"AI, Unscripted" Podcast Series Spotlights Maryland Faculty Tackling AI in Teaching

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:05:37 -0400
ai, ai-unscripted, genai, podcast, usm

The "AI, Unscripted" podcast limited series guides faculty from curiosity to confidence in using artificial intelligence for teaching and learning. This seven-episode limited series from the University of Maryland, Baltimore's Moving the Needle podcast features conversations with Maryland educators who started exactly where you might be now -- interested but uncertain about AI's place in higher education.

Each 30-minute episode features conversations with innovative educators who share:

Their personal journey from AI-curious to AI-confident

Detailed explanations of their classroom implementations

One thing you can try tomorrow in your own teaching

Whether you’re just beginning to explore generative AI or already building confidence, each episode meets you where you are. We’re all navigating how to learn and teach with this evolving technology, and our guests share practical, real-world examples to help you along the way. We hope these conversations inspire you to take your next step, however small, in exploring AI's potential in your own teaching practice.

Episode Lineup

The carefully curated lineup features faculty from diverse disciplines and institutions who understand the caution many faculty (and students) feel about AI

AI & Information Literacy: Teaching Students to Think Critically with Ben Shaw (Teaching and Learning Librarian, University of Maryland, College Park)

Ask the AI: Business Assignments That Boost Engagement with Bill Carter (Associate Professor, University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business)

Therapy Bots & Ethical Practice: AI in Mental Health Education with Amanda Draheim (Assistant Professor of Psychology, Goucher College)

Truth, Data, and AI: Journalism's Role in Uncertain Times with Derek Willis (Lecturer in Journalism, University of Maryland, College Park)

Writing with Machines: AI in the English Classroom with Eleanor Welsh (Professor of English, Chesapeake College)

Clinical Judgment Meets AI: Teaching for Nursing Practice with Denyce Watties-Daniels (Associate Professor in Nursing, Coppin State University)

AI as a Critical Friend: Supporting Reflection in Graduate Learning with Liyan Song (Professor, Learning Technologies, Design & School Library Media, Towson University)

The series is hosted by:

Mary Crowley-Farrell, Collegiate Associate Professor in Communication, Journalism, & Speech at UMGC and longtime CUSF member

Michael Mills, Associate Senior Vice President of Equitable Access and Student Success at Montgomery College and Chair of the Board of MarylandOnline

Jennifer Potter, Associate Director, Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation at the University System of Maryland

Moving the Needle host, Scott Riley

How to Listen

The first episode is available now, Monday, August 25 on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also listen directly on the AI, Unscripted Podcast Limited Series page. New episodes will be released bi-weekly through December 15th.

Share Your Journey

We invite you to share your own questions, hesitations, or early experiments with AI in teaching. Connect with us on LinkedIn using #AIUnscripted or email your thoughts to aiunscripted@usmd.edu. Your perspective matters, especially if you're just beginning to explore these tools. Your questions and experiences could help shape future resources for faculty across Maryland.

Co-sponsored by the USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, the USM Council of University System Faculty, and MarylandOnline.