Research Nuggets

In this episode, Mags talks with Gianmarc Grazioli, Associate Professor of Computational Chemistry at San José State University, about the five foundational principles for teaching students to use AI effectively. Gianmarc discusses the importance of students understanding what generative AI programs are doing – not all tools are LLMs. Knowing which tools can do which tasks can help develop critical AI literacy. 

In this conversation, Dr. Megan Emori, Advanced Instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech, talks about the way she has introduced students to reading papers in her biology course, which includes scaffolded assignments that give students the opportunity to practice searching for and reading primary journal articles. She gives a major focus to the interpretation of figures. Through in-class surveys, Meg has found that student confidence in research skills increases with the assignments she has built into her course.