Inspired by the book "Small Teaching Online," Small AI techniques aim to augment learning without reinventing the academic wheel by empowering you to apply artificial intelligence in the online classroom in limited, strategic ways.
Whether it’s boosting engagement or tailoring learning experiences, AI can offer creative, practical ways to make online teaching more dynamic and efficient. The following examples highlight how faculty have integrated AI in ways that are intentional, manageable, and pedagogically sound.
Faculty Example: Using AI to Enhance Engagement and Efficiency
Lisa Segre, a Professor and Distinguished Scholar in Nursing Science, discovered how AI tools could support student learning and save time in her large online lifespan development course, which typically enrolls around 250 students. Managing engagement and interaction at that scale can be challenging, but using AI strategically helped her streamline preparation while enriching student participation.
In one assignment, Lisa used an AI tool to generate an image illustrating developmental milestones, such as different types of play. She then asked students to analyze and discuss the image in breakout groups during a live session. What might have taken hours to prepare manually-searching for visuals, designing a prompt, and coordinating the activity-was accomplished in minutes.
“I just gave it the prompt and boom—it gave me an image that would’ve taken me forever to find or design myself,” Lisa shared. “It was like having a super-fast TA.”
The results were both time-saving and impactful. Students were more engaged, and Lisa was able to monitor their discussions using Zoom’s microphone activity indicators without entering every breakout room. That freed her up to focus on where she was most needed, while still maintaining visibility on student interaction. “Students liked it, they were engaged, and I didn’t have to spend hours preparing.”
“Start small. Just try one thing and see what happens-you’ll be surprised how much time it can save you.”
Small AI Strategy: Use AI to create interactive learning tools like images, scenarios, outlines, or prompts, that help students interact more actively with course content. Even quick, low-prep activities can create meaningful opportunities for discussion and application.
Emerging Small AI practices
Instructors at Iowa are already experimenting with Small AI in their online classrooms. Examples in progress this semester:
Personalized Learning: Use AI to support personalized learning in real time. Generate examples, summaries, or study tools based on student questions or interests. Invite students to co-create materials with you, modeling how to use AI as a partner in the learning process.
Real-world Scenarios: Scaffold AI use in stages by starting with smaller tasks, then gradually moving into applied assignments. Use AI to support both student learning and your own workflow, while encouraging critical thinking and reflection at every step.
Make AI Work for You
Your use of AI doesn’t have to create major disruptions; it can be an opportunity for experimentation, creativity, and problem-solving. By integrating it in small but meaningful ways, you can support student engagement and create more interactive learning experiences. Whether it’s increasing engagement, tailoring student experiences, or scaffolding the student learning experience, incorporating AI can add value to the online classroom when used thoughtfully.