing ChatGPT. SoTL Commons Conference, Savannah, Georgia.
          Impact: Discusses the implementation of ChatGPT, a widely recognized AI tool, in enhancing student success.Huggins (2024) – AI-powered music education

Aroz J. (2024). Southern charm digital harm: A quest for AI literacy. SoTL Commons Conference, Savannah, GA.
          Impact: Focuses on AI literacy, which is crucial for educators and students to effectively utilize AI tools.
Dyer T. (2024). How can AI literacy help students use AI tools more efficiently? Magna Publications 20 Minute Mentor.
          Impact: Focuses on AI literacy, providing practical guidance for students to use AI tools effectively
Mandernach B.J., Evey J., Honig C., & Restauri S. (2024). Unlocking educational innovation: The fusion of generative AI and OER. Online Learning Consortium Innovate Conference, Denver, CO.
          Impact: Combines AI with Open Educational Resources (OER), promoting accessibility and innovation in education.

Artzi I., Pierce B., Novak D., Green A. (2024). Reimagining the mental health counseling experience with artificial intelligence. 2024 CSET Research Symposium, Phoenix, AZ.
Impact: Explores the integration of AI in mental health counseling and shows innovative uses of AI in healthcare.

Artzi I. (2024). Soft and indirect cybersecurity threats: Exploitation and mitigation. Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
Impact: Addresses cybersecurity threats related to AI, a critical concern for ethical AI implementation.
Ahmad B. (2023). Artificial intelligence and product development. American Academy of Business.
Impact: Discusses the practical applications of AI in product development, highlighting its transformative potential in business.

How can AI literacy help students use AI tools more efficiently?

In this 20-Minute Mentor session, Dr. Thomas Dyer demystifies the complexities of artificial intelligence and equips educators with the skills to foster AI literacy in their classrooms. Participants will explore foundational AI concepts, learn practical strategies for integrating AI responsibly, and discover how tools like prompt engineering can enhance student learning. By building AI literacy, faculty not only strengthen their own teaching practices but also prepare students to thrive in an AI-driven world. This session is designed for faculty across all modalities, instructional designers, and faculty developers seeking to confidently and ethically navigate the evolving AI landscape.

Link to Article

Rick Holbeck and Dr. Meredith Critchfield

Developing an AI Model for Teaching and Learning

As technology rapidly advances, Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to impact various domains. Higher education is no exception, resulting in the need for tailored teaching and learning strategies around AI. Rick Holbeck and Dr. Meredith Critchfield presentation highlights one university’s approach to developing an AI-driven conceptual model designed to foster innovation in teaching and learning.

Link to Article

Grading Smarter, Not Harder: Using AI to Enhance Feedback and Engagement

In this engaging session, Dr. Kitzmiller demonstrates how AI can streamline grading and enrich student engagement in the online classroom. Participants explore practical strategies for using AI to provide rubric-based evaluations and generate personalized, student-centered feedback across multiple contexts—ranging from class introductions and participation posts to course assignments and assessments.

Presented by Dr. Kathryn Kitzmiller, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Grand Canyon University
In this engaging session, Dr. Kitzmiller demonstrates how AI can streamline grading and enrich student engagement in the online classroom. Participants explore practical strategies for using AI to provide rubric-based evaluations and generate personalized, student-centered feedback across multiple contexts—ranging from class introductions and participation posts to course assignments and assessments. The session highlights how to design adaptable AI prompts that work with any general AI assistant, as well as techniques for refining AI outputs to meet instructional goals. By leveraging these tools, educators can save time, reduce grading fatigue, and enhance meaningful interactions with students.

Link to Presentation